HOTELS & HOSPITALITY
THE FIGHT AGAINST UNWANTED GUESTS
This spring, facilities managers should be prioritising pest management, says Paul Bates, Managing Director of Cleankill Pest Control. Here, he takes a look at reactive versus preventative measures hotels can take and analyses the leadership role of FMs in this process.
For hotel facilities managers, spring is a season of competing priorities. Occupancy levels rise, external spaces reopen, maintenance schedules accelerate and guest expectations sharpen. Yet one risk remains consistently underestimated until it becomes a problem: pest activity.
As temperatures lift in March, hotels enter a critical period for pest management. Rodents become more mobile; insects begin emerging from overwintering sites and birds actively seek nesting locations on and inside buildings. For FM teams, this seasonal shift presents both a challenge and an opportunity - one that can either be addressed through planning or dealt with reactively at far greater cost.
Pests and the guest experience Unlike many building issues, pest problems have an immediate impact on perception. A single sighting in a guest area, bedroom or restaurant can undo months of brand investment.
From an FM perspective, what makes hotels particularly vulnerable is the complexity of the built environment. Service risers, ceiling voids, plant rooms, bin stores, delivery bays and laundry areas all provide ideal harbourage. Add frequent deliveries, high guest and staff
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movement along with 24-hour operations and the risk profile increases significantly.
Importantly, many infestations develop out of sight. By the time pests are visible to guests or staff, the issue is rarely new and the reputational damage has already begun.
Why March matters March is a pivotal month for facilities teams. Pest activity increases at exactly the same time as planned maintenance, refurbishments and external works. For hotels, this can include roof repairs, façade cleaning, signage installation and the reopening of terraces and outdoor dining spaces.
Without proper coordination, these activities can unintentionally create entry points or attract pests. Even something as simple as disturbed rooflines or poorly timed bird proofing can lead to legal and operational complications later in the year.
For FMs, the message is clear: preventative action taken now reduces disruption during peak trading months.
Legal compliance is not optional Pest control in hotels is not simply a best-practice issue - it is a legal requirement. Under food safety legislation, operators must ensure that food is protected from
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