Hotels branching out to engage customers

"This is a welcome arrangement as it not only drives up the hotel's orders, but also makes things easier for customers and minimizes physical contact," said Li Bo, deputy general manager of Kempinski Hotel Beijing Lufthansa Center. He added that more group buying coordinators have shown an interest and contacted the hotel.

For pickup orders, the hotel has set up a special channel to ensure that customers are able to collect their orders without the hassle of waiting in line, which "greatly reduces unnecessary contact and crowding", the hotel said.

Launching a takeout service helps hotels promote their food and beverages and adds to their revenue streams and cash flows, Zhao Huanyan, chief knowledge officer at Huamei Consulting Group based in the southern city of Shenzhen, told Beijing Business Today.

He suggested that hotels develop a number of popular food and beverage offerings to make the restaurant business a more important contributor to operating income.