Travel agents whose clients are concerned about hotel bed bugs now have a way of ensuring that the hotel they are booking is bug-safe.
Valpas, the bed bug safety standard for hotels, has integrated with Netstorming, embedding bed bug-safe certification as a searchable hotel attribute across Netstorming’s ecosystem of up to 1,000 B2B booking platforms.
Integration makes bed bug-safe certification a searchable and bookable hotel attribute across up to 1,000 B2B booking platforms including tour operators, travel agencies and destination management companies.
The certification methodology has been independently verified by Bureau Veritas placing bed bug safety on the same audit grade footing as fire safety or water quality.
Travellers are already checking for bed bug safety before booking. They are searching reviews, scanning reports and asking travel agents directly, according to research by Phocuswright.
The integration makes Valpas certification available via API to Netstorming’s entire partner network; meaning the bed bug-safe attribute will surface wherever travel professionals search and book accommodation.
“Bed bug-free travel is increasingly becoming a part of customers’ decision-making process when booking a trip and tied to their expectations of quality,” said Martim Gois, CEO and co-founder of Valpas.
“As this category is implemented across OTAs, traditional travel agencies and tour operators, it will help hotels stand out from competitors and, therefore, turn into a commercial advantage.”
Nicola Rizzardini, CEO of Netstorming, said that ”partnering with Valpas and displaying their certification directly in our search and hotel pages gives our B2B ecosystem something priceless: the confidence that every property they consider has been independently verified for safety. That’s a promise we are proud to stand behind.”
The standard is recognised by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance (WSHA).