Bed bugs biggest hotel cleanliness fear
Eighty per cent of travellers are concerned about bed bugs when staying at a hotel.
But only eight per cent of hotel guests have actually experienced bed bugs.
The findings come from a poll of more than 2,200 people by online travel community TripAdvisor.
The research found that cleanliness, quiet and customer service were the top three issues for hotel guests.
When asked what ruins a hotel stay, 54% said unclean rooms, 14% cited noisy guests and 11% pointed to poor hotel staff or service.
Thirty-eight per cent of travellers think the dirtiest part of a hotel is the carpet, 37% speculate that it is the bedspread, 11% believe it’s the television remote control and another 11% think it is the bathroom.
Sixty-eight per cent have experienced a dirty carpet, 64% have dealt with non-working appliances, and 59% have waited as their room was not ready at check-in, according to the worldwide survey.
When asked what makes a hotel great, 30% said location is the most important factor, while 29% cited comfortable beds, and 24% said hotel staff or great service.
Seventy-eight per cent of travellers said hotels are often “as advertised” while 17% said they are rarely as advertised.
Sixty-six percent of travellers said B&Bs are “as advertised,” 20% said they are rarely so.
Ninety-two per cent said they planned to stay at a hotel or B&B in the next 12 months.
Nineteen per cent will stay at a hotel or B&B more than 10 times in the coming year, and 45% plan two to four stays.
Michele Perry, vice president of global communications for TripAdvisor, said: “Your hotel experience can make or break your vacation and we’ve found that travellers don’t ask for much. Cleanliness is the top travel requirement among TripAdvisor members and that doesn’t seem like too much to ask.”
by Phil Davies
Phil Davies
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Major rail disruptions around and in Berlin until early 2026