With more consumers turning to online reviews to guide vacation planning decisions, even the slightest of bedbugs can deter potential guests, according to an article on The Atlantic website.
Researchers researchers Michael Potter, Jerrod Penn, Wuyang Hu joined forces to determine the economic impact of bedbugs on the hotel industry. Their findings show that bedbugs lowered the value of a hotel room by $21 for leisure travelers and $38 for business travelers.
In the study, the researchers found that bedbugs are the top reason why a guest would switch hotels. It bested a dirty shower, discovering foreign material such as blood, and signs of smoking.
