The stigma of having bed bugs on your property is real and dangerous. They are proven to draw outsized attention to your establishment in both social and traditional media, tarnish your brand image and drastically affect your bottom line. Although there are myths attached to their presence, their arrival is rarely your fault. They do not reflect your overall standard of cleanliness or attention to your guests’ well-being. It’s time to debunk the myths of their presence while showing how you can avoid them in the first place.
A ruinous misconception is that bed bugs signify filth and clutter. While it’s true that a cluttered room can give bugs more places to “hide,” the presence of dirt or unkempt conditions is not what initially attracts them. They are “hitchhikers” arriving at your hotel by traveling on the clothing, luggage or other belongings of anyone entering your property. Even the most upscale hotels can fall victim to bed bug infestations; bed bugs are simply an unfortunate reality. Bed bugs are drawn to their primary food source: human blood. They will multiply and infest a location once they find it. They are excellent “hiders,” remaining out of sight in mattresses, cracks and crevices, waiting for the opportunity to feed. While keeping hotel rooms pristine is an essential guest service, giving bed bugs fewer places to hide, these pests will still find plenty of undetectable spaces. Cleanliness does not guarantee protection.
Another common myth is that bed bugs are confined to establishments outside of a city’s upper-end properties or that they favor budget accommodations. This could not be further from the truth. A hotelier cannot assume their property is ever in a “safe” location or neighborhood. Bed bugs have no preference for areas, ratings or reputation. These pests are equal opportunity invaders, regardless of locale. Again, all they seek is a “meal,” which can exist in any establishment. Even upscale hoteliers must remain vigilant at all times.
Conversely, hoteliers do not realize that bed bug infestations can be avoided. Thoughtful planning and preparation can provide peace of mind to an industry that can exist on the razor’s edge of brand damage. There are effective strategies to halt them from establishing a stronghold in your establishment. ActiveGuard® Mattress Liners are a vital tool in this battle. These proven liners provide an extended shield for up to two years, preventing infestations by safeguarding sleeping surfaces and killing bed bugs that hide around surfaces such as mattresses and box springs. They are reputation-savers.
To escape the public disrepute, brand degradation and lasting financial consequences of bed bugs in hotels, ActiveGuard Mattress Liners are a powerful and valuable asset in your bed bug-combatting toolbox. Especially when your guests’ hotel experience is of paramount importance.