Castle or hovel, home or hotel, all can be invaded by bed bugs. Bed bugs like to hide and they sneak into establishments on luggage, clothing, and other items guests bring inside.

How to Prevent Bed Bug Infestations in Hotels

Bed bug infestations can be prevented with regular, thorough inspections in every room before and after every visit. These inspections should include looking for more than bugs and in places beyond beds.

Look for:

pale yellow to reddish-brown wingless insects 1 to 5 mm in length with a flat, oval shape
black fecal spots clustered together in the cracks of furniture
white eggs 1 mm in size that resemble tiny grains of rice, often found in or near the black fecal stains
red or rusty stains on bedding and mattresses

Inspect:

bedding
mattresses, box springs, and headboards
furniture near beds, including nightstands and drawers
baseboards, wallpaper, outlets, carpet edges, and decor
any upholstered furniture

Another important step in bed bug prevention and control is to put bed bug encasements on mattresses and box springs, to dry hotel bedding in high heat, and to frequently inspect and clean beds and other furniture.

A final step in bed bug prevention is to have an infestation plan of action. This should include:

the name and number of a professional pest control service that you can call as soon as a bed bug infestation is suspected or detected
protocols regarding closing rooms to guests, dealing with infested bedding and furniture, controlling bed bugs in common areas, etc.

Do not delay calling professionals to deal with your bed bug situation. Swift action is essential to preventing a full-blown bed bug infestation.

The Financial and Reputational Impacts of Bed Bug Infestations

Word of mouth has always been important, and nowadays, with the proliferation of cell phones and social media, word-of-mouth travels faster than water running downhill. The sighting of even a single bed bug can now have immediate and serious consequences on your hotel’s reputation even among the most faithful of repeat customers. It can take months and years to regain customer confidence and enough positive online reviews to overpower the negative ones.

The loss of customers has a significant financial impact on your bottom line as does any compensation you may need to offer guests affected by a bed bug infestation either directly by finding bed bugs or being bitten by them, or indirectly if their reservation is changed or cancelled due to an infestation. These remunerations can include reimbursements, free stays, or other forms of restitution. On top of this financial loss, there is also the worry and possibility of legal action from guests.

A final financial impact of bed bug infestations on your hotel or other hospitality establishment is the need to close rooms and pay for potentially costly eradication treatments. The easier and cheaper course of action is to practice regular bed bug prevention.

The Importance of Prevention Tactics to Keep Bed Bugs from Spreading in the Winter

Bed bugs live with people, are spread by people, and do not hibernate or die off in the winter. They can enter a low-energy state during colder periods; in warm environments like houses and hotels, bed bugs continue to thrive during winter, and they travel, too. Bed bugs can easily arrive in your hotel rooms by hitching a ride on guest suitcases, clothing, etc. Therefore, during the busy holiday season, it is important to be vigilant with the bed bug prevention strategies discussed above. The slowest months are opportune times for cleaning carpets, beds, and furniture in your hotel rooms. It can also be the perfect time to request a professional pest inspection of your hotel and discuss your establishment’s bed bug prevention needs and control strategies.

Find Help with Bed Bug Prevention

For help eradicating or preventing bed bug infestations in your hotel, Call Poulin’s Pest Control throughout Western Canada. We have an extensive history of success dating back to the 1940s, and we are the region’s largest privately owned pest control company. There’s no foolin’ with Poulin.

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