Tips For Keeping Your Hotel Pest Free
Tips For Keeping Your Hotel Pest Free
For the hotel industry, having a comprehensive and integrated pest management strategy is more than just good planning, it is critical to your bottom line. Pests pose a big threat to the reputation of your hotel, and implementing a strong pest management strategy will provide peace of mind that guests can continue to enjoy all you have to offer.
Here are some top tips to think about when putting together your pest management strategy.
1. Know Which Pests You May Be Dealing With
By the very nature of the business, hotels deal with a lot of traffic – from guests, to food and materials suppliers, through to team members. That means pests have plenty of opportunities to make their way in to your establishment – and the first step is to identify the threats to your business:
Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are notoriously difficult to spot, and can be even harder to get rid of. They can easily find their way in on clothing and luggage, on improperly cleaned laundry, or through various other entry points. It is important to be vigilant against bed bugs, performing regular inspections and rapidly responding to any sightings or complaints. In the event of an infestation, there are several options for getting rid of bed bugs, all of which an experienced pest management professional can advise on.
Cockroaches
Like bed bugs, cockroaches can enter hotels from a number of entry points: carried on shoes or luggage, slipping in where food is prepared or rubbish is stored, or even hiding in the walls around bathrooms, storage areas, and other spaces. Keeping your hotel free from cockroaches requires thorough, robust, and regular inspections, paired with best practices being strictly followed wherever food is prepared, stored, and consumed.
Rodents
Rodents pose a year-round problem for hotel owners looking to keep their rooms, amenities, and shared areas pest-free. As with many other pests, the key to keeping rodents away is to remove anything that might tempt them to settle in. That means keeping food preparation and rubbish areas clean, closing up entry points from the outdoors, and performing regular inspections to ensure no nests have sprouted up each season.
Ants
The onset of warm weather in spring and summer may bring one particularly troublesome pest : ants. If you notice an ant problem in your hotel, it’s time to act quickly: set out traps, clean up any colonies you might find, and work with your pest management specialist to prevent ants from finding their way inside again in the future.
2. Keep On Top Of Your Integrated Pest Management
Rather than being reactive to pest problems, you will see more success with an Integrated Pest Management Strategy. An Integrated Pest Management (or IPM) focuses on preventative measures to mitigate the risk of a pest infestation, through the implementation of regular inspections, regular monitoring, action thresholds, and control practices for when pest problems exceed acceptable levels. A smart Integrated Pest Management strategy can also help you cut costs by reducing the amount of pesticides needed and catching pest problems long before they become emergencies.
3. Ensure Housekeeping Are Following Best Practice
Whilst a focus should be on preventing pests entering the hotel through guests, it is equally as important to remember that housekeeping play a major role in keeping your establishment pest-free. Ensure that all staff are engaged in regular training, from housekeeping through to food service, and make sure that best practice is maintained on a day to day basis.
4. Respond to Pest Problems Quickly & Effectively
By working with an experienced pest management professional to implement Integrated Pest Management and regular inspections, you set yourself up for a much more effective response to sudden pest problems. A proactive approach also demonstrates to your staff that steps have been taken to identify and fix any potential issues.
allrid are leaders in pest management, and experienced working in the hospitality industry. For more information or to speak to someone today click here to contact us.