Guests vs. pests fight heats up in summer

By Dr. Alice Sinia, Orkin Canada

Warmer weather means more time travelling, vacationing and exploring the great outdoors. But while guests are busy relaxing and enjoying higher temperatures, pests are slowly crawling out of their hiding places in your hotel. As warm weather spreads and rainfall increases, pest populations grow across the board, making it essential that your pest management program is equipped to handle the heat.

Pests don’t just cause a buzz in your hotel. They can also leave painful bites or stings and risk the health and safety of unknowing guests. Birds, rodents, insects and other pests can spread harmful diseases in addition to being a nuisance on your property. Whether pests are present in your kitchen area or are found scurrying across pillows and countertops, they can put your guests’ health at risk. From minor bumps and rashes to food borne illnesses and Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome, pests are experts at spreading pathogens to humans.

Rodents, and even your guests’ furry friends, can bring in ticks, mites and fleas that use other animals to hitchhike into your building. If your hotel is pet-friendly, be sure to take extra steps to spare guests from a surprise pest sighting.

Protecting Your Reputation

A pest sighting can leave your guests running for the hills – or at least to a different hotel. One bad online review can put your reputation at risk and eat away at your business. Prevent your hotel from a negative review by working with a professional to create an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program for your facility. By removing potential pest attractors and maintaining your facility’s structure, you can shield your building and guests from pests.

Cracks, gaps and crevices around your building’s doors and windows can act as the perfect way for pests to sneak inside. Many pests don’t need much room to find a way into your space, making your facility maintenance schedule essential to your business’s pest protection plan. Be sure to regularly inspect your property’s exterior and make note of these areas. These cracks may act as potential pest entryways, so repair any spots that may need maintenance as soon as possible.

Weathering the Heat

Each year, spring and summer, brings with it a cloud of pests. The combination of warmer weather with rain showers result in an increase in the amount of snow and ice that melt around your property, creating a humid, damp environment that is attractive to many pests.

If your hotel’s landscaping is shifted toward your building, your business could be at risk of a pest infestation or even water damage. Puddles of water that pool around your facility’s foundation create wet, water-logged soil and sod that acts as the perfect nest destination for pests like flies and mosquitoes. When this stagnant water sits for a prolonged period of time, it can encourage the growth of mold and mildew, and can even cause water damage to exterior-facing doors and walls.

These damages not only draw in pests but can be expensive to repair and can reduce the effectiveness of your pest management program. Rather than risking the presence of larger pest populations, stop pests before they enter the building.

Your pest management program plays an important role in your business’s day-to-day operations all year long. Regardless of the weather forecast, an effective, proactive pest management plan is needed to beat the heat and ensure your hotel is shielded from pests. Contact your pest management provider to learn how keep your property pest-free no matter the season.

Alice Sinia, Ph.D. is Quality Assurance Manager – Regulatory/Lab Services for Orkin Canada focusing on government regulations pertaining to the pest control industry. With more than 20 years of experience, she manages the Quality Assurance Laboratory for Orkin Canada and performs analytical entomology as well as provides technical support in pest/insect identification to branch offices and clients. For more information, email Alice Sinia at www.orkincanada.com.