Pests who turn out to be unwanted guests

How much does it cost to fill a hotel room? That’s a question hoteliers frequently ask themselves as they evaluate their budgets and rates. But are unexpected guests taken into account? Do operators factor-in the costs involved in getting rid of these feared and unwanted guests?

Yes, we’re talking about bed bugs. Bed bugs can cause havoc in hotels, not just for guests but also to a hotel’s reputation and to its bottom-line. Like it or not, a hotel’s door is always open to them, and they may move in unannounced, at any given moment, for a very ‘long stay’. Some say that bed bugs can live up to one year without feeding and that’s truly disturbing.

Bed bugs are “hitchhikers”, meaning they get inside of peoples luggage and are unexpectedly transported from one place to the next. So, a hotel is only as safe as the next day’s guest. Despite your best efforts, a guest may unexpectedly bring bed bugs into your hotel on any given day. Likewise, your own workers can transport them to your hotel without knowing it. If they have bed bugs at home, there’s always a chance they will unknowingly bring them to work as well.

Once bed bugs enter a property, they are extremely hard to get rid of. If a bug infestation is left unattended for long, it becomes difficult to eliminate these pests because they can hide in the tiniest of locations. Oftentimes bedbugs are wedged in corners sleeping during the day. It’s like hunting a needle in a haystack.

Once they check-in, they quickly breed and spread. It’s a lot easier to get rid of bed bugs when they are caught early (when the level of infestation is low) – because at the beginning they tend to be more confined to the sleeping area. They then increase in size, and when given the freedom to roam, they sometimes disperse towards the couch, the carpet, the drapes…and even to adjoining rooms. That’s when the chances of a guest finding them increase.

If a bed bug infestation is ignored for long the consequences are a bigger infestation and larger cost of eradication. That leaves prevention and early detection as your best defense. Your staff is your best defense for doing just that. The most important first step is to educate your housekeeping staff on how to detect bed bugs as well as following best practices to keep these troublesome pests at bay.

• Because of their ability to reside in –hard-to-reach areas and crevices where they then breed and spread, sealing the areas that provide asylum to bed bugs is important.
• Use sealed mattresses and pillow encasements to make it difficult for bed bugs to lodge within.
• Train your staff to look for early clues. Ask them to closely inspect mattresses or bed sheets. Reddish or rust coloured stains that resemble dried blood can occur when bed bugs are accidently crushed while they are feeding or if they have recently fed.
• If your hotel is prone to bed bug infestations, consider partnering with a professional bug exterminator.

Some effective methods used to exterminate bed bugs include vacuuming, freezing and steam heat. All the headboards, seams, crevices, and other possible hiding places should be thoroughly vacuumed. Bed bugs generally hide within 5 feet of the bed. Once done, check all the vacuum brushes to ensure that no pests are caught in the roller and place the vacuum bag securely sealed in another bag prior to disposal. Rapid freeze for 48 – 72 hours, of bedding, pillows and bed covers using pressurised carbon dioxide, kills all stages of bed bug life on contact. Steam wash is another effective way of treating infected items.

One thing is for sure - no single technique can eliminate bed bugs—combinations of approaches are essential to getting the job done.

Ilzaf Keefahs – writes on hospitality related matters that he is passionate about, and likes to share his views with hoteliers and customers alike.

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