The Truth About Bed Bugs: Proactive Policies For Hospitality Professionals

By Stephen Zagor—Dean, School of Business & Management Studies

As many New Yorkers already know, bed bugs are everywhere—subway cars, offices, department stores, movie theatres, everywhere. But of all the places they hide, hotels—with their never-ending flow of new overnight guests—are one of the most likely places for the little creatures to hop a ride to your home on your clothes or bags.

Yet, as a hospitality professional, my initial disgust regarding bed bugs quickly turned to curiosity—and the data I found was shocking. According to the Bed Bug Registry, the list of affected hotels encompasses everything from Economy Inns to $700+ per night luxury suites. Not only are these little critters a customer service issue, but they are also a public relations nightmare for any hotel unlucky enough to be under attack.

So what's a hotel to do? It's basically impossible to prevent bed bugs from entering, given that travelers are an easy transport mode for the creatures. That leaves proactive initiatives as the best course of action, specifically in two areas: Inspect to Protect and Damage Control.