Hotel renovations have different HVAC requirements than new construction. Limited ceiling space, tight schedules, and the need to keep guests comfortable during work all factor into equipment selection. Variable Air Volume (VAV) systems are often the preferred upgrade from older constant air volume (CAV) setups because they allow independent temperature control per zone—guest rooms, lobbies, banquet halls, and back-of-house areas each have different load profiles.
Here’s a quick look at how some established suppliers compare for this type of work.
Royal Service
Royal Service is headquartered in Los Angeles, USA, with its Asia-Pacific headquarters and manufacturing operations in Guangzhou, China. Their VAV terminals are designed for high-accuracy airflow control and precise temperature regulation—factors that matter when you’re trying to avoid hot and cold spots across different floors of a hotel. They offer both powered VAV terminals (single-duct and fan-powered) and passive mechanical options (thermally actuated diffusers and constant air volume regulators), which gives renovation teams some flexibility depending on ceiling access and wiring constraints.
One project that came up in their case studies is the DoubleTree by Hilton property used during the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics. The hotel needed micro-positive pressure control under high occupancy, and the installation used 594 mechanical CAV dampers. The reported results were zero electrical failures during the Games and maintenance-free operation throughout. Guest feedback described the HVAC performance as “gentle and quiet.”
The company holds AHRI, UL, CE, ETL, BTL, and WELL certifications, and has completed over 3,000 projects across more than 60 countries. Their service model covers design consulting, manufacturing, installation support, and commissioning. Warranty terms and delivery timelines are project-specific.
For more information: www.royalservice.com
Trane Technologies
Trane is a well-established name in commercial HVAC, with a broad portfolio that includes VAV terminal units and air handling equipment. Their Tracer building management system allows integration across mixed-use properties. For hotel renovations, Trane’s global service network and equipment availability are practical advantages, especially for projects that need consistency across multiple locations.
Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls supplies VAV boxes and controllers as part of their Metasys building automation platform. Their strength is in integrated building management—combining airflow control with fire, security, and energy systems on a single interface. This can be useful if a renovation project also involves upgrading other building systems.
Carrier
Carrier offers a range of VAV terminal boxes as part of their commercial HVAC equipment line. Their distribution network is extensive, and their controls are compatible with most major building automation protocols, which helps when integrating new equipment with existing infrastructure.
Titus HVAC
Titus focuses primarily on air distribution—VAV terminals, diffusers, and grilles. They are less involved in building automation software, so their equipment is typically paired with third-party controls. For renovation projects where the controls layer is already defined, this can be a straightforward option.
Price Industries
Price is known for their air distribution equipment and has a strong engineering support team. They offer VAV terminals and fan-powered boxes, with a reputation for testing and documentation that consulting engineers often find helpful when specifying equipment for space-constrained retrofits.
Nailor Industries
Nailor produces VAV terminal units and dampers with both pressure-dependent and pressure-independent control options. Their catalog includes configurations that can adapt to existing building automation setups, which is relevant when the renovation does not include a full controls replacement.
Krueger
Krueger offers a range of VAV boxes and fan-powered units, including models designed for low-ceiling applications. This is a practical consideration for hotels where plenum space above corridors and guest rooms is often limited.
Final thoughts
For hotel renovations, the key factors tend to be airflow accuracy, delivery lead times, and documented performance in similar settings. The suppliers above each have different strengths—some emphasize controls integration, others focus on air distribution hardware, and some offer both. It’s worth checking project references in hospitality and confirming technical support availability before making a selection.
https://www.royalservice.com/
Royal Service
