Comprehensive Pest Control in Hotels
With effective hotel pest control, you can give pests the boot and hang up the “No Vacancy” sign for rodents, cockroaches, bed bugs, and other creepy crawlies.
If guests see pests or you experience a full-scale infestation, it can have a detrimental impact on the business. Additionally, because many pests carry various diseases and can contaminate surfaces, they pose a real health risk for guests and employees that goes beyond the “gross” factor.
As industry leaders in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, and Connecticut, Catseye Pest Control has successfully battled pests in hotels for decades. Let’s explore the unique challenges that hotels face, the potentially devastating effects of an infestation, and the important role of managing pests in hospitality businesses.
Introduction to Pest Control in Hospitality
In the hospitality industry, businesses like hotels and restaurants have what is called a duty of care. This duty refers to the establishment’s responsibility to provide guests with sanitary, safe accommodations. This goes beyond providing clean linens and promptly repairing any plumbing or structural issues. It’s a duty that extends to maintaining a pest-free environment.
The Importance of Pest Management in Hotels
The stakes are too high for anything but the best proactive approach to hotel pest control. Managing pests in a hospitality setting is much more feasible when the focus is on prevention. Starting with keeping pests out in the first place helps in various ways, including:
- Protecting the health and safety of guests and employees
- Preserving structural elements
- Reducing the likelihood of monetary losses (fines, penalties, lawsuits)
- Safeguarding the brand name and reputation
Common Challenges in Hotel Pest Control
A hotel setting comes with a high volume of people coming and going. Guests enter and exit at all times of day, not just at check-in and check-out. That translates to many doors opening and closing, potentially allowing pests to slip right in with them.
Additionally, many pests — including bed bugs — can hitch a ride on luggage, clothing, people, and pets. That means guests and employees could easily inadvertently bring critters into the building with them. When you consider the square footage of the hotel and the number of individual rooms and shared spaces, it’s easy to see the unique challenges these businesses face.
Common Pests in Hotel Environments
Like most manmade structures, hotels must diligently work to avoid ending up with any number of pests. Thanks to frequent room turnover and easy access to food and shelter, these properties are particularly vulnerable to bed bugs, rodents, and cockroaches. Let’s explore each of these pests in more detail.
Bed Bugs: Detection and Prevention
Hotels are consistently among the top three locations pest professionals treat for bed bugs. Data from the National Pest Management Association (NPMA) shows that bites are the most common sign of a bed bug infestation. Some people experience an immediate reaction, while others may take up to three days to see welts or other evidence of bites. Using protective encasements for mattresses and boxsprings can help prevent infestations. Additionally, it’s essential for hotel staff to routinely inspect rooms to look for signs of bed bugs. This includes:
- Presence of live and dead bugs
- Reddish-brown or red spots on bedding, mattresses, baseboards, and walls
- Evidence of molted skin
- Presence of sticky white eggs or eggshells
Mice and Rats: Signs and Control Strategies
Mice and rats can be a real nuisance. These critters can squeeze through tiny openings, making it easy for them to travel from room-to-room, wreaking havoc as they go. Not only do they leave messy (and potentially disease-riddled) droppings behind, but rodents also gnaw on just about anything. They will eat through improperly stored food, chew on woodwork, and gnaw on wires. Regularly watching for signs of activity is imperative, including:
- Droppings and urine stains
- Smudges or dark marks on baseboards
- Squeaking or skittering noises, particularly at night when rodents are more active
- Gnaw marks on packages, walls, structural elements, and wires
Cockroaches: Health Risks and Elimination
Cockroaches are among the most dreaded pests because of their association with unsanitary conditions and their ability to spread dangerous pathogens. Cockroaches can carry the germs that cause E. coli, salmonella, and listeria, and they often trigger or worsen allergies and asthma symptoms in vulnerable guests.
Cockroaches are often attracted to decaying food and organic matter, making proper food storage and garbage disposal critical practices. Regularly inspecting dark, moist areas is essential for detecting these insects as early as possible, making control easier. Seeing live and dead bugs or droppings that look like coffee grounds are the most common signs of these pests.
Elimination is possible by taking proactive steps, such as:
- Strict sanitation procedures
- Storing food in pest-proof containers and taking garbage out regularly
- Working with local pest control companies for professional rodent control
Other Common Pests in Hotels (Ants, Flies)
Flies are attracted by delicious aromas, and they can hitch a ride on people and luggage or fly right in through the front, back, and side doors. Other common invaders include ants, spiders, fleas, and termites. As with other pests, hiring experts to perform regular inspections and keep an eye out for signs of pest activity is the key to identifying an infestation early. In doing so, hotels can also get ahead of the problem before it has a chance to become widespread.
Risks Posed by Pests in Hotels
Bed bugs alone can cost hotels more than $20,000 per incident, when you factor in replacement costs, treatment costs, repairs, and liabilities. A reactive approach to bed bugs, rodents, cockroaches, and other common pests can take a huge financial toll on the business. The cost of pest removal and control is only one small consideration. Other factors include the risk to guest health and safety, potential damage to the brand’s reputation, and possible fines or costs of litigation.
Impact on Guest Health and Safety
Aside from the “ick” factor, pests also introduce physical risks to the health and safety of guests and employees. For example, rodents carry various diseases, including salmonella, tularemia, hantavirus, leptospirosis, and the plague — all serious infections that could lead to severe illness. Similarly, cockroaches contaminate food and surfaces, potentially spreading illnesses like staphylococcus, streptococcus, dysentery, and typhoid fever.
Additionally, pests like ticks and mites could piggyback their way into the hotel, hitching a ride on rodents and nuisance wildlife. Rodents, termites, and other invaders may cause structural damage or gnaw on electrical wires, as well, which could pose a fire or safety risk.
Damage to Reputation and Reviews
Word of mouth can be a powerful marketing tool. According to research from Nielsen, 88 percent of people worldwide trust recommendations from family, friends, and acquaintances more than other forms of advertising. That is fantastic news when everything goes well, and guests have a great experience. However, it also increases the potential fallout when guests have a poor experience.
The iconic Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York City faced this scenario back in 2010 after a guest was bitten by bed bugs. Not only was the hotel hit with a lawsuit for the guest’s medical expenses and distress, but the prestigious hotel’s reputation was also negatively impacted. The incident proved that even the most luxurious hotels can suffer the ripple effects of pest problems.
Legal and Financial Repercussions
Like all businesses in the hospitality industry, hotels have a legal obligation to provide guests with a clean, hygienic, and safe environment. Managing pests and pest prevention in hotels is a requirement for the establishment to fulfill its duty of care to its patrons. A single infestation could leave hotels vulnerable to liabilities and damage inflicted by affected guests. Additionally, failing to comply with state and local regulations and ordinances could result in penalties, fines, and potential closure.
Implementing an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program
Think of integrated pest management (IPM) as the hotel’s first line of defense. This multi-faceted strategic approach focuses primarily on prevention first and treatment only as needed. It’s a popular, modern approach to pest control because of its efficacy while minimizing the need for chemicals. For these reasons, it’s also better for people and the environment.
The principles of IPM in hotels include focusing on pest prevention, implementing inspection and monitoring, and managing pest control appropriately.
Step 1: Prevention — Building Maintenance and Sanitation
Keeping up with routine maintenance, including promptly fixing leaks and sealing cracks and crevices, is only one piece of the preventative puzzle. Implementing strict sanitation protocols is essential. This includes the following:
- Eliminate clutter and maintain organization throughout the premises.
- Regularly remove trash from indoors.
- Keep landscaping manicured and trimmed away from the building’s exterior.
- Maintain high cleaning standards in rooms, shared spaces, dining areas, and food storage areas
Step 2: Monitoring — Regular Inspections and Reporting
Housekeeping, maintenance staff, and other employees must be well trained in the signs of a possible infestation. Routine inspections can spot pests early, which can help prevent them from becoming widespread throughout the entire hotel. Additionally, performing regular inspections empowers the hotel staff to note possible problem areas and fix them before pests have a chance to invade and take over.
Step 3: Response — Effective and Timely Pest Treatment
Acting on the adverse events noted during an inspection is imperative. That could mean anything from promptly sealing areas where pests enter the building and installing Rodent and Wildlife Exclusion Systems to calling professionals for treatment.
Step 4: Documentation — Record Keeping and Compliance
Maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of all actions is an excellent tool to help you measure success. This should include any chemical or non-chemical control methods, treatment applications, and inspection dates. It may also include recommendations for future prevention and other strategies that could help with hospitality industry pest management protocols.
Staff Training and Guest Communication
Hotel staff are often the eyes and ears of the operation. Training all employees to look for signs of pests can help improve their responsiveness to problem situations. It also empowers them to take an active role in preventing pest activity and aids them in responding to guests’ questions more readily.
Educating Staff on Pest Prevention Techniques
Your staff must know about the hotel’s approach to IPM, the signs they should look for, and when and how they can report issues. Other ways to involve employees include teaching them about prevention, how to inspect hotspots like storage rooms, and the importance of reporting and documentation.
Protocols for Handling Guest Reports of Pests
Having a guest encounter pests is the last thing any hotel wants, but it can happen. How the report is handled can make all the difference in how guests feel when they leave. They need to feel as though their concerns are being taken seriously and the hotel is taking swift action. Employees should have straightforward instructions on how to respond, with the initial goal of calming and reassuring guests treated as a top priority.
Communicating Proactively with Guests About Prevention Efforts
It’s essential to establish the protocols that work best for the brand and the business. Additionally, it’s critical to communicate proactively with guests so they know everything the hotel is doing to keep the premises free of pests.
Professional Partnerships in Pest Control
The hotel business is ultra-competitive, and it only becomes more so as new venues open for business and the industry evolves.19 Partnering with a reputable pest control company is essential to supporting the business in its efforts and ensuring prompt responses when treatment is needed.
Choosing the Right Pest Control Service
Look for a local company that specializes in IPM and provides the ultimate experience in customer service. Catseye has decades of experience and a drive to offer an incredible customer experience to all of its clients. Other elements to consider include:
- Company’s level of expertise
- Licensed and trained technicians
- Reporting systems that make ongoing monitoring easier
- Stellar reputation and commitment to utilizing innovative treatment solutions
Benefits of Ongoing Professional Support
No matter how closely hotel staff monitors the property, having an expert conduct regular inspections can help businesses stay abreast of potential issues. With so much at stake, including financial repercussions and the brand’s reputation, additional professional support can make all the difference.
Learn more about Catseye’s hotel pest control services or contact us today to schedule a free inspection.
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