March 5, 2010

Bedbugs show no sign of packing their bags

London hotels reporting guest complaints on the rise

Despite being too small to notice bedbugs are now causing havoc in many hotels in the London area.

The rise in international travellers bringing the bedbug problem with them combined with the withdrawal of some treatments is being blamed.  But with afflicted guests posting feedback on trip advisor and other travel forums, hotel managers cannot simply ignore the matter hoping it will go away.

There have been some highly publicised outbreaks of bedbugs, most notably the Mandarin Oriental in Hyde Park London.  In 2007 it was taken to court by an American couple seeking millions of pounds in compensation after being severely affected by bedbugs.  The hotel made the headlines for all the wrong reasons.

Ralph Izod, managing director Dyno-Pest said, "Bedbugs multiply rapidly in warm environments and because they can survive for up to 12 months without any food, they are a pest that will not go away without treatment.  Now is the time for any hotel to have a bedbug inspection.  Waiting until the summer when the problem will have escalated only adds to the cost of treatment and in severe cases a hotel can be forced to close many of its bedrooms."  Dyno-Pest technicians not only treat the affected rooms using the proven crucifix style of treatment, the good news is that the affected rooms can be re-let within just four hours.  Ralph Izod continues, "We also train the housekeeping staff in how to spot the earliest signs of bedbug infestation.  Sometimes a member of the team can mistake bedbugs for fluff or dust.  Early detection and rapid treatment can save thousands of pounds.  It can take many years for a hotel to build its reputation and just one outbreak of bedbugs to destroy it."