“I'm stocking up on hotel reservations,“ said a Chinese mother with the assumed name Flora, clicking rapidly on a purchase link as the countdown on a booking platform ticked away.

　　“Weekends are always a challenge -- figuring out where to take the kids. Traditional travel options often fail to meet children's demands, but family resorts could,“ she said.

　　Having visited various resorts in the Yangtze River Delta region multiple times, Flora knows a lot about discounts. While these resorts don't come cheap -- the room rates often exceed 1,000 yuan (about 139 U.S. dollars) per night during peak seasons, and it's not unusual for a two-night stay to cost over 3,000 yuan -- their appeal seems undeniable.

　　During China's two major online shopping festivals in 2024, Senbo Tourism, a domestic resort brand famous for its water parks, wood houses, and family-friendly services in south China, earned a gross merchandise volume of over 100 million yuan each time, with approximately 20 percent of sales coming from pre-purchased packages.

　　Ye Jianping, general manager of Senbo Tourism, pointed out that the key to success is providing travelers with the ultimate stay experience. “When a family of three arrives, our staff always greet the children first,“ said Ye.

　　Attention is also paid to the needs of children of different age groups. For example, resorts of Senbo customize pillow options based on children's age and provide educational courses on plants and animals, as well as thematic experience products designed around career and drama.

　　“Combining accommodation with diversified additional services has become an inevitable direction for the development of the hotel industry,“ added the industry insider.