A 2018 study found that in India, 80% of people believe that air quality directly affects their quality of life. Moreover, 78% of those interviewed (across 17 cities), said that they regularly discuss air pollution at home.

In a post-COVID world, people pay even closer attention to air quality, whether they’re indoors or outdoors. In fact, people are now also aware that indoor air quality is often far poorer than outdoor air quality. This means that hospitality businesses that were once perceived as establishments offering respite from dust and pollution are under the scanner, and must go the extra mile to ensure that they provide clean air to their guests.

Why are hotels and malls under scrutiny?

The shift in attitude stems mainly from a more nuanced understanding of the various causes of indoor air pollution. For instance, as per the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the concentration of organic pollutants is 2–5 times higher indoors than outdoors. While this study was conducted within homes, it takes into account indoor air pollution caused by chemicals present in paint, cleaners, and disinfectants. All of these products are also used by hospitality businesses such as malls and hotels, in addition to polishes, waxes, and air fresheners.

What’s more, malls and hotels also face three unique challenges. They:

• Are typically located in commercial districts of cities
• Receive high footfall
• House kitchens, gyms, swimming pools, and/or multi-level parking structures within the premises.

When combined, these factors give rise to a number of threats to indoor air quality. Here are a few critical ones.

• Poorly ventilated kitchens in both malls and hotels directly increase carbon monoxide levels within the facility.
• Most hospitality businesses—including hotels, malls, clubs, and convention centers—are optimally located in the heart of the city. The flip side is that outdoor dust and pollution (car fumes, for example) permeate the indoor environment, indirectly worsening air quality.
• Gyms, spas, and swimming pools have high moisture levels, making them a hotbed for bacteria, mold, and fungal growth.
• Hotels and malls are densely populated but lack adequate ventilation. Hotels especially contain a large number of air-conditioned rooms, without windows for proper ventilation. In addition, they’re carpeted, so pollutants get trapped easily and for longer too.

These two factors result in humidity levels rising, and getting trapped to create damp spots, which further promotes the growth of mold, a silent, yet potent threat. While short-term exposure most commonly triggers an allergic reaction (such as coughing and sneezing), there’s documented evidence of long-term exposure being far more detrimental to health.

How adversely does poor air quality in hotels and malls impact health?

Studies conducted even as early as the late 1990s have found worrisome concentrations of indoor air pollutants like formaldehyde, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and PM10 in malls. Apart from researchers, the reason why more and more citizens are paying attention to indoor air quality is because the impact of these pollutants on one’s health is far-reaching.

Prolonged exposure to chemicals can result in headaches, nausea, throat and nasal irritation, allergic reactions, fatigue, and dizziness. It can also aggravate COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease), and cause damage to the lungs, kidney, and nervous system in the long run.

Unregulated humidity and resultant mold also contribute to a host of health problems. Some of them include shortness of breath, development or exacerbation of asthma, red and itchy eyes as well as coughing, stuffy nose, etc. Prolonged exposure can also result in more critical conditions, like pulmonary fibrosis.

Why should hotels and malls prioritize indoor air quality?

There are a number of reasons why hotels and malls must step up and take charge, but here are the two most critical ones.

For the health and comfort of their guests

The success of any hospitality business, be it a hotel or a mall, hinges on how comfortable guests feel. And today, guests demand clean air. A 2012 study brought to light that 4 out of 10 guests term good indoor air quality as a ‘highly important’ criterion when selecting a hotel. The study also showed that hotels that talk about offering clean air received better ratings.

Simultaneously, this study also revealed that despite consumers prioritizing pollution-free air, only 1/3rd of all respondents recalled advertising or promoting the hotel’s indoor air quality. Given the value that guests assign to clean air, talking about indoor air quality is non-negotiable. It goes a long way in making guests feel comfortable, improves ratings, and builds brand loyalty too.

For the well-being of employees

Unfortunately, employees are more exposed to indoor air pollutants, which means they’re at a higher risk of suffering from headaches and feeling tired, dizzy, and nauseous. Over time, this can also result in compromised cognitive function. Therefore, to preserve the health and productivity of a workforce, monitoring indoor air quality is a must.

How can hotels and malls improve indoor air quality?

Today, it’s extremely easy to prioritize this, and it all starts with understanding air quality. By using smart indoor air quality monitoring systems, hospitality businesses can easily assess the presence of PM2.5, PM10, and VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds), as well as humidity, temperature, and carbon dioxide levels. Moreover, this investment has a cascading positive effect.