A number of bugs can make their home inside your hotel. From bedbugs to cockroaches, there is no shortage of bugs that can infest a commercial building. For a hotel trying to provide guests with the best experience possible, the owners need to ensure these bugs never step foot inside the building or else guests will leave and prospective customers will stay away. A hotel may even need to shut down so that fumigation can take place. Prevention is always ideal, so here are ways to keep bugs at bay.
1. Train Staff on Identifying Problems
Everyone who works at your hotel should receive training on how to identify the early signs of an infestation. For example, you want employees to be aware to look underneath mattresses to find brown spots that could indicate the presence of bed bugs. In addition to going over the warning signs, you also want to develop an action plan. When a worker finds a bug, what should he or she do?
2. Find a Reputable Pest Control Provider
Most hotel owners only contact a pest control company when a problem is already out of hand. You should find a company when things are still clean and develop a preventive action plan. This may entail a professional coming out to lay out baits and traps to take care of insects before they get inside the building. A local company will also take into account pests that are in your area. If you live by the ocean, then you may need a prevention plan that involves keeping seagulls and other annoying birds away from the hotel where they annoy guests.
3. Eliminate Food Sources
Keep the dumpsters a reasonable distance away from the building itself. This will stop mice and other rodents from getting too close. You also want to ensure every room in the hotel is thoroughly cleaned each day of the week. Cockroaches and other pests feed off crumbs and spills left behind by guests. By removing food from the area, these pests may not be as likely to enter a building.
4. Consider a No Pet Policy
Hotel visitors often want to bring their furry friends with them on a vacation. However, to make sure everyone at the hotel is happy, you may want to kindly tell guests to leave dogs and cats at home. Animals can bring in tons of pests, including fleas and bed bugs. To avoid any confrontations at the front desk, you want to make it clear on the hotel’s website that you do not allow pets of any kind. It may inconvenience some guests, but it is better than increasing your chances of bringing bugs into the building.
5. Repair Cracks and Holes in the Siding and Roofing
Pest control tips for your hotel should also include some renovations. You should have professional contractors inspect your building at least once a year to identify weak points. Over time, holes and cracks can develop in the roof of the hotel or in the siding. These openings make it much easier for rodents or insects to enter the building in the first place. It is recommended to get this work done before winter comes and the temperature drops. Pests are more likely to enter a hotel during winter for the warmth.
Aside from having to close down the hotel for a period of time, the presence of termites, cockroaches or rats can create a negative reputation for your business. Guests have no problem leaving negative reviews on Yelp, and your business can suffer greatly from one instance of an infestation. You cannot afford to merely react to a problem. Take preventive action to keep your hotel going.