Allergies & Hotel Rooms?

[jeffersonkim]

I've been receiving complaints from guests who've been having allergy issues in our rooms. We're a 100% smoke & pet free hotel and I'm trying to isolate the origin of the allergenic particles.

Do you guys have any suggestions of where to look? I'm thinking the A/C unit, and could it come from small patches of mold in a bathroom right behind the toilet?


Are allergy issues very common in the hotels you stay at?

For those who suffer from allergies, do you think having air purifying machines available to guests on request from the front desk would be a good call?

If so, do you have any recommendations for filtration machines that are quiet and won't break the bank?

 

[BELLEDOZER]

I have severe allergies. Mold can cause severe allergic reactions in those of us who have alergies. It could be the mold that is causing the allergic reactions. I would advise you to take a small patch of drywall out where the mold is to ensure that it isn't in the walls. If it is, it is a major problem to get rid of it. There is a water resistant drywall for bathrooms on the market, but I don't know the name of it. Also airborne particles can cause allergic reactions. I have found that the A/C alone has not aggravated my allergies. I would also recommend HEPA filters that can be attached to your heating system. These remove alot of the airborne particles in the air that bother us allergy sufferers. Your willingness to offer us allergy sufferers the option of an air purifying machines is appreciated. However I myself would not use one. Good luck on finding the source of your problems.

 

[greewe]

My husband seems to have allergy problems in some hotel rooms but not all hotels. We thought it was probably the actual cleaning products used by house keeping.

 

[lovedoggies]

we have mold allergy issues and have had problems at several hotels. We just stayed at the Grand Californian and requested a Deep Clean. I informed them of the mold allergy and they did clean every speck of the bathroom. We did not have any issues at all.

Then last weekend we stayed at a Marriott in San Francisco. Asked for the deep clean there too, and even though the bathroom was spotless we had 'allergy issues'. I think it was maybe the bedspread, or maybe the carpet. I have heard that sometimes the bedspreads are not dried completely and that can cause mold, or the mini frigs can leak and cause mold in carpets. Its so hard to isolate, but I think it would be worthwhile for you to hire a firm to come in and investigate. Mold allergies can be pretty severe - thank goodness for us it is not a life threatening allergy.

Once we find hotels that are 'safe' we tend to stay at them every time. So if you can get your hotel allergy-safe I would bet you would get lots of return visitors.

 

[kylieh]

I know it won't fix everything... but for days when a room is not booked and weather appropriate is it worth having housekeeping opening windows in the morning then have someone closing them in the afternoon? Closed up rooms can contribute to mold and encourage dust mites.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have problems with the things you mention.

But the worst thing I react to is strong cleaning products. I once became freakishly ill at a brand new Westin in Bellevue, WA, and the only thing I could pinpoint was the VERY strong smell of chemicals, paint, and all the other new-construction off-gassing smells. Oddly, they didn't care. I won't be staying at THAT Westin again.

So look around for "natural" problems, but also don't go overboard with the chemicals you use to clean, either.


During our September trip I was horribly miserable at Paradise Pier. It smelled of new, but hidden (possible emergency air filter use), cigarette smoke that I did not smell in the hallway, only inside the room. We checked in late, and the room had a used towel in the hamper, and NO toiletries but toilet paper. We're fairly sure someone checked in, was caught smoking and was kicked out, but had already used the bathroom before they left.

My lungs were much happier once we left PP and went to HoJo. No cigarette smell in that room!