What Should a Hotel Do if It Discovers Bed Bugs?

A hotel guest has reported bed bugs in their room. How should we proceed?

Take the affected room out of service immediately and discreetly. Management should avoid dismissing the complaint until it can be ruled out or confirmed by a professional. Also, avoid moving items unnecessarily, as luggage, bedding, and furnishings can spread bed bugs to other areas.

Arrange an inspection by a qualified pest control professional to identify and confirm the presence of bed bugs. The inspection should cover the reported room and, where appropriate, neighboring rooms beside, above, and below it. Bed bugs can travel through wall voids, service openings, and corridors. Only treating the visible issue may not resolve the entire situation.

As a general rule of thumb:

• Housekeeping staff should not carry unsealed bedding or soft furnishings through the hotel
• Contain any affected items and handle them with your pest control provider’s advice 
• Launder washable fabrics and dry at suitable temperatures 
• Seek advice for other items or furnishings that may need specialist treatment
• Do not discard mattresses or furniture without professional advice

Ensure the whole process is documented, including: 

• The complaint 
• Inspection findings 
• Rooms and items affected 
• Bed bug treatment dates
• All follow-up and results

Staff should also be trained to recognize live insects, shed skins, eggs, dark spotting, and other common warning signs during routine room checks.

Treated rooms should remain unavailable until your technician confirms that they can be returned to service. Follow-up inspections or monitoring may be necessary because bed bug eggs can survive some treatments and hatch later.