South Africa’s hospitality sector is heading into a demanding summer. El Niño is strengthening and expected to become very strong, according to the Seasonal Climate Watch, which projects below-normal rainfall and higher temperatures across much of the country for the 2026/27 season.

At the same time, tourism is surging. The Department of Tourism recorded 991,696 international arrivals in July 2026 alone. This is an increase of 12.5% year-on-year, and 6.58 million for the first seven months of the year. More guests, hotter weather and full occupancy put buildings and their cooling systems under sustained pressure – and humidity is the factor most likely to be overlooked.

The problem you cannot see

Hospitality buildings generate moisture constantly. Think moisture from bathrooms, laundries, pools, spas, cleaning routines and water ingress after summer storms. Leave that moisture unchecked and it drives mould, damages finishes and furnishings, and forces air-conditioning systems to work harder than they should.

‘Most properties will check the obvious things before summer, especially rooms and cooling systems,’ says Wynand Deyzel, Commercial Sales Manager at Solenco. ‘You can easily overlook humidity because you do not always see the problem straight away. By the time a room smells damp, finishes show signs of moisture, or a HVAC system takes strain, the issue has usually been there for some time.’

Why HVAC is not enough

Air-conditioning systems are designed to cool air, not manage moisture. When humidity rises, they work overtime, consuming more energy and wearing faster. Ventilation offers little relief if the air outside is humid. This is a common condition in coastal and low-lying areas during summer.

Dedicated dehumidification removes excess moisture directly from the air. It reduces the load on HVAC systems and protects both the building fabric and the equipment inside it. The result is lower energy consumption, less maintenance and a more comfortable environment for guests.

Designing moisture out from the start

For Deyzel, the most effective approach begins before the first guest checks in. ‘The best time to think about moisture is while the building is still being designed or renovated.’ When ventilation, HVAC and humidity control are planned together, each system does what it is best at, rather than one carrying the burden of all three.

‘A hospitality building has to keep performing long after the construction team has left,’ he adds. Integrating dehumidification into the original design means the building is equipped to handle peak-season moisture from day one, without retrofitting equipment into spaces never intended to hold it.

Choosing the right equipment

Solenco recommends dedicated commercial dehumidification alongside existing HVAC – fixed systems for continuous moisture control, mobile units for temporary drying after flooding, water ingress or deep cleaning. The Solenco Fairland Inverter-Plus Commercial Dehumidifier comes floor-standing or wall-mounted to suit properties with limited floor space.

Choose the right unit based on moisture load, space use, expected running time, power consumption and drainage. Deploy mobile units quickly wherever water has intruded. They dry affected areas before mould takes hold and finishes deteriorate.