PENANG, Feb 16 (Sin Chew Daily) — Hotels are finding ways to increase revenue during the MCO, selling food prepared by their chefs on the roadside for takeaway.

Many hotels have been badly hit by the MCO imposed to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hotels in Penang have uploaded on social media videos and photographs of chefs preparing food in the open air and managers holding up placards with attractive food prices to lure commuters, in order to generate more sales.

Jen Hotel started the food stall outside its main entrance selling fried koay teow, roast duck rice, chicken rice, Hokkien mee and fried rice at only RM7 per pack since January 27.

The hotel's head of food and beverage department, Li Feng Zhen personally greeted patrons at the stall.

She said the hotel had switched to selling street food for takeaway as dine-in was not allowed.

Hotel Royal Penang also set up a food stall to sell food in buffet style, nyonya delicacies, tea and coffee at the lobby of Penang Plaza along Burma Road. A plate of fried rice costs only RM4 while koay teow soup is sold at RM6.

Meanwhile, Red Rock Hotel manager Jeffrey Lim was photographed holding a placard by the roadside to promote tom yam bee hoon, fried rice and chicken rice prepared by hotel chefs with a minimum price of RM3.

Shangri-La Group's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa and Golden Sands Resort also jointly set up a stall to offer street food at RM10 per pack.

Cititel Hotel launched Tabao 2.0 selling nasi lemak, fried rice, laksa, Hainanese chicken chop, spring roll, teh tarik for patrons to take away. Hotel staff dressed up in creative fashion to take photos with the patrons.

Other hotels offer food packages such as lunch packs by St Gils Wembley Hotel at RM12, a takeaway meal packet at RM8 by Penang City Bayview and RM11.90 by Olive Tree Hotel.

Packages such as one-day pass and work from hotel were also available apart from takeaway food.