Bed Bugs in Your Business

Bed bugs are problematic for many industries including, property management, retail, food/beverage, hospitality, transportation, and healthcare. If not handled properly, bed bug infestations can be a public relations nightmare, resulting in a damaged reputation, lost revenue, possible litigation and, in extreme cases, closure.

Bed bugs usually hitchhike into a company or business from the outside on people or objects and once inside. In the case of hotels, bed bugs may enter through adjacent rooms; once inside, they are extremely mobile. Preventing a bed bug infestation is not easy, but awareness and education, as well as diligence are key elements to reducing risks of an infestation.

The first step to understanding bed bugs is to learn the facts about these nocturnal creatures including identification, signs and habits.

Early detection of bed bugs is critical, but it's only the beginning. As soon as bed bugs are suspected, a thorough inspection should be made to determine the extent of the infestation and then a treatment strategy and follow up plan, including the use of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) tools and techniques, should be discussed. Modern can provide training to help employees identify bed bugs and understand how to prevent bed bug infestations from occurring.

Bed bugs are finding their way into hotel rooms across the country. They are introduced by customers and can be a great risk to your brand if not detected early. These pests can quickly spread from one room to the next as they retreat to wall voids and other hiding spots after a meal. Housekeeping staff need to be vigilant and know what to look for as they clean vacated rooms.

Bed bugs are found wherever people congregate and as more people travel for school, business or pleasure, bed bug infestations are being discovered on board aircraft, trains, subways, and motor coaches, as well as airports and bus terminals. Early detection is critical before they spread and cause alarm among travelers.