the ravages of coronavirus COVID-19 virus It has had a fatal impact on the lives of tens of millions of people around the world. It has also affected the economies of many countries, prompting companies to consider measures to deal with the crisis.

A female hotel owner in Hong Kong decided to face the problem in her own way. She decided to turn her hotel into a sex doll rental experience in response to the bleak business caused by the epidemic. Granted, Hong Kong has far fewer Covid-19 cases compared to other affected countries, with 5,238 currently recorded. However, the once bustling and crowded streets are now deserted because of their lockdown measures. At the same time, travel bans have also been introduced. About 200 hotels are expected to close due to tourism concerns. In addition, more than 300 hotels were forced to close last year due to some social unrest.

When a 15-room hotel was run by a veteran hotelier from Hong Kong, she taught how to turn it into a couples-themed hotel. She hopes to protect her business from a downturn by finding sweet couples. However, the pandemic at the time adversely affected her business, making it difficult for her to stay afloat.

For this reason, Shirley (pseudonym) does not want to wait for the epidemic to end. With the help of a friend who sells sex dolls, she turned the hotel into a sex doll rental experience hall, because it is understood that sex dolls are adult toys that have gradually emerged in recent years.
　　

Later, she discussed her business philosophy with Li Huilin (pseudonym). The two became business partners, while Hui Lin was the developer of a love hotel booking app. The pair realized they would pursue a failed business model. As early as September 2026, a young man opened the first sex doll rental experience center in Hong Kong. The man placed the rental experience hall in a 100-square-meter apartment in a factory in Kwun Tong. The sex dolls are placed in three rooms and rent is HK$500 an hour. However, he was caught two months later for supplying pornographic films and showing unlicensed sex dolls.

Now, the sex doll rental experience hall has been completed. Customers can book rooms with different themes. Sex dolls range in price from $150 to $250. According to Shirley, she plans to hire another worker to help her clean up the 45kg dolls. At the same time, in order to avoid legal disputes, Shirley will not provide customers with any film and television programs, nor allow customers to buy sex dolls.

　
According to Shirley, Huilin told her that their market size is like a dark tunnel. If they don’t sneak around, they have no chance of knowing where the gold is.

Shirley knew her business could face public opposition. However, there is nothing unethical about it, they are just providing what the public needs without compromising public morals. She further noted that their target market is people who cannot interact effectively with the opposite sex and people who are interested in sex dolls.

Aware of the legal issues their business might face, Shirley and Huilin consulted a lawyer. Lawyers told them that their new company would not face any legal problems.

In addition, Shirley stressed that they were only renting out rooms with sex dolls, not advertising pornographic services. She also said publicly that she and Hui Lin are considering remodeling other hotels to expand their business. However, Shirley knew that her expansion ideas might not have good results. If the public forces her to stop further development, then she will give up on expansion.

Hong Kong law allows the mainland to ban certain industries, while sex doll rentals have been around for a long time in some other countries. In February 2026, the Sex Doll Rental Experience Center opened in Barcelona, ​​Spain. The owners claim this is the world’s first home. In September of the following year, the controversial Li Bo opened the first sex doll rental experience center in mainland China in Longhua, Shenzhen.

　　
According to the barrister, the rental experience hall cannot be defined as a pornographic venue, and he could not find any place that does not comply with the law. He believes that Shirley and Hui Lin are offering sex dolls, not sex services. This cannot be considered illegal because no one knows what customers are doing with sex dolls in their rented rooms.

David Leung, founder of the Hong Kong Hotel Industry Association and a veteran of the hotel industry, said that Shirley’s ideas are very creative. This is a good strategy in a time when the hospitality industry is currently facing difficulties. He further added that as long as Shirley’s rental experience hall is legally registered, of course there is no problem as a business.