Hotel Indoor Air Quality Enhancement: Research Agenda

Abstract

The article reports on the penetration of polluted outdoor air into hotels and the subsequent deterioration of indoor air quality (IAQ). Little attention has been paid to the severity of this problem. Thus, the study specifically aims to assess the determinants to enhance IAQ in hotels and suggest a future research direction relating to IAQ enhancement. Evidence from recent air pollution studies in hotels located in the Pearl River Delta is synthesized and further augmented by studies in other cities in the territories. Six determinants that motivate the enhancement of hotel IAQ have been identified, including poorer IAQ in new hotels, worsening atmospheric air quality in cities, environmental tobacco smoke, increasing number of automobiles, property development, and airlines. A research agenda was drawn up with a focus on soliciting feedback from stakeholders about their attitudes on available and future mitigating measures, provision of hotels as pilot test sites, as well as decision-making criteria about IAQ enhancement program. In addition, the study calls for more resources for conducting IAQ-related research and advocates extending the research frontier into the inclusion of IAQ in hotel rating schemes.