The researcher behind IEQ InSight
Dr. Howook “Sean” Chang, DBA
Founder & Principal · IEQ InSight
My research has developed along a distinctive interdisciplinary path that I believe can contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the hospitality, travel, and tourism industry. My scholarship examines health and well-being in business environments through the lens of indoor environmental quality, particularly the invisible conditions that shape how occupants, guests, and employees reside, work, dine, celebrate, travel, and sleep. Because indoor environmental quality is often unnoticed despite its profound effects, my work has emphasized “visualizing the invisible” through field-based research in hotels, restaurants, cruise ships, conference venues, and urban hospitality and tourism environments. At its core, my research asks how hospitality organizations can better understand the relationship among environmental quality, health, safety, service, and perceived value. I see this not as a niche topic, but as an emerging frontier in hospitality thought and practice.
Published scholarship
Refereed journal articles
Indoor environmental quality, health and well-being, and sustainable hospitality.
Chang, H. S., Huh, C., Lee, M. J., & Noh, J. (2025). Sounds of Serenity: Understanding the Relationship Between Guestroom Noise Levels and Guest Valuations of Tranquility in Hotel Stays. International Journal of Tourism Research, 27(5), e70126.
View journal article ↗Chang, H., Capuozzo, B., Okumus, B., & Cho, M. (2021). Why Cleaning the Invisible in Restaurants is Important during COVID-19: A Case Study of Indoor Air Quality of an Open-Kitchen Restaurant. International Journal of Hospitality Management, V.94 p. 102854.
View journal article ↗Chang, H., Huh, C., Legendre, T., & Simpson, J. (2020). Exploring Particulate Matter Pollution in Hotel Guestrooms. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management. 32(3), 1131-1162.
View journal article ↗Huh, C., & Chang, H. (2017). An investigation of Generation Y travelers’ beliefs and attitudes towards green hotel practices: a view from active and passive green Generation Y travelers. International Journal of Tourism Sciences, 17(2), 126-139.
View journal article ↗Chang, H., Huh, C. & Lee, M. (2016). Would an Energy Conservation Nudge in Hotels Encourage Hotel Guests to Conserve? Cornell Hospitality Quarterly, 57(2), 172-183.
View journal article ↗Research shared with the field
Refereed conference proceedings & stand-up presentations
2026
Chang, H., Kim, S., & Na, H. (2026). The Air Conference Attendees Breathe: Particulate Dynamics in Breakfast Buffet and Banquet Dining. APacCHRIE 2026. Osaka, Japan, May 28 – 30, 2026
Conference / proceedings ↗
Chang, H., Choi, H., Yoo, K., Choi, S., Kim, S., & Kwun, D. (2026). Wellness-Oriented Conferences: A Case Study of Indoor Air Quality during Awards Dinner Banquets at Academic Conferences. APacCHRIE 2026. Osaka, Japan, May 28 – 30, 2026
Conference / proceedings ↗
Chang, H., Seo, W., Shim, C., & Pimentel, A. (2026). Making the Invisible Visible: Sleep Period Indoor Air Quality in Guestrooms of a Five-Star Conference Hotel. APacCHRIE 2026. Osaka, Japan, May 28 – 30, 2026
Conference / proceedings ↗Read extended abstract & charts →
2025
Chang, H., Mun, S., & Shin, S. (2025). Selling the Air Guests Breathe: Indoor Air Quality and Family Wellness in an Urban Resort Buffet Restaurant. The Impact 2025 on Tourism and Hospitality Conference, Hong Kong, December 7-9, 2025
Conference / proceedings ↗
Chang, H., Mun, S., Shin, S., Lee, W., & Gim, J. (2025). Breathing Well, Sleeping Well: Indoor Air Quality and Restorative Sleep in Urban Resort Guestrooms. The Impact 2025 on Tourism and Hospitality Conference, Hong Kong, December 7-9, 2025
Conference / proceedings ↗
Kim, W., & Chang, H. (2025). Indoor Air Quality as a Positive Service Quality Signal in the Hotel Industry: Its Preliminary Tests and Potentials. 2025 Global Marketing Conference at Hong Kong. Hong Kong, July 15 – 17, 2025. p. 717
Conference / proceedings ↗
Chang, H., Haug, A., & Shim C. (2025). Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution While Dining: A Case Study of Indoor Air Quality Assessment at an Upscale Tabletop Korean BBQ Restaurant in the U.S., APacCHRIE 2025, Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 27-30, 2025. p. 997
Conference / proceedings ↗
Chang, H. & Kim, W. (2025). An Assessment of Respiratory Health and Well-being During a Cruise Ship Vacation: A Case Study of Indoor Air Quality in a Cruise Ship in the U.S., The 2025 SECSA CHRIE, Auburn, Alabama, March 13-15, 2025.
Conference / proceedings ↗
You, S., Cao, N, Kwun, D., & Chang, H. (2025). An Assessment of Respiratory Health and Well-Being during an Academic Conference: A Case Study of Indoor Air Quality Assessment in a Conference and a Banquet Room, The 30th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Houston, TX, January 3-5, 2025. p. 143.
Conference / proceedings ↗
Choi, N., Chang, H., Kwun, D., Kim, W., & Lee, S. (2025). Assessing Sleep Health in a Conference Hotel: A Case Study of Indoor Carbon Dioxide Investigation in Hotel Guestrooms with Variable Occupancy, The 30th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Houston, TX, January 3-5, 2025. p. 103.
Conference / proceedings ↗
2024
Chang, H., Shin, S., Mun, S., & Marchenay, D. (2024). Conference Attendees’ Respiratory Health and Well-being during a Multi-Day Academic Conference: A Case Study of Indoor Air Quality Assessment of a 5-Star Hotel in Hong Kong. The Impact 2024 on Tourism and Hospitality Conference, Hong Kong, October 10-11, 2024.
Conference / proceedings ↗
Chang, S., Kwun, D., & Chang, H. (2024). A Case Study of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Assessment on Hotel Guestrooms Occupied by High School Students Attending National/Regional Academic Competitions. The 2024 International CHRIE Conference, Montreal, Canada, July 24-26, 2024.
Conference / proceedings ↗
Chang, H., Park, Y., & Lee, S. (2024). Examining Indoor Air Quality in Hotel Guestrooms: A Comparative Study of LEED-Certified and Non-LEED-Certified Hotels. The 2024 International CHRIE Conference, Montreal, Canada, July 24-26, 2024.
Conference / proceedings ↗
Chang, H., & Kwun, D. (2024). Making the Invisible Visible: A Case Study of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Assessment during an Academic Conference. The 2024 Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Conference for Researchers, Educators, Practitioners, and Students (THEREPS), Chicago, IL, April 5-6, 2024. p. 19.
Conference / proceedings ↗
Pimental, A., Chang, H., & Kim, S. (2024). An Investigation of Health and Well-being in Hotel Guestrooms After the Pandemic and the Wildfire in NYC: A Case Study of Indoor Air Quality in Multiple Guestrooms at an Upscale Hotel in NYC. The 29th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Miami, FL, January 4-6, 2024. p.157.
Conference / proceedings ↗
2023
Chang, H., Pimentel, A., & Papathanasiou, S. (2023). An Assessment of Well-being and Health Improvement in Hotel Guestrooms for the Post- Pandemic Era. The Impact 2023 on Tourism and Hospitality Conference, Hong Kong, December 7-8, 2023.
Conference / proceedings ↗
Chang, H., Del Castillo, B., & Cho, K. (2023). Making the Invisible Visible: A Case Study of Indoor Air Quality Assessment in Hotel Ballrooms During an Academic Conference. The 2023 International CHRIE Conference, Phoenix, AZ, July 19-21, 2023.
Conference / proceedings ↗
Selinger, I., Chang, H., & Kim, W. (2023). Chefs’ Exposure to Indoor Air Pollution from Commercial Cooking in a Full-Service Upscale Restaurant as a Case Study. The 28th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Anaheim, CA, January 5-7, 2023. p. 144.
Conference / proceedings ↗
2022
Chang, H & Probst, R. (2022). Assessment of Indoor Air Pollution from Cooking in a College Kitchen Lab as a Case Study. The 2022 International CHRIE Conference, Washington D.C., August 3- 6, 2022.
Conference / proceedings ↗
Chang, H (2022) An Assessment of Indoor Air Pollution in a Sports Bar as a Case Study The 2022 Tourism, Hospitality, and Event Conference for Researchers, Educators, Practitioners, and Students (THEREPS), Philadelphia, PA, April 15-16, 2022. p. 19
Conference / proceedings ↗
Wang, L, Chang, H & Kim, E (2022). Making the Invisible Visible: A Case Study of Visualizing Indoor Air Pollution of a Restaurant During the Pandemic. The 27th Annual Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism. Virtual Conference, January 4-6, 2022. p. 101.
Conference / proceedings ↗
2020
Concha, A. & Chang, H. (2020). Investigation of Particulate Matter Pollution in a Hookah Lounge. The 25th Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Las Vegas, NV, January 3-5, 2020. p.226. p. 188.
Conference / proceedings ↗
Ko, I. & Chang, H. & Huh, C. (2020). Investigation of Particulate Matter Pollution in Flight Cabins on Commercial Aircraft. The 25th Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Las Vegas, NV, January 3-5, 2020. p.139.
Conference / proceedings ↗
2019
Chang, H., Huh, C, & Capuozzo, B. (2019). A Case Study of Particulate Matter (PM) Pollution in an Open-Kitchen Concept Restaurant. Proceedings of the 2019 APacCHRIE & EuroCHRIE Joint Conference, Hong Kong, May 22-25, 2019. p. 1099-1108
Conference / proceedings ↗
Capuozzo, B., Chang, H. & Huh, C. (2019). Particulate Matter (PM) Pollution in Restaurant Dining Rooms: Full vs. Quick Service Restaurant. The 24th Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Houston, TX, January 3-5, 2019. p.119.
Conference / proceedings ↗
2018
Simpson, J., Chang, H. & Huh, C. (2018). An Exploratory Investigation of Indoor Air Quality in Hotel Guestrooms. The 23rd Graduate Education and Graduate Student Research Conference in Hospitality and Tourism, Austin, TX, January 2-4, 2018. p.71.
Conference / proceedings ↗
2017
Chang, H., & Lee, J. (2017). An Assessment of White Wine Temperature Variations in Glass and in Bottle at Chain-Operated Restaurants. In Sojung Lee (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2017 Korea America Hospitality and Tourism Educators Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, April 21–23, 2017, p. 3.
Conference / proceedings ↗
2016
Chang, H. (2016). Perceived Value on the Authentic Attributes of Korean BBQ in the U.S.: The Moderating Role of Familiarity in Korean Food. Proceedings of the 80th TOSOK International Conference, Pyeongchang, Korea, July 13–14, 2016. Digital copy; no page numbers.
Chang, H., Huh, C., & Lee, M. (2016). A Descriptive Study of Ambient Noise Levels in Hotel Guestrooms. In Chang Huh (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2016 Korea America Hospitality and Tourism Educators Conference, Las Vegas, Nevada, April 21–23, p. 20. Second Place Best Research Paper Award.
Conference / proceedings ↗
2014
Kim, J., & Chang, H. (2014). An Investigation of Perceived Value on Authentic Attributes of Korean BBQ. In Chang Huh (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2014 Korea America Hospitality and Tourism Educators Conference, 4, 160–167.
Conference / proceedings ↗
2013
Chang, H., & Huh, C. (2013). Would Serenity Be a Selling Point for the Hotel? In Chang Huh (Ed.), Proceedings of the 2013 Korea America Hospitality and Tourism Educators Conference, 3, 123–128.
Conference / proceedings ↗
Research support & development
Grants & proposals
Lee, D., & Chang, H (2023) The UCF Infectious Diseases and Travel Health (IDTH) Grant. Project entitled, “Keeping up with the Health & Well-being of Travelers and Employees Through Clean Indoor Air Quality: Visualizing the Invisible Visible in Hotels and Resorts in Orlando.” Requested for $20,000 (Funded)
Chang, H. (2017). EPA Grant. National Indoor Environments Program: Reducing Public Exposure to Indoor Pollutants. Project entitled, “The Use of Descriptive and Social Norms to Promote People’s Preventative Action to Indoor Air Quality: Applying a Nudge Theory to Reduce Public Exposure to Indoor Air Pollutants.” Requested for $600,000 (not Funded).