Air Conditioning Contractors of America (ACCA) and the Excellence Alliance, Inc. (EAI) have announced a comprehensive program to educate contractors on the Design/Build opportunities available in solving IAQ problems in the hospitality industry. The training will show them how to provide ventilation options to address IAQ challenges, including the accommodation of non-smokers and smokers, cooking odors, humidity problems, and other airborne particulates.

The program will focus on restaurants, bars, hotels and motels, bowling centers, and other public places.

The program was developed in response to recent trade articles highlighting the business opportunity for HVACR contractors in helping hospitality business owners pro-actively manage IAQ through ventilation to help create comfortable and pleasing environments, for both non-smokers and smokers.

A 1998 survey conducted for the Distinguished Restaurants of North America further emphasizes the role ventilation can play in the accommodation of non-smokers and smokers in hospitality establishments. In that study, nearly 80% of the general public responded that good ventilation can have an affect on solving smoking issues. These issues can impact an immense U.S. hospitality market. In the restaurant and bar industry, projected 1999 sales were $249 billion; for the Lodging industry, 1998 sales were $93.1 billion.