| Hoteliers spend a lot of time, money and effort on details they want guests to remember about their properties: comfortable bedding, in-room amenities and superior service. What they don’t want guests to remember about their stay are uncomfortable, poorly-cleaned or foulsmelling rooms. This can lead to a loss of repeat business, bad word-of-mouth and a drop in guest room revenue. To prevent this, hotel operators must meet or exceed guest expectations when it comes to room cleanliness and comfort. They must understand the causes of problems like mold, mildew and other offensive in-room odors and take steps to prevent or eliminate them. In-room odors can have several causes: improper cleaning by the housekeeping staff, guests’ smoking or uncontrolled humidity levels in guest rooms, which can lead to mold and mildew buildup. Ensuring that rooms are properly cleaned is relatively easy. Maintaining proper inroom humidity levels and mold remediation isn’t. Preventing and eliminating mold is important because of the health concerns that mold presents, in addition to the property damage it can cause. Mold remediation and related property repairs can be expensive, so it’s in hoteliers’ best interest to focus on prevention. 
Mold Mold needs three things to thrive: water, air and organic material. In nature, mold breaks down organic elements, which can destroy construction materials that contain organic material, such as wood and the paper in drywall. Mold is always associated with moisture. So to resolve a mold problem, unwanted moisture must be eliminated. Moisture buildup inside buildings can arise from many sources, including plumbing leaks, penetration of the building by outside moisture sources, condensation due to improper ventilation or improper humidity levels inside the building. In areas where cellulosic materials (paper and wood, including drywall) become moist, mold and mildew can grow and release spores into the air. Health problems associated with airborne mold spores include allergic reactions, infections, sinus congestion and eye, nose and throat irritation. Inhaled spores can attach to cells in the respiratory tract and cause infections of the sinuses, digestive tract, lungs and skin in people with weakened immune systems. In addition, mold can trigger episodes in people with asthma. Some types of mold produce mycotoxins— toxic liquid or gaseous compounds that, at high exposure levels, can be deadly. Inspection/Remediation Mold inspections should be performed by a professional certified as an indoor environmentalist or microbial investigator by the American Indoor Air Quality Council. Inspections can include lifting carpets and opening up wall cavities to ensure that problem areas aren’t being overlooked. An inspection will locate areas where mold is growing and identify moisture sources. When a moisture source is identified, it should be repaired immediately. Mold remediation should include procedures to remove, not simply kill, mold on surfaces and remove spores from the air. Mold remediation involves four steps: - Isolating the contaminated area to minimize the spread of mold spores.
- Removing mold spores and other contaminants from the air.
- Removal of materials from which mold cannot be removed. Absorbent materials that cannot be thoroughly dried, such as drywall, carpeting and furniture, may have to be replaced.
- Eliminating the moisture source. This can involve the replacement of pipes, roofing and/or building foundations and be a considerable expense.
| Remediation can be performed by properly trained hotel staff if the problem is limited to a small area (less than 10 square feet). Larger remediation jobs should be left to professionals such as industrial hygienists. An Ounce of Prevention Indoor mold growth can be inhibited by keeping humidity levels below 50 percent. But with the summer months approaching, humidity control becomes a challenge. Guests often leave in-room cooling systems running around the clock whether they are in the room or not. In humid climates, condensation can form on compressor coils and be blown into guest rooms by the system’s fan, increasing the relative humidity of the air in the room. Improperly maintained condensation drains also can lead to increased in-room humidity. And, of course, the warmer temperatures also can contribute to mold growth. Fortunately, property owners can turn to technology to help them maintain appropriate temperature and humidity levels in rooms, which can save money by increasing energy efficiency and avoiding costly mold remediation. For example, some systems resets the room temperatures to a level selected by management when guests are out of their rooms for an extended period, reducing energy consumption by up to 45 percent. Infrared occupancy- detection thermostat systems such as this can reduce the average relative humidity of guest rooms, which can prevent mold and mildew problems. Smoke Odors Of course, mold and mildew aren’t the only sources of in-room odor and aren’t the only sources that prevent cleanup challenges. Removing smoke odors from guest rooms also can be a difficult, time-consuming process. Choice has established guidelines for converting a smoking room to a nonsmoking room. Steps for all rooms include the following: - Clean hard surfaces
- Clean air-conditioning units and bathroom exhausts
- Clean lampshades and ironing board covers
- Clean shower curtains
- Clean walls, ceilings, linens and draperies
Additional steps include the use of an ozone machine or air purifier to clean the air in the room and deep clean the carpet. In the case of extreme odor, the guidelines call for replacing the carpet and all bedding, draperies, upholstered furniture and wall coverings in the room. Property owners also should replace air filters and clean air-conditioning units. Such extensive efforts are necessary as many guests who check into a nonsmoking room could have allergies that could be aggravated by cigarette smoke. Preventive measures and maintenance can ensure that your guests have a pleasant, healthful stay at your property and can help you avoid potentially expensive problems and repairs. Both of these conditions can make for a healthier bottom line. 
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