After many years of virtual eradication from the hospitality industry, the bed bug is back and showing up in even the most exclusive hotels and resorts. Although the exact reasons for their resurgence are debated, one thing is for sure – these tiny bugs on bed sheets pose a big threat to your hotel.

The Problem

Bed bugs are small, nocturnal, blood-feeding insects that can hitchhike in a traveler’s suitcase or clothing. Once they're inside a building, bed bugs can travel from room to room, spreading the problem (and the irritation) to multiple rooms, floors and guests.

While bed bugs aren’t known to spread disease, their bites can cause irritating, itchy bumps on guests. More importantly, they can seriously harm your business by upsetting guests, generating bad publicity, damaging your reputation or worse, raising legal concerns.

The Solution

“While you can't prevent introduction of bed bugs in hotels,” says Dr. Joelle Olson, Ecolab Pest Elimination Director of Research & Development, “you can stop them from developing into an infestation and spreading throughout your facility by being more proactive.” 

Dr. Olson recommends that hotels teach housekeeping staff how to inspect for and recognize the telltale signs of a bed bug infestation:

• Examine all bed sheets for blood stains
• Examine the folds and seams of the mattress, mattress cover and box spring for signs of activity, including bed bug eggs, live or dead bugs, fecal stains, shed skins
• Examine headboards closely for bed bugs
• Examine wallpaper and/or moldings around headboards

Vigilance is key to preventing bed bug infestations. As Dr. Joelle Olson notes, “Daily inspections of rooms – and quick action if activity is detected – should nip bed bugs before they have a chance to bite you in your bottom line.”