Early detection of these small unwanted guests is critical to avoiding major problems
Bed bugs have made a comeback in the U.S. in the last decade, being transported across the country with travelers’ belongings without being noticed, has allowed these pests to make their way into all types of properties: transportation vehicles and hubs, hotels, colleges and universities, movie theaters and libraries, retail stores, and even offices. Nowhere is safe.
However, hotels remain a primary concern in the fight against bed bugs.
One common misconception is that the presence of bed bugs represents a lack of cleanliness – but that is not the case. Bed bugs can live anywhere there is a food source, and since they feed on blood, hotels make a perfect spot for them to take up residence.
Once introduced to a hotel, bed bugs can easily infest mattresses, sofas, bed frames, and under carpet. They can also travel easily from room to room and are quick to reproduce. They hide in cracks and crevices, including behind headboards, during the day and come out at night to feed on unsuspecting guests.
What hotels can do to prevent and control bed bugs
Early detection through regular inspection is the best way to catch a bed bug problem before it blooms into a full-blown infestation. Although quick turn-around treatments are now available, such as low-impact heat treatments that kill all life stages of bed bugs, they still take rooms out of service and impact your bottom line.
Daily inspections for bed bugs should be performed by the housekeeping staff as they clean rooms and change linens. Rentokil, or your pest control company, can conduct training sessions with your housekeeping and maintenance staff to teach them how to identify these pests, as well as the potential signs of a bed bug problem. Download our new What’s Your Bed Bug Defense white paper to find out why bed bugs have become a broadscale problem and how your hotel can develop a custom, strategic defense plan.
You should also work with Rentokil, or your pest control company, to schedule routine bed bug inspections to catch issues that your staff may not during their daily inspections. Routine inspections can be conducted by your pest control professional with specially trained canines who alert to the presence of bed bugs, or manually with a visual inspection.
If you suspect a bed bug problem, call Rentokil to have someone perform an inspection immediately. Make note of the room number and the specific location of the pest.
The infographic below illustrates five easy steps for your staff to perform a bed bug inspection. Devoting a few extra minutes to this practice will help you to identify any issues quickly and to continue providing your guest with an optimal experience.
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