Pests and Hotels | American Pest Professionals

Pests and Hotels

Pest maintenance services prevent infestations and are a much more sensible choice than to wait for an infestation before any action takes place. The constant flow of traffic through the doors makes it impossible for any hotel to consistently maintain pest-free standards unless they have a plan in place.

What Often Arrives

The list of potential non-paying guests varies across the country, but nearly every hotel could experience problems with spiders, flies, rodents, and cockroaches. Pet-friendly establishments may also have the added concern of fleas.

The most commonly problematic visitor today is the bedbug. A study of the hospitality industry said that, in the prior year, 82 percent of hotels in the United States underwent some type of pest treatment due to bedbugs. The appearance of bedbugs can cost hotels thousands of dollars to correct and has led to lawsuits.

The worry over bedbugs is so prevalent a website registry even exists for guests to submit the name and location of places where they spotted bedbugs. The registry began in 2006 and currently includes over 12,000 locations in the United States and Canada.

How Infestations Happen

Open doors and windows, endless suitcases, and deliveries to hotel restaurants all offer opportunities for curious pests. Bed bugs come into hotels in luggage and on the clothing of staff or guests. Other pests like rodents, flies, and cockroaches enter through any opening they find in the building.

Rodents often hitchhike their way inside on pallets during deliveries. Food deliveries for hotel kitchens can become a serious risk, in some instances, as rodents happily scurry in through open back doors. The potential for pests increases when the dumpsters that hold food waste sit near the open doors.

What to Change

Hotels need to perform maintenance tasks regularly and stay focused on pest-prevention steps. Maintenance should include repairing any holes in window screens and sealing any gaps around window or doorframes. Drainage systems should work adequately to prevent the risk of standing water that many pests seek.

Repair all other gaps in the structure. Inspect anywhere plumbing or electrical services enter the building. Failing to seal around the holes cut for plumbing pipes and electrical conduits is a common way infestation begins. Place screens over any vents to avoid entrance through the openings.

Other measures to undertake include carefully inspecting mattresses during bedding changes. Bedbug containment is possible when caught early. Bedbug traps all give notice of the pests when they inhabit carpet or soft furnishings other than beds. Teach staff how to identify rodent droppings or other early signs of common pest problems.

Attention to cleanliness also matters. Change garbage bags often, and clean all trash bins regularly. Clear away food crumbs, and thoroughly wash prep areas, dining tables, and the dining surfaces in guest rooms. Move dumpsters away from the building, and close and lock lids. Vacuum daily and place the contents in the dumpster at the end of each cleaning shift.

Professional pest maintenance services address the individual needs of each client. The treatment plan could vary based on building size, the existence of a restaurant or food service department, and even the age of the building. The services take place discreetly to avoid any guest concern. Contact us at American Pest Professionals to learn more.