Mr. Meek

Security & Safety

The Key to Pest Management Success: Staff Cooperation

By Frank Meek, International Technical & Training Director, Orkin, LLC

There's no doubt that the sluggish economy has battered the hotel industry. According to Smith Travel Research (STR), U.S. hotel occupancy rates dropped 6.5 percent in October 2008 and another 12 percent just one month later. STR's 2009 projections include a 3.5 percent year-over-year decline in occupancy to 59.1 percent - the lowest rate since 2003. Lodging establishments across the country are responding to the pinch by cutting jobs and reducing budgets. As a result, your hotel may not have the financial capacity to invest in third-party training programs for your housekeeping staff during the coming months.

In contrast to the declining economy, pest activity in hotels is on the rise. According to the National Pest Management Association, bed bug infestations have been reported in all 50 states, and pest control companies who once received one or two bed bug calls a year are now reporting one to two calls each week. With multiple entrances and exits and round-the-clock foodservice operations, hotels attract pests such as rodents, birds and insects because these environments provide all of their basic needs: food, water and shelter. The constant foot traffic of hotels appeals to blood-feeding bed bugs looking to hitchhike their way inside on unknowing guests' luggage and personal items.

Now more than ever, your hotel simply can't afford to be associated with pests. They can cause expensive property damage and carry disease-causing pathogens that can threaten the safety of your customers and staff. When it comes to hospitality establishments, even a whispered rumor can have a disastrous effect on business. The rise of guest-authored reviews on travel-related Web sites allows unhappy customers to spread the word at a much faster rate, potentially damaging a hotel's hard-earned reputation, frightening away guests and bringing on unwanted litigation and media scrutiny.

An Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program is an effective way to reduce pest activity in your establishment. As an environmentally friendly approach to pest management, IPM programs emphasize proactive solutions, such as sanitation and facility maintenance, to manage pest problems. An alternative to traditional pest control, IPM uses chemical treatments only as needed instead of routinely.

Since the IPM approach relies heavily on stringent sanitation measures, the cooperation of your housekeeping staff is imperative to the success of your program. It's critical that these employees receive ongoing education on the specific actions they can take to support your pest management efforts. Even if expensive third-party trainings aren't in the budget this year, you can work with your pest management professional to get your housekeeping staff on board with your IPM program with a few simple steps:

Step 1: Notify your housekeepers of your IPM plan.

If your staff doesn't know what IPM is or why your hotel is doing it, they can't possibly help. Get the word out about your IPM program and its importance so they can support your pest management efforts. Some pest management professionals will provide educational resources to aid in the employee training process.

Step 2: Encourage housekeepers to step up sanitation.

Rigorous sanitation is one of the most important components of effective IPM, and the one that requires your housekeepers to play the most active role. Good sanitation helps eliminate pests' basic needs. Educate your employees on your hotel's pest "hot spots." Guest rooms, laundry, vending and dining areas, storage closets and waste disposal zones can all be powerful pest attractants if they're not kept clean. Let housekeepers know that even small steps like throwing trash away in the proper receptacles in their break area can help to avert pest infestations.

Train your housekeeping staff on these basic sanitation tips for pest prevention success:

• Clean up food spills immediately. Pests are attracted to all types of odors and food sources, so if you leave spills for more than a few minutes, they'll be able to detect it.
• If your hotel contains a kitchen, vending areas or individual room mini-bars, keep counter tops and floors free of crumbs and food residue. Pay close attention to drains, which tend to build up debris and residue which is attractive to flies.
• Eliminate moisture wherever you can. Make sure drains work properly, and mop up standing water in kitchens and laundry rooms. Because pests can survive on small amounts of water, keep floors as dry as possible.
• Vacuum regularly behind and under furniture and laundry appliances. Pay special attention to hard-to-reach areas, and in cracks and crevices to clean any accumulated dust or residue.
• Keep a close watch on food storage. Clean these areas often and make sure they remain dry. Warm, dark areas attract all types of pests, so check all stored items on a regular basis for droppings, live pests, damaged or destroyed goods and other signs of infestation. If your hotel receives regular shipments, rotate all products in the storage area on a first-in, first-out basis.
• Line all trashcans, making sure they are tightly sealed, and empty them often to prevent any odors from attracting pests.
• Keep the exterior of the building free of debris and trash. Dumpsters should be located as far away from the building as possible and remain closed when not in use. Keep a close watch on moisture around utility openings in the facade of the building and eliminate any standing water.

Step 3: Ask housekeepers to be your "eyes and ears" when it comes to pest management.

Right behind keeping the hotel clean, housekeepers have an important duty to alert you to problems that could be sending an invitation to pests. After all, pests can invade even the cleanest of hotels through incoming shipments, open doors or even by hitching a ride in an unknowing guest's luggage. Let your staff know you rely on them to report any pest sightings, conducive conditions and maintenance concerns. Ask them to alert you to any maintenance issues that they see so you can immediately correct them.

Your housekeepers also should be well versed in the signs of a pest infestation. For example, brown or red stains on bedding or a musty, sweet odor can indicate the presence of bed bugs. In addition, gnaw marks, droppings and dead insects are all evidence of potential pest infestations and should be taken seriously. Instruct your housekeepers to notify you immediately if they suspect an infestation so that you and your pest management professional can take steps to control it before the problem becomes more severe.

Despite the current economic outlook, pest activity is a constant threat. Effective IPM takes the cooperation of all. Commit to educating and informing your housekeeping staff on your hotel's IPM efforts today. The stronger your relationship with them, the stronger your pest defenses will be.

An industry veteran, Frank Meek has been with Orkin since 1986. In 2003, he was named among the future leaders of the pest management industry in Pest Control Technology magazine’s “40 Under 40” ranking. Currently, as the International Technical and Training Director, Mr. Meek provides technical support and training in both sales and service to Orkin's international franchises, helping them grow and develop in their specific markets. As a board-certified entomologist, Mr. Meek teaches Integrated Pest Management principles and can explain how to use all available methodologies to prevent pest infestations in various commercial settings. Mr. Meek can be contacted at 404-888-2898 or fmeek@rollinscorp.com Extended Bio...

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