February 26, 2024 FreshAir Sensor – Hilton Miami Case Study

Hilton Miami Downtown saving time and effort on security with smoking detection system.

By Jack O’Toole, Founder, FreshAir Sensor

Alfred Martinez and his security team at the Hilton Miami Downtown frequently smelled tobacco and marijuana smoke in the hallways. The director of security and safety at the active and popular hotel knew guests were smoking in their rooms, but his team could not pinpoint the locations.

When non-smoking guests complained of smelling tobacco and marijuana smoke from other rooms, security staff would investigate but could not definitively identify the room(s) with smoking.

Housekeeping would find evidence of smoking during room turnover and notify hotel security. By then, the guest had left, leaving behind a smoking damaged room that could not be rented and unhappy guests who were unlikely to stay at the hotel again or recommend it to others.

To stop unauthorized smoking, Martinez began working with FreshAir Sensor. The FreshAir Smoking Detection system immediately detects smoking and sends time-stamped, location specific Smoking Alerts to hotel staff. FreshAir Smoking Alerts are scientific proof of smoking at a molecular level.

Deploying the FreshAir Smoking Detection system has made a real difference. “We’ve saved time and effort,” said Martinez. “The Security team can now respond to incidents of smoking with a specific room to check.”

Hotel security responds to FreshAir Smoking Alerts quickly. The FreshAir Smoking Sensors detect smoking “before it overwhelms neighboring rooms,” explained Martinez. “There are much less complaints by guests about the smell of smoke.”

As standalone proof of smoking the FreshAir Smoking Alerts are indisputable, enabling Hilton Miami Downtown to collect smoking fees and win chargebacks. The system provides instant, positive operational and financial returns.

“ROI is in the black and that is good news for us. Some guests try to dispute the smoke alert charge, but we hold our ground,” said Martinez.

The FreshAir Smoking Detection system is the tool Hilton Miami Downtown needs to effectively enforce their no-smoking policy and help their team pinpoint when and where smoking occurs.

Operational efficiency was a major added benefit according to Martinez: “I would recommend using the product. Since the installation of FreshAir, the hotel’s efforts in monitoring and responding to smoking incidents have diminished considerably. That time is used on other efforts now.”

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