Chapter 255: Five-Star Hotel Dining Area?

"Hai Ge, how did you know about this amazing place?" Xiao Lang's curiosity was piqued. If he weren't worried about the jellyfish being poisonous, he would've loved to reach into the lake and catch one.

"I just felt like climbing the mountain today. I didn't expect to find such a great place," Chen Jianhai responded casually while standing up and surveying the surroundings.

The jellyfish lake was hidden within the mountain, far from the sea, with no connection to seawater, making it an inland lake. Unlike the steep climb up the mountain, the terrain here was relatively flat, and the vegetation was dense.

"If we could develop this place properly," Chen Jianhai thought aloud, "it could definitely become a major tourist attraction in Nanjiang, drawing more visitors to Xiao Ma Jia Island."

Growing up in Nanjiang, Chen Jianhai was familiar with the unique scenery and attractions of the area. There were no golden jellyfish like these anywhere in Nanjiang. Developing this spot would undoubtedly attract a lot of tourists.

But then he shook his head slightly. Although he discovered the jellyfish lake, he didn't own it. The lake was an island resource, and whether it should be developed as a tourist attraction had to respect the wishes of the islanders. Moreover, these seemingly cute jellyfish were actually highly poisonous. Although the system indicated this was a non-toxic jellyfish lake, it was still dangerous. Without identifying the species, discussing development with the islanders would be premature.

"This won't be easy..." Chen Jianhai sighed. Discovering a new scenic spot was exciting, but there were many issues to address before development could proceed.

Meanwhile, Xiao Lang was amusing himself by stirring a jellyfish with a stick, making it dizzy. Watching this, Chen Jianhai became more concerned: "These beautiful little creatures have thrived here undisturbed. Would development harm them?"

Despite wanting to make money, Chen Jianhai preferred to earn it in a way that preserved the natural environment and enhanced people's happiness. If it meant sacrificing the habitat of other creatures, he'd rather keep the jellyfish lake a secret.

"I need to find an expert on jellyfish to understand more before making any decisions," he resolved. After examining the surroundings, he took out his phone and snapped photos of the jellyfish and the leopard-spotted silver fish. Then they retraced their steps back to the hotel.

...

At the Lang Ai Hotel.

"Yes, yes, got it," Wen Zifan said while jotting down notes from a phone call. "I'll need to consult our boss about the specifics... Okay, I'll get back to you shortly."

She hung up and immediately called Chen Jianhai. The phone rang once before he answered.

"Hello, boss," she said. "The association just called. They plan to set up a separate five-star hotel dining area at the beer festival, tentatively located at Tide Park on Huanhai Road. They're seeking input from member hotels. Should our hotel participate?"

Chen Jianhai asked, "A five-star hotel dining area? What's that about?"

Wen Zifan explained, "It means the dining area will be staffed by chefs from various hotels, preparing different dishes for visitors."

Chen Jianhai was puzzled, "If our chefs are all cooking at the festival, what about our hotel guests? Will they go hungry?"

Wen Zifan clarified, "No, the association emphasized that all hotel guests can enter the dining area anytime with their room card, without any extra charge, though they will have to pay for the food as usual. Non-hotel guests will need to pay an additional entry fee."

"So, boss, how should I respond to the association?" she asked.

Chen Jianhai thought for a moment and replied, "Don't rush to respond. Let me look into it first."

"Okay, boss."

...

After hanging up, Chen Jianhai looked out the window, pondering Wen Zifan's words. The more he thought about it, the more dubious it seemed. The beer festival in Nanjiang always had a food area, mostly featuring street food and BBQ, perfect for accompanying drinks. But now, they wanted hotels involved too?

Unable to make sense of it, he decided to call Su Jie for more information. However, the line was busy. Figuring other hotel members were also calling Su Jie, he waited for about 20 minutes before trying again.

Finally, Su Jie answered, "Chen Boss, what can I do for you?"

"Hey, brother! I'm not here to give orders, just to get some info," Chen Jianhai laughed. "Wen Zifan told me the association plans a five-star dining area for the beer festival. I'm on the island and not up to date with Nanjiang's happenings. Do you have any inside info?"

Su Jie sighed, "I guessed you'd ask about this. It's not the association's idea; it's from the city."

"The city's idea?" Chen Jianhai was surprised.

"Yes," Su Jie confirmed. "During the last Nanjiang Beer Festival, the city considered this but couldn't find the right angle. Recently, the successful hosting of 'Xiao Ma,' especially your hotel's 'extravagant' series, highlighted the potential of hotel dining for attracting tourists and boosting visibility. So, to better integrate resources and achieve a synergistic effect, the city came up with this idea."

"It aims to provide tourists with a gourmet feast during the beer festival while giving hotels a platform to showcase their strengths and appeal, drawing closer to the market and building popularity."

Chen Jianhai was surprised and hadn't expected the initiative to come from the city.

"So, this is a good thing!"

Su Jie thought for a moment and then said cautiously, "It's too early to say if it's good or bad. Our main task is to provide excellent service. Though hotel guests can freely enter the dining area and sample all the signature dishes, some guests who prefer dining quietly at the hotel might be unhappy with this arrangement. That's why the association is seeking your feedback."