Working in the hotel industry, I'd like to chime in here.

The sudden rise in the bed bug problem is an alarming cause for concern. The treatments and costs involved in ridding a room or rooms of infestation, as well as the purchasing of new bedding, is a nightmare of monumental proportions.

It is a misconception that bed bugs are solely a sanitation matter. This is not entirely the case. Even the finest and seemingly most sanitary hotel properties are experiencing this growing dilemma. This isn't merely a "flea bag hotel" problem. People are under a huge misconception that a high-end property can't be impacted. Truth is, they are. Bed bugs are carried from place to place,most commonly infiltrating luggage. They literally travel. Never, ever put your luggage on your bed. Rather, use the luggage stand to place your luggage off the floor.

Properties try, at all cost, to keep any word of infestation from getting out to the general public. Regardless of reviews, good, bad or indifferent, more times than not, the general public would never know. It's a death sentence to a property if word spread of infestation.

Housekeeping staff at my property continues to be properly trained to inspect rooms and be very pro-active in alerting management if there is anything remotely suspicious in a guestroom. You have to hope the next property anyone of us visits has staff doing the same.