Odor control in hotels is very important because you want to project a clean and neutral environment to your guests. When guests first step foot into a hotel they want to be greeted with clean and natural aromas, not bad odors masked with an overwhelming amount of scent.

It is common for people to comment on the smell in a hotel on review sites, whether it is in the room or the reception area, so make sure this isn’t a factor that will prevent people from booking a room.

How to remove smells from a hotel room or reception

The first step would be to locate the bad odors. If the smell is near the kitchen, then this might be the cause of the problem. If the smell is damp, then it may be from a broken water source. Is the smell constant, or occasional?

When you find the source of the bad odor, make sure that it is cleaned immediately and be sure to stay on top of the cleaning routine for that specific area, so the bad smell does not develop again. If the smell is from a kitchen or a toilet and is constantly being produced, then you should consider using an ozone generator to neutralize the scent.

An odor neutralizer, such as the Vectair Airsan™ Ozone Generator can be used in settings around hotels to destroy harmful micro-organisms and airborne viruses whilst breaking down foul odor-causing compounds. The Vectair Airsan™ Ozone Generator could be used to eliminate smells around kitchens and in the toilets, as well as maintaining the freshness of already cleaned areas.

Try to consider whether you would like your hotel to be completely fragrance-free or whether you would like to include a signature scent for your hotel. Both using a scent or leaving the air neutral can have positive effects. However, using a scented air freshener alongside an odor neutralizer can be beneficial when encouraging sent memory.

Why is scenting a hotel important?

The right scent can capture a hotel’s essence and spark joyful memories during guests’ stays. Scents trigger powerful memories; especially emotional ones and the power of scent can be used to enhance the ambience and create an immersive guest experience.

Memories and scent are ‘intertwined’ in the brain, more than any of the other senses, which is why the brain learns to associate smells with specific emotional memories. When a scent is used in a setting such as a hotel, it can help encourage repeat customers through memory and emotion.

A recent study into the impact that scent marketing has on enhancing brand recognition and repeat custom discovered that:

  • 91% of guests said a pleasant scent had a positive impact on their stay
  • 67% of guests say a pleasing scent in a hotel would make them feel more relaxed and patient.
  • 69% of guests say an enjoyable fragrance in a hotel reception or lobby would improve their first impression of the brand.

How to make a hotel room or reception smell pleasing?

When you are satisfied with a scent that reflects the brand and the ambience of your hotel, then you can implement them into different settings in the building. Different areas may need different types of fragrance releasing systems, whether it is aerosol, fragrance oil or airflow.

Rooms – A multi-phasing air freshener such as the Vectair V-Air® MVP Dispenser is a great way to add fragrance to a hotel room without it being too overpowering. This system can be placed in front of an air conditioning unit so when the air blows through, it takes the scent across the room. This system does not contain a battery and it is completely recyclable.

Lobby – You can enhance a lobby by including a system that delivers fragrances in a fine mist. The VIBE® Aircare Dispenser contains vibrating mesh technology that provides a fine mist of scent that lasts for hours. This system does not contain any aerosols or propellants and can be programmed for certain times of the day.

Restroom– The Vectair Airoma® Family Dispenser can be used in restrooms to provide the area with regular bursts of fragrance. This system can be programmed to be more active through certain times of the day and is available in a range of appealing scents.

When you are scenting your hotel, you need to make sure you find the right balance between no fragrance and too much fragrance. Some guests may find some scents overpowering, which could cause them to not want to return. Before you implement fragrances permanently around the hotel, ask for the opinions of guests and adapt the systems accordingly to find the perfect aroma.