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September 14, 2023
Several recent, high profile have brought bed bugs to the forefront of many traveler’s minds. And while travelers fear these tiny terrors, no one loses more sleep at night over bed bugs than hoteliers. This begs the question – what can hotels do to fight back against bed bugs?
While it might seem like bed bugs are making a resurgence, the truth is bed bugs have always been a problem for hotels of all sizes and tiers. In fact, a showed a staggering 90% of properties report having treated for bed bugs in the past. 82% say they’ve treated within the past year alone.
Bed bugs aren’t just a problem. They are a significant expense. that a property will spend over $6,000 per incident – this equates to more than 50 nights of revenue for the average hotel room. What this figure doesn’t account for is the cost of litigation. Statistics show that nearly half of hotels have faced litigation due to bed bugs. These costs average over $17,000 per incident.
Beyond dollars and cents, perhaps one of the greatest costs of bed bugs is the negative word of mouth and loss of reputation that follows. News of bed bugs travel fast, and properties may struggle with lost customers and declining occupancy rates in the wake of an infestation.
The sad answer is no – no matter how many precautions a property takes, there is simply no way to prevent bed bugs from entering a property. However, with the proper procedures, properties can catch bed bugs quickly and prevent large scale infestations. There are also ways to protect your investments (like pillows and mattresses) to avoid costly replacements.
Instead of hoping to avoid bed bugs, properties should consider how to minimize the cost and damage caused when bed bugs are found. Here are 5 steps you can take to fight back against bed bugs:
Your housekeepers and laundry staff are the front line of the battle against bed bugs. Make sure they know the warning signs and report any suspicions immediately. The sooner treatment begins, the more likely it can be controlled with minimal damage.
Ensure all linen and textile items are laundered properly at high temperatures. Maintain a regular cleaning schedule for items such as curtains and upholstery to ensure they aren’t harboring pests. Finally, vacuum thoroughly after each guest using a HEPA filter to capture potential eggs or nymphs.
Even the smallest crack can become a bed bug super highway. Ensure all cracks and crevices throughout the building are properly sealed to prevent spread. Repair peeling wallpaper, loose electrical outlets, and other potential hiding spots.
Pest inspections are often completed on a monthly or quarterly basis by your pest control company. This is helpful, however, more frequent inspections can help you detect pests before they’ve had a chance to spread. Completing a weekly inspection of all rooms can be a powerful pest control tool. Consult with your pest control company to create a proper inspection checklist.
One of the costliest casualties of a bed bug incident is often the mattress(es) in a room. Replacing these items can cost properties thousands of dollars. By protecting your mattresses and pillows, not only are you avoiding this replacement cost, but you are also eliminating yet another popular hiding spot for bed bugs and other pests.
is the #1 allergy bedding brand in the U.S. for blocking not just bed bugs but also viruses, bacteria, and allergens that prevent your guests from getting the rest they deserve. AllerEase® Professional takes this popular at-home protection and expertly designed it to stand up to the rigors of everyday hospitality usage.
AllerEase® Professional bed bug barrier products include mattress encasements, box spring covers, and pillow protectors.
Designed hand in hand with executive housekeepers to overcome the installation and maintenance challenges other products have.
Features include:
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Quiet. Cool. Comfortable. Protected. AllerEase® Professional offers pillow protector options for hoteliers to extend the life of their pillows.
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Get six-sided box-spring protection with the easy-to-install AllerEase® Ultimate. Guards against bed bugs, dust mites, allergens, and more.
Does the mattress encasement really prevent bed bugs from getting through?
Absolutely. These durable products have been rigorously 3rd party tested to support product claims, including the Bed Bug Barrier and Bite Test. This test involved a blood meal attractant and used a mixture of bed bugs from 5 different stages of the life cycle, eggs to adult. The results? The fabric, seams, zipper and closure all passed the test and were effective in creating a bed bug barrier.
What other tests have been performed?
AllerEase® Professional products have undergone a battery of additional tests, including viral penetration, virus blocking, antibacterial, antimicrobial, waterproofness, thermal resistance, stain, colorfastness, and temperature balancing tests.
Aren’t mattress encasements and pillow protectors hot and noisy?
Many protectors are hot, noisy, and stiff, but not AllerEase® Professional. The fabrics used for our mattress and pillow protectors are quiet to sleep on, soft and comfy to the touch, and they deliver benefits like temperature balancing technology that moves body heat and moisture away from your body.
Putting on a mattress encasement is a 2- or 3-person job, right?
Installing a traditional mattress encasement is usually a multi-person job. However, AllerEase® has a patent-pending design that guarantees installation of the Duraflex Base™ and Zip-Off top can be done by one per person in about 3 minutes without lifting the mattress.
What kind of return can I expect on my investment?
There are many significant ROI benefits of using AllerEase® Professional mattress and pillow protectors. Here are just three:
Contact us today to get a free sample of AllerEase and to discuss your property’s specific needs. Together, we can minimize the risks associated with bed bugs, viruses, bacteria, and allergens.
After a reduction in hotel bed bug occurrences in 2020, the pests are expected to return to normal levels or even increase as leisure travel rebounds. Make sure you include mattress and pillow protection as part of your Integrated Pest Management Plan.
While COVID-19 is understandably front-of-mind today, the reality is that hotel beds still can harbor bed bugs, mold, bacteria, allergens, pet dander, and more. With the need to set guests’ minds at ease, mattress protection – and protection against bed bugs – is a must.
Circa® Bed Wrap has become a favorite among hotel designers, hoteliers, and vacation rental owners by offering a quick guest room refresh without breaking the bank.
AllerEase® Platinum Mattress Encasements
AllerEase® Platinum Pillow Covers
AllerEase® Professional Box Spring Covers
AllerEase® Platinum Pillows
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