Smarter Ventilation for Hospitality

How Marriott Improved IAQ and Reduced Energy Costs with ZRT®

Hotels face a constant challenge: maintaining exceptional guest comfort while controlling energy consumption and indoor air quality. Ventilation systems that operate continuously often lead to overventilation in unoccupied rooms, underventilation in occupied spaces, pressure imbalances, and recurring guest complaints related to odors.

To address these challenges, a pilot project was conducted at the JW Marriott – Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota, using Aldes Zone Register Terminals® (ZRT) equipped with Constant Airflow Regulator (CAR®) technology.

The Challenge

Like many hospitality facilities, the hotel was experiencing ventilation-related issues that impacted both operational efficiency and guest experience, including:

  • Continuous ventilation regardless of occupancy
  • Pressure variations causing room-to-room cross-contamination
  • Difficulty balancing centralized systems
  • High costs associated with odor mitigation and troubleshooting

The objective was clear: implement a smarter ventilation strategy capable of improving indoor air quality while reducing unnecessary energy consumption.

The Solution: Demand-Controlled Ventilation with ZRT®

Aldes installed ZRT® solutions in guest bathrooms for exhaust applications and in vestibules and sleeping areas for supply airflow control.

The system was designed to:

  • Maintain pressure-independent airflow using CAR® technology
  • Adapt ventilation rates based on room occupancy
  • Activate boost mode through occupancy and humidity sensors
  • Improve airflow balance throughout the building

By delivering ventilation only when and where it was needed, the system optimized both comfort and efficiency.

The Results

Following a one-year evaluation period, the project delivered measurable improvements:

  • Average annual energy savings of approximately $200 per room
  • Significant reduction in guest complaints, particularly odor-related issues
  • Balanced airflow eliminating over- and underventilation problems
  • Improved indoor air quality and room comfort
  • Payback period of just 1.4 years

The success of the project was so impactful that ZRT® solutions are now included in Marriott’s Global Design Standards.

Marriott case study image

 

A Smarter Approach to Hospitality Ventilation

As hotels continue to prioritize guest experience, sustainability, and operational efficiency, demand-controlled ventilation solutions offer a practical and proven path forward.

At Aldes, we are proud to support hospitality leaders with innovative ventilation technologies designed to improve indoor air quality, optimize airflow, and reduce energy consumption—without compromising comfort.

Click the following links to learn more about our ZRT® solutions, our  hospitality applications or to consult the summarized or original case study.