Every major hotel chain has a corporate scent. Westin, Marriott, Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental. It's not a coincidence or a whim—it's a strategic decision that directly impacts guest satisfaction, repeat business, and recommendations.
Why smell is so important in hospitality
Check-in is a moment of high sensory sensitivity. Guests arrive from a journey—with the stress of travel, airports, the road—and the hotel's first impression emotionally defines their entire stay. The first smell is the first judgment.
75% of guests confirm that bad smells in a hotel would negatively influence their opinion of the establishment. And the hotel experience is a sector where online opinion is everything—an 8.2 vs 8.5 rating on Booking can represent tens of thousands of euros in bookings.
Critical areas in a hotel
Reception and lobby
The first impression. The aroma must be consistent with the hotel's category and positioning—inviting in boutique hotels, elegant in luxury hotels, fresh and clean in business hotels.
Floor hallways
Hallways concentrate the smell from multiple rooms and are especially vulnerable to stale odors. A scenting system in hallways makes a huge difference in the perception of the establishment.
Common areas: spa, gym, restaurant
Each area has its own olfactory needs. The spa needs relaxing and therapeutic aromas. The gym needs sweat neutralization plus energizing aromas. The restaurant needs kitchen odor management plus an aroma consistent with the gastronomic offering.
Rooms
Rooms present the challenge of residual odors from previous guests. A nebulization system that operates between stays can eliminate these odors more effectively than ventilation alone.
Corporate scent: building olfactory brand identity
Beyond eliminating bad odors, the advanced level of hotel olfactory marketing is the corporate scent: a specific fragrance that identifies your establishment and that guests associate with their experience. This is why many luxury hotel guests buy the hotel's air freshener in the lobby store.
At BENDIS, we work with hotels and tourist accommodations to design and implement complete scenting systems. From the lobby scent to room neutralization. Free device with any subscription. From €39.99/month including VAT.
