 ST. PAUL, Minn., November 15, 2010 –
Ecolab Inc. and the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI)
today announced the launch of www.bedbugtoolkit.com,
a free online resource to help hotel owners and operators stop bed bugs before
they spread. The toolkit features downloadable information and materials
on how to train staff to detect bed bugs early, as well as actions to take when
they suspect a guest room is infested. The toolkit debuted at the International
Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York City.
“In the last decade, bed bugs have rebounded because of increased international travel, pesticide resistance and a lack of awareness – but hoteliers can rest assured they are treatable, especially if caught early,” said Dr. John Barcay, urban entomologist and senior scientist with Ecolab Pest Elimination. “Hotel operators and their housekeeping staff are on the front lines in the fight against bed bugs so it’s important they can identify the signs of bed bugs and practice regular inspections as a part of daily room cleaning.” Ecolab and AHLEI’s digital toolkit can be found at www.bedbugtoolkit.com. It includes a fact sheet about how bed bugs spread, their life-cycle and where they like to hide; a poster on bed bug detection; an instructional video showing where to inspect for bed bugs and what signs to look for; and a convenient pocket card for housekeeping staff with directions on how to inspect a room and what to do if bed bugs are found. “We are pleased to join Ecolab in providing this toolkit as a resource to help hotel operators and their employees stop bed bugs before they spread,” said President and COO Robert L. Steele, III of the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute. “By supporting training on proactive bed bug inspection, we can help ensure that hotels are equipped to provide an optimal experience for their guests.” About Ecolab  With sales of $6 billion
and more than 26,000 associates, Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL) is the global leader
in cleaning, sanitizing, food safety and infection prevention products and
services. Ecolab delivers comprehensive programs and services to foodservice,
food and beverage processing, healthcare, and hospitality markets in more than
160 countries. More news and information is available at www.ecolab.com.
About American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institution Established in 1953 as a nonprofit educational foundation of the American Hotel & Lodging Association, the Educational Institute’s mission is to support AH&LA by becoming the preferred provider to the lodging industry, hospitality schools, and related hospitality industries both domestically and internationally by developing and providing quality resources to train, educate, and certify hospitality professionals. |