In most cases, guests carry bed bugs into hotels unknowingly, in infested luggage, clothing, blankets, and pillows. Hotels with high occupancy turnover are especially vulnerable to infestation. There is little that can be done to prevent guests from bringing in bed bugs. No hotel is immune to a bed bug infestation.
People Also Ask
Hotels are particularly susceptible, due to the transient nature of their guests. One of the most recent studies, released in 2017 and conducted by Atlanta-based pest-management company Orkin, found that eight of ten U.S. hotels had dealt with bedbugs during the previous year.
Hotels usually get rid of bed bugs by reaching out to certified pest control professionals, which provide several means to control the infestation. These methods may consist of vacuuming, steam or heat treatments, and insecticides.
Despite the statistics, the chance of encountering bedbugs in any given hotel room is “pretty darn unlikely,” said Michael Potter, a professor of entomology at the University of Kentucky. Here are some simple steps you can take to make sure you don't run into bedbugs on your trip.
Bed bugs can move as fast as 5 feet per minute but can move from room to room within an hour or two. Within an hour bed bugs can move as much as 100 feet! Bed bugs can spread even quicker if they hitch a ride onto clothes or luggage.
When encountering bed bugs in a hotel, it is reasonable to request a refund or a room change. Most reputable hotels will be willing to accommodate such requests to ensure customer satisfaction. If necessary, escalate the issue to a higher level of management.