The holiday season is just around the corner, and with it comes the joy of celebrating and traveling with family or friends. Hotels around the country are anticipating a high volume of bookings as TSA anticipates its busiest travel season ever. However, amidst the holiday cheer, there can be a lurking menace: bed bugs. These tiny pests can hitch a ride on unsuspecting travelers and make themselves at home when they arrive at your property. Their presence is more than just a nuisance. They will affect your bottom line as your brand reputation is typically impacted by negative word of mouth, media coverage and social media posts.
Bed bugs have already seen a large increase in activity this year. The New York Post has reported that bed bug complaints at hospitality establishments are up 17% this year in NYC, with Brooklyn seeing the largest increase among the five boroughs (a 21% increase vs. last year). The National Pest Management Association notes similar increases in bed bug activity across various sectors (private homes, apartments, stores, schools, etc.) throughout the country this year. A busy holiday travel season is sure to grow those numbers considerably.
Traditional treatment strategies for addressing the increasing numbers of bed bugs in the U.S. have clearly been ineffective. The best overall bed bug strategy must include a robust prevention plan. Although you cannot stop a single bed bug from entering your hotel, the good news is that bed bug infestations can be prevented. ActiveGuard® Mattress Liners are the ideal centerpiece of your prevention strategy. Fitted like a fitted sheet, these liners stop bed bugs from biting and laying eggs for two years after installation, stopping infestations from being established. In addition. these liners are designed to kill bed bugs shortly after contact with the fabric. This is a formidable set of attributes protecting your guest, staff and property.
Click here to learn more about how ActiveGuard can prevent bed bugs from invading and infesting your property during the upcoming holidays. Bed bugs can rapidly erase the spirit of the season.