Primary Indoor Quality Sources in Hotels

In hotels, there are often four main contributors to poor air quality. 

The first is bacteria, which can cause illness or trigger asthma and allergy symptoms. Bacteria can get into a hotel’s air conditioning system, causing significant problems to numerous guests. 

Mold is another common issue with hotels. If not properly cleaned and sanitized, mold can become embedded in the hotel’s walls, releasing spores that create significant breathing problems for hotel guests. 

Third, there are dust mites. These microscopic organisms can be found in carpets, pillows, and mattresses, and they prefer areas with lots of human dander. These organisms can trigger allergies and asthma symptoms, and vacuuming with high-powered machines rarely removes all of them. 

There are, of course, other causes of poor air quality in hotels, including chemical cleaners and fumes from paint and building materials. 

Finally, a big issue in visits to hotels is a lack of ventilation. In some cases you cannot open the windows so the only air you get is from the air conditioning system. If the HVAC system is not blowing clean, fresh air into your room, the air quality will be poor. 

Although it’s rare today, you may also have a lingering tobacco smoke smell in your hotel room. This is a form of thirdhand smoke. In addition, depending on the hotel policy, it is possible to have pet dander in the hotel room as well. 

The key point is that in hotels, indoor air quality can be unknown. There are certain signs, such as smell or the presence of air purifiers, but in most case the air quality in a hotel room is an unknown. That’s why it’s best to take certain measures, especially if you suffer from sensitive respiratory conditions.