Who slept in your hotel room last night? Or sat at your dining room table? Were they sick?
Whether you are staying for pleasure or business, getting sick while traveling stinks.
In the hospitality industry, providing a safe, comfortable, and positive experience is key. While factors such as service quality, aesthetics, and amenities are commonly emphasized, indoor air quality (IAQ) is often overlooked despite its critical impact on guest satisfaction, staff well-being, and operational success.
IAQ, an afterthought before the Covid pandemic, has increasingly become a priority in hospitality for health, wellness and sustainability. Major brands like Hilton, Marriot, Sheraton, and Hard Rock—to name a few—have invested and installed high-tech purification and monitoring technologies to make their hotels healthier and more sustainable.
Improves Customer Satisfaction
Prioritizing IAQ and real-time indoor air quality in the hospitality industry is valuable for enhancing guest and staff well-being, which improves customer satisfaction and brand reputation. It also offers significant operational benefits, including potential energy savings, regulatory compliance, and a competitive advantage, especially for health-conscious travelers. A commitment to IAQ can differentiate a hotel from competitors and influence bookings.
IAQ has a direct influence on the health and safety of both guests and employees. Poor IAQ can lead to respiratory problems, allergies, headaches, and the spread of airborne illnesses. In the wake of global health concerns, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, maintaining clean, well-ventilated air has become an essential measure to reduce transmission risks and reassure visitors that their well-being is a priority.
Guests expect a pleasant and comfortable environment during their stay. Unpleasant odors, stuffiness, or invisible air contaminants can negatively affect their perception of the hotel, leading to reduced repeat business. By investing in air quality monitoring and management, hospitality businesses can create an indoor environment that encourages positive feedback and increases guest loyalty. Also, studies have shown that improved IAQ will result in better sleep, and improved cognitive function the day after. Both of which will leave a positive impression with your guests.
Employees Also Benefit
But guests are not the only ones who benefit from IAQ technologies.
Employees in the hospitality industry spend long hours indoors, often in enclosed spaces. Poor air quality can contribute to fatigue, absenteeism, low productivity, and long-term illness. The United States Environmental Protection Agency has stated U.S. businesses lose $60 billion per year due to absenteeism and low productivity. Monitoring and improving IAQ supports a healthier workforce, boosting productivity and reducing turnover rates. A safe and comfortable environment also demonstrates that management values employee welfare.
And then there’s the sustainability factor.
Indoor air quality monitoring systems can provide 24/7 real-time data for optimizing ventilation, heating, and cooling systems. Efficient management of these systems can reduce energy costs and lower maintenance. Early detection of issues such as airborne contaminants, mold, unhealthy and irritating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is key to providing a healthy indoor environment for guests and staff.
Environmental consciousness is increasingly important to travelers. Demonstrating a commitment to sustainability through advanced air quality monitoring and eco-friendly practices can set a hospitality brand apart from competitors. There are many companies such as MindClick that track and measure these factors in the competitive hospitality industry.
By prioritizing IAQ, hotels not only safeguard health and safety but also enhance guest experience and help attain sustainability goals. In an increasingly competitive market, superior air quality management can make a difference.
About the Author
Tony Abate is an indoor air quality expert and certified indoor environmentalist and Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at AtmosAir Solutions, a sustainable indoor air purification and monitoring technology company, in Fairfield, Conn.
