(Yicai Global) July 6 -- A number of up-market Chinese hotels have launched new services, including livestream sales and takeout meals, to help them get through the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report by Chinanews.com.

Five-star hotels such as Jinling Hotel in the eastern city of Nanjing have turned to livestream sales, the report said. Its revenue from live sales broadcasts for gift boxes has jumped 56 percent to more than CNY8 million (USD1.2 million) so far this year from a year ago.

The hotel sector broke even in 2020, with just a small number of hotels turning a profit last year, the report said, citing Zhong Yong, deputy general manager of Shangri-La International Hotel Management’s China World Hotel in Beijing.

In the first half of 2022, hotels in the capital will hardly make a profit because of a drop in business and other travel as well as cancelled wedding banquets and conferences, Zhong added.

China World Hotel recently introduced parent-child-themed rooms to appeal to families and activities for children, including cooking and swimming lessons, he said. And in response to the recent popularity of camping, the hotel also brought out a picnic basket set priced at up to CNY500 (USD75) each, Zhong said.

As the summer holidays approach, figures for the hotel sector are on the rise. According to a Cinda Securities report, occupancy rates came in at 47.2 percent in May, down from 2021 and 2020, but up from April. The rate at mid-to-high-end hotels was 50 percent.

Editor: Futura Costaglione