Going to hotel convention (hotel is on BB registry)

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Going to hotel convention (hotel is on BB registry)

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upagain

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Nov 9 2009 16:45:29
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So, I am going to an in-town (NYC) convention and I see that there are two reports of BBs on bbreg.com at the hotel that is hosting the convention. Now, I am not staying at this hotel, just going for about two to three hours in the convention room. I am actually thinking of not going because of the reports. Just wanted to see what others thoughts were on this. Could this be too extreme. (This convention is for pleasure, not business.)
nycbedbug

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Nov 9 2009 20:42:34
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Ick. That doesn't sound very pleasurable.
upagain

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Nov 9 2009 21:42:20
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The hotel is the ny marriott marquis and it is WhiskeyFest. Waiting for someone to tell me I'm going overboard here.
cilecto

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Nov 9 2009 21:46:41
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Assume any place where lots of people gather has BB somewhere, but probably not exactly where you are standing/sitting. Like in health care, we need to start practicing "universal precautions" and it's up to us to come up with the protocols. Enjoy the program.
thebedbugresource

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Nov 9 2009 21:49:35
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There are very few hotels in major North American urban cities that have not experienced bed bugs. It is how they deal/dealt with it that is important.

You must also consider than a hotel on the bed bug registry may only have had one or two rooms that were infested. These may have been treated and the hotel is currently bed bug free.

I travel regularly and I inspect my room every time. I can honestly say I have only encountered bed bugs in my room twice in the past four years.

Sincerely,

Sean
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http://www.bedbugresource.com
bait

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Nov 9 2009 22:01:10
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Go. Don't you already have BBs anyway?
upagain

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Posted 3 years ago
Mon Nov 9 2009 22:04:42
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Thanks Sean/Cilecto. Guess I needed some encouragement. I was wondering the same thing, even if there were reports in the rooms, chances of them being in a convention room? This hotel is in the middle of Times Square so..... Sean - how do you think most hotels do deal with the problem? I can only guess that it is VERY hard to do. I also wonder if most just surpress the problem or actually eliminate it.
Nobugsonme

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Nov 10 2009 4:11:05
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Any hotel can have bed bugs (and most will not be reported to the bed bug registry). However, even if a hotel has a current infestation, it may be only in certain rooms.

I travel a lot and inspect every room.

I would also take precautions on coming home to make sure you treat items and clothing brought home from the room with great care -- in case you encountered bed bugs but found no evidence.

The precautions and links to explanations about how to search a room are in the Travel FAQs.
bed-bugscouk

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Nov 10 2009 6:26:14
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Hi,

Would I stay at a hotel listed for having bed bugs, the answer is yes but I would stress that it would not change my check in procedures in the slightest.

The fact is as others have stated most hotels have had an issue with bed bugs overt he last 5 years, some have received bad press for it and others have escaped unnoticed, the fact remains that this can happen anywhere.

The reality of the problem is that you are at the lower risk in a hotel with procedures to check and detect but the lowest risk comes when you inspect the hotel room yourself before unpacking your bags and settling into the room.

I have also seen enough cases of infection during travel to confirm that you can be just as likely to pick up the problem during the journey as from the place that you stay. Therefore defense from bed bugs rests with what you do when you get home as much as how you check when you are staying away from home.

With regards the convention room I am sure if you check the seats before you sit on them the risk of getting bed bugs from such an environment is incredibly low and conference facilities are not exactly optimal envrionments for bed bugs and they would potentially have to go long periods between feeds and would most likely head off to explore more occupied areas.

In short I would not change your plans based on a report on the internet, take it onboard and take precautions by all means but not going to the convention because of reports of activity in the rooms is a little too worried in my books.

Hope that helps.

David Cain
Bed Bugs Limited
upagain

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Nov 10 2009 12:17:19
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Thanks all. Yes, we won't even be sitting in the room. It is more of a "show" then convention. Will probably be in there for 1-2 hours the most and most of that time is walking around (tasting whiskey, yeah!). I just won't bring anything home. As for the hotel rooms, I just came back from my first bb aware trip with my wife, I did the best inspection I could, and bagged everything. When we got home I basically ran everything thru the packtite including laptop and ipod (the only thing I didn't packtite was my digital SLR and lenses.) Actual luggage is the last thing I have to put in there. Lots of work but gave me piece of mind. Did my best with placing clothes etc from plastic bags into packtite, there is always that small chance of escape, but in the end I guess the goal is to REDUCE chances. I'll be going tonight, thanks for the advice. As for planning my next trip.....I'm not sure I am ready to go thru all that work again.
KillerQueen

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Nov 10 2009 12:59:57
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They’re everywhere!!!! Don't let that stop you in life. I'll send you wallet size photo, pin it to your shirt, they will not come near you =)
upagain

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Posted 3 years ago
Tue Nov 10 2009 13:22:50
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LOL!
upagain

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Posted 3 years ago
Wed Nov 11 2009 0:30:37
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Update: Went, had a great time. Interesting thing happened though. Was with a few friends and cousins, we walked into the hotel and I'm looking at all the people and I just blurt out that "one of the last things I want to do is spend a night in a NYC hotel". Out of nowhere one of my friends says, "Yeah, bedbugs!" I couldn't believe it. If it weren't so taboo to say the word, I think a lot more people could get educated in the matter. Long story short we all had a 5-10 min conversation where I expressed all that I learned on this site. So, make that +5 people who are now bb aware. Another small battle won.