PROTECTING YOUR PROPERTY • Hire a qualified, licensed pest control professional to inspect regularly, and quickly address infestations when they occur. Work with the vendor to ensure that the following steps are taken: o Thoroughly inspect, with permission, the guest’s luggage and clothing, as well as the infested room and the new room to which the guest is moved. If a room is infested, all machinewashable bedding, curtains, rugs, towels, etc. should be cleaned separately in the hottest water and dried on the hottest recommended cycle. o Scrub mattress seams with a stiff brush to dislodge bed bugs and their eggs. o Use a heavy duty HEPA vacuum on the mattress, bed frame, furniture, floor and carpet. Discard the used vacuum bag in a sealed plastic bag before using the vacuum in another room. o Place infested mattresses or box springs in zippered plastic covers and store them for at least one year before using them again. o Seal cracks in plaster and around the baseboards of the room completely with caulking material. o Treat the room with special cleaning products and/or pesticides, if necessary. (Be aware of any laws that may confine the use of pesticides to licensed professionals.) o Reinspect the room periodically to ensure that bed bugs are gone. Although insurance is important, the key to minimizing or preventing such infestations and maintaining a positive reputation for the hotel is a comprehensive risk management program as outlined above. Bed Bug Infestation — A Concern for Hospitality Industry Continued PAGE 2 E07-1004 Sheila E. Salvatore, Editor | Editor@AdjustersInternational.com Copyright © 2018 Adjusters International, Ltd. All Rights Reserved. Insights for Your Industry® is published as a public service by Adjusters International, Inc. It is provided for general information and is not intended to replace professional insurance, legal and/or financial advice for specific cases. 800.445.1554 | globemw-ai.com ™
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