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A recent Marriott class action claims that the hotel chain disperses fragrances through their air system which could be detrimental to guest health.
Plaintiff Barbara Schaefer allegedly experienced the issue when she stayed in a Marriott hotel in the Los Angeles area.
She claims that, during her stay, she was exposed to chemicals “including carcinogenic and/or other hazardous air pollutants, and particulate matter.”
Schaefer is reportedly sensitive to fragrance and can be left with a limited ability to breathe if she is exposed to these chemicals.
The Marriott class action lawsuit claims Barbara was unaware that she would be exposed to fragrance during her stay and experienced unexpected health issues as a result.
Fragranced products can reportedly cause increased symptoms in people with asthma and other health products. The Marriott fragrance class action notes that 53.1 percent of Americans are in support of fragrance-free workplaces and 60.7 percent of Americans would choose to stay in a hotel that doesn’t used fragranced air.
Despite these preferences, Marriott allegedly choses to release fragrances upon individuals as soon as they enter the hotel and throughout their stay.
“Indeed, by the time these unsuspecting guests/patrons are aware of the pervasive scents/toxins, it’s simply too late,” the Marriott class action lawsuit claims.
People who are susceptible to fragrance-related health problems are reportedly plagued with “fear, apprehension, and emotional distress” upon realizing that their hotel uses heavy fragrance, not to mention the physiological issues caused by fragrance exposure.
“Even for those persons lucky enough to not share this level of susceptibility, the exposure remains, at best, an annoyance, an unwanted touching (battery) and/or a disruption to their culinary and other hoped-for experiences at the Marriott,” the fragrance class action notes.
Schaefer also references fragrance surveys which reportedly show that many of the compounds found in fragrance have serious health consequences.
These damaging, and in some cases carcinogenic, compounds allegedly include benzene derivatives, aldehydes, phthalates, and more. The Marriott class action also claims that these compounds can react in the ambient air to product secondary harmful pollutants such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.
“Synthetic fragrance compounds, in particular, are extremely pervasive, lodging themselves not only in the bloodstream but also in breast milk and fat-storing tissue,” the Marriott class action claims. “When fragrances hit the air, they break down, mix with other pollutants and form new compounds – ones often more irritating and allergenic than the original fragrance.”
Schaefer argues that Marriott put her and other guests at risk of developing serious health issues through their use of toxic fragrances. She seeks to represent a Class of people who visited the Courtyard Los Angeles Westside hotel since Nov. 27, 2019.
The Marriott fragrance class action was initially filed in California state court but was later removed by Marriott to the Central District of California based on jurisdiction, proposed Class size, and amount in controversy.
Did you stay at a Marriott hotel which used significant fragrance? Share your experiences in the comment section below.
Schaefer and the proposed Class are represented by Scott Cole and Laura Grace Van Note of Scott Cole & Associates APC.
The Marriott Fragrance Class Action Lawsuit is Schaefer v. Marriot International Inc., et al., Case No. 2:20-cv-00088, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
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209 thoughts onMarriott Class Action Says Guests Exposed To Toxic Fragrances
I have been working in Marriott hotels for the past 2 years and developed severe headaches that start the minute I walk in the door and get progressively worse as the day goes on, it is debilitating by the time I go home, I spend all night fighting a sharp severe headache sometimes going to he emergency room. After sleep I feel a little better by morning only to start the cycle over again the next morning, when I walk in the door in the morning the scent is so strong I want to vomit and leave, so sad because this is my only source of income, what am I supposed to do?
I’m staying at a Marriott Bonvoy (Denver Tech Center Colorado) and the first thing I was assaulted with is this overpowering smell of what I assume is lemongrass. It’s everywhere and on top of that, my room smelled like some teen boy had just gotten done overspraying himself with Axe before I checked in. I thought perhaps the person who cleaned it was wearing something, but no, it’s my room itself. It reeks of heavy, musky fragrance that blasts my sinuses every time I come back up to it. Between the main area fragrance fest and my room smelling like a mall fragrance kiosk, I’ve had a headache all day. I’m super sensitive to any fragrance and was appalled when I realized I’d be subjected to who knows what chemicals in the air because someone thought it a good marketing tool. Super disappointed that I don’t get to have a chemical free stay.
Please add both me and my husband. We too, have stayed at many Marriott hotels but the worst offender to us was an Edition Hotel in London. Far before arriving, I had sent a list to the hotel and even spoke with their housekeeping manager. They assured me the room would be fine. Upon arriving however, the fragrances were almost overpowering. We moved rooms 3-4 times and finally ended up in a suite with the windows open (During the month of December!). I was quite ill from the fragrances and I was infuriated when the hotel manager told he had NEVER heard of such a situation during his tenure. I barely kept my composure because we ALL know this is a blatant lie which is told over and over again.
I have been moderately MCS since 2011, and have stayed in numerous Marriott hotels in CA, AZ, and MD. It’s hard for me to tell if fragrances or mold has been responsible for making me sick in some of those places, as I am sensitive to both. I would be happy to join the class action lawsuit and provide a list of the places I’ve stayed. Most often, I bring a portable ozonator or a PCO filter with me and air out the room as soon as I arrive. I only book places with functional windows.
I agree because they shampoo the room and then immediately book them
Contact me. During relocation in 2021, we learned a lot. Apparently, Marriott and Hilton have similar cleaning protocols according to the hotel managers. You need to get a copy of their cleaning protocols which specify the products they bulk order for the properties. The carpet deodorizer was the worst offending chemical for us. We had to find old-fashioned buildings with non-connected air systems to avoid non-stop problems. However, we got sick every time the cleaning crew “cleaned”/vacuumed the carpets in the hallway even though we had a no cleaning policy for our room. Ultimately, they cleaned our rooms only with cleaning products that I provided). My child was too sick to enter through the lobby. We intentionally got rooms near stairways to avoid most guests and time spent in the hallways. We also required use of their ozone machine to run BEFORE we moved in, however, that didn’t always work as they would forget to ventilate out the ozone before we arrived or quizzically ran the ozone machine while the window was open. it was a very difficult 4 months from moving out of our old place, staying at various hotel properties such as Marriott and Hilton, and moving into our new rental.
My husband is staying at a Marriott right now and said the lobby and hallways reek of some type of fragrance.
Hope they win the case. The companies manufacturing this stuff have hotels and many other businesses convinced that public fragrance is going to help their bottom line $$$$. Instead they are hurting it.
Marriott, westin, Sheratons are torture chambers! I hate when
My company forces me to stay at one because I can’t leave the room or be in any public spaces. Some that are so strong that I can’t even check in without getting major headache for 24 hours ( I never get headaches or flus ever except when I stay at a Marriott hotel. The worst ones I can’t even go in to check in are the courtyard in Fort Lauderdale airport. Westin Denver airport Dfw Delta airport.
Hi,
I’m staying at a JW Marriott now and couldn’t figure out why I was feeling so awful. First thing this morning, I went to the lobby to grab breakfast and I immediately started sneezing, eyes burning and nose dripping like a faucet. I realized it must be the scent being pumped into the air. It’s awful and I feel awful and it’s definitely making for an unenjoyable stay.
Please add me. I was very sickened upon entering the lobby of a Marriott in Albany. NY. My head, hands, legs arms quickly reacted. I found it difficult to think and speak. We canceled our plans to stay. But, sadly our daughter was exposed for a couple if hours upon her earlier arrival, wait for us. It took weeks to feel more normal. However, my daughter and I are niw extremely sensitive to fragrances in everything, not just from air fresheners.
Marriott, Sheraton, westin are torture chambers! I dread when my company puts me in a Marriott brand hotel. I can barely check into the hotel before getting nausea and headache. It’s like walking into a truck stop bathroom full of urinal cakes and spray chemical fragrance, or a closed bathroom while someone is spaying hair spray. I can’t use any of the dining areas or public spaces. Basically trapped in the room (if it’s not sprayed by housekeeping) the facilities are usually impressive but they are totally repellant to me after years of having to endure that chemical torture.