The mainland economy continues to slump, leading to downgraded consumption. People are no longer spending for the sake of appearances, but are living within their means, emphasizing the practicality and cost-effectiveness of goods. In this situation, many five-star hotels have introduced “leftover mystery box” self-service meals. Analysts believe that the five-star hotels have seized upon this “low-margin business” primarily due to the difficulty of running a hotel business.
According to an author named “White Porridge” writing on the WeChat public account “Shenzhen Micro Light,” a five-star hotel located at Longhua Qinghu in Shenzhen has launched a self-service meal voucher for “leftover mystery boxes” priced at 79 yuan (RMB, same below). The dining time is fixed from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm, and the hotel determines the number of mystery box vouchers based on the remaining dishes each day, ranging from two to three on slow days to ten on busier days.
“White Porridge” stated that a seafood buffet in Shenzhen typically starts at a minimum of 200 yuan, but now for just 79 yuan, patrons can enjoy the same dishes usually priced at over 200 yuan. The mystery boxes have been available for two months, with nearly 300 vouchers already issued.
The author revealed that it took three consecutive days of trying before they successfully secured a voucher. The dishes in the mystery boxes on that day were not much different from the regular menu, except for items like grilled lobster and abalone with purple rice. Though the dining time was originally set for one hour, there was no rush from the staff when patrons exceeded the time limit. Overall, the service was good and the cost-effectiveness was high.
However, some female customers who have visited voiced their concern. While the initiative may have been good initially, as it gained popularity, the number of vouchers increased from two or three to over ten. They pointed out that the items needed to be grabbed quickly, and even when obtained, it was only a small portion due to limited quantities.
One of the female customers mentioned that she decided to dine there based on the good reviews. However, she ended up paying 80 yuan to become a “refugee” for a meal, only managing to eat some items she wouldn’t normally have chosen. She commented that the dishes inside were not much different from other cheaper buffets, except for some tasty desserts. It could be worthwhile when there are fewer people, but it still depends largely on luck.
Regarding the introduction of “leftover mystery box” self-service meals by hotels, “Restaurant Boss Insider” wrote that not long ago, several star-rated hotels in various cities had already launched affordable “breakfast buffets” targeting the general public who don’t stay at the hotels, offering packages such as daily passes, weekly passes, and monthly passes, with the cheapest starting as low as 9.9 yuan. Now, those hotels experiencing success continue to extend the initiative to other times of the day, introducing a dinner/late-night snack option – the “leftover mystery box” self-service meal. These mystery box vouchers are priced at only about one-third or one-fourth of the regular price, with some “clearance prices” as low as 19.9 yuan or even 15.9 yuan.
“Restaurant Boss Insider” explained that for hotels, the dishes made on the day nearing their expiry date would otherwise be wasted if not sold, hence, it’s better to sell them at a lower price. The “dignified aura” that comes with star-rated hotels also attracts discerning young people who can now, with minimal expenditure, achieve the same level of satisfaction as regular patrons, embodying the concept of “downgrading without compromising quality.” Both sides benefit from this arrangement. Additionally, the risks associated with food safety are relatively low.
However, “Restaurant Boss Insider” also mentioned that originally, the prestigious star-rated hotels saw the potential of this “low-margin business” due to the challenging nature of the hotel industry. At the same time, by introducing more versatile dining options, the hotels can also attract more customers.