The No. 1 hotel booking concern? Unfortunately, it is not a property’s commitment to sustainability. A recent Phocuswright survey of more than 1,000 U.S., U.K., and French travelers found that bed bug safety now outranks cleanliness, value, and location as the top hotel booking concern, with 84 percent choosing a certified 4-star over an uncertified 5-star. Fifty-seven percent of U.S. travelers, 55 percent in France and 53 percent in the U.K. rated bed bugs as an “extreme concern” when booking; ahead of every other attribute in every market.
According to Phocuswright, 78 percent scan reviews for bed bug mentions before booking and 71 percent check the bed on arrival. Half say they would refuse a property based on a single recent review. Only 10 percent ask the hotel directly about bed bugs.
What if you could certify your property to be bed bug free—with zero pesticides? Thanks to Valpas, it can be done. It offers a “Valpas Certified” program for customers that utilize its bed bug attraction system. The Valpas system is hidden in new “Smart” bed legs that replace existing ones. Every hotel bed is different. Valpas Smart Legs are fully customizable to meet requirements. Beds without legs can also use the system. According to Valpas, installation takes approximately 10 minutes per room.
Staff Notification
Once bedbugs move toward sleeping guests to feed, Valpas Smart Legs draw them inside thanks to a special design and material properties that bed bugs respond to. Their special design and materials mimic the bugs’ ideal living environment. The moment a bed bug is detected, staff is notified via the Valpas app that a prevention has happened. No integrations to IT systems are needed. Valpas pushes its verified, real-time proof directly into the booking platforms and AI systems where the booking decisions now happen.
According to Phocuswright, seventy-six percent say they are more likely to try an unfamiliar brand if it holds certification. Seven in 10 will pay more to stay at one too and 84 percent say they are more likely to return. Ranked as a room necessity, a guaranteed bed bug–safe room scores 81 percent, significantly above essentials such as non-smoking (65 percent), Wi-Fi (61 percent) and air conditioning (50 percent).
Currently, more than 80 properties outside of the United States are Valpas Certified. There are none in North America. The certification methodology is independently verified by Bureau Veritas on the same audit-grade footing as fire safety or water quality and recognized by the GSTC and WSHA. Hotels carrying the certification have reported a 30 percent increase in direct booking conversions.
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