30Dec/16

Why Your Hospitality Business Needs US…

We live in a world of whistle-blowers -That’s why!

 

Any hotel guest or restaurant patron is quick to leave a review, make a post and upload a photo…of a bad experience.

Sadly, that’s the truth! How many people run home and post a review about a great clean dining or hotel experience – not many!

But, we sure see a lot of david-downers and negative-nelly’s posting their rants about a less than stellar experience. It’s a social condition that we haven’t quite figured out yet. It’s an odd mindset of having to say something bad online but not address it directly with management.

Even though we don’t know why people do it – we know it happens.

In this day and age, it’s more important than ever to be diligent in your service to customers – bad news travels fast and good news seems hard to find.

We can help you in one particular aspect of your business – and it’s an aspect we think is important to customer satisfaction and peace of mind.

We want you to stay off the radar in the rodent department!

The hospitality industry is steadily beat-down with a barrage of rants.

A bad review is expensive and works against your marketing efforts.

Now we can’t help you with general customer service or day to day operations – but we can make sure that your business is rodent and pest free.

The last thing you want is to see a picture of a bed bug or cockroach end up on trip advisor!

You also don’t want to see mice or bugs end up on your restaurant review. Let’s be honest, hotels and restaurants have a high guest turn-over and pest issues are real – but they are also avoidable and detectable with regular monitoring and management.

If you have pest issues, we don’t want your guests and patrons to be the first to know about it.

So, we encourage you to allot a pest management fee into your monthly budget – just like you would for advertising or maintenance. It’s an invaluable part of taking proper measures to maintain your business.

The best defense against pest problems is offence.

We can help silence the negative nelly’s and keep you in the good books.

Your reputation depends on it.

Get in touch with us to see what we can do to keep pest management under control in your business, all year long.

30Nov/16

Pest Management & Why it’s a Valuable Investment for Your Properties

During your journey as a real estate investor, discovering a pest problem is not a matter of if you will, it’s when. We believe in defense before offense and deliver customized solutions based on this principle.

Working with investors with multiple properties including single family homes, townhouses, duplexes, apartment buildings and more is our specialty. We work with all types of investors to create a customized solution and prevention plan for each property on your roster.

We specialize in:

  • Rodent control
  • Bed bugs
  • Cockroaches
  • Wasp services

Myth: Working with a pest management company is an added and unnecessary expense.

Reality: Working with a pest management company will SAVE you money! The #1 way is by limiting your vacancies with regular maintenance and inspections. The list of benefits for working with a pest management company is long and includes:

  1. Cost control.

An infestation can end up costing thousands of dollars in extermination services and repairs. Many of the pests we control, can cause excessive damage without your knowledge and can quickly spiral out of control. Defending your properties will be a more cost effective solution than controlling an infestation by far.

  1. Long term tenants.

In our experience, having a monthly inspection for pests is beneficial to your tenants as well as your investment. Tenants feel more secure knowing you are taking care of the property and that it is a safe environment to live in. We have seen multiple properties on our monthly inspection list keep tenants for longer periods of time as the inspections give them security. Word travels quickly and when you take care of your tenants your reputation will spread and could lead to long lists of tenants waiting for a spot to open in your building.

  1. Save time.

DIY pest management is extremely time consuming. Your time is valuable and could be used to work with your existing properties or work on expanding your portfolio. Pest management is not one size fits all and DIY pest management is usually ineffective at protecting against pests. Our professionals take pest control seriously and are effective at dealing with a wide variety of pests and treatments.

  1. Avoid an infestation.

Catching a pest problem early on is essential to avoiding an infestation. Regularly scheduled pest assessments are the only way to protect your property against infestation. Early detection of a small pest problem can save you thousands of dollars in damages in the long run.

  1. Hands off, worry free partnership.

Premier Pest Management creates a customized plan that includes regularly scheduled visits to your properties. Setting up a regular schedule of visits takes booking an assessment off your to do list and guarantees you never miss an appointment. Diligence is necessary to efficiently monitor your properties for pests.

26Nov/16

How To Avoid Mice In Your Home

 

Avoid having mice stirring in your house this holiday season!

With winter upon us and temperatures dropping it’s become the time of the year where many homeowners begin to see signs of pests seeking warmer environments. Mice are one of the worst pests that can move into your home.

While their faces may be cute, the damage they can cause may be more than you realize. Spoiling food, soiling floors and surfaces and spreading bacteria around your home are just a few of the nuisances, and dangers, presented by these unwanted guests.

To prevent these furry little friends from entering your home with these 5 tips:

  1. Don’t welcome them with open arms.

The easiest way for mice to enter your home is right through an open door. They will take advantage of any opportunity to sneak into your home without you even knowing. Keep all entry doors and garage doors stay closed unless absolutely necessary.

  1. Seal the deal.

If mice are unable to enter your home through the front door they will find another way. Cracks, gaps, breaks or holes in your walls or around windows are all welcoming spots for mice. Caulk around openings smaller than ¼ inch and fill openings larger than a dime with copper wire mesh.

  1. Setup a barricade.

Block off exhaust vents and chimneys with ¼ inch hardware cloth. ¼ inch is thick enough that the mice are unable to chew their way through and enter your home. – Steel Wool is also a great deterrent.

  1. Remove the buffet.

Put all food away after dinner and do not leave unwashed dishes sitting out. Pet food bowls also need to be washed, cleaned and put away as kibble is another favorite snack for mice. With a food source not readily available, mice won’t have many reasons to stay around for long.

  1. Spread the holiday cheer.

Peppermint oil is a natural, non-toxic mouse repellent. How fitting for this time of the year! Mixing two teaspoons of peppermint oil with one cup of water in a spray bottle can protect your home from these little guys while giving your home a holiday smell. Spray the mixture around door frames, on walls and floors, etc.

Premier Pest Management is happy to provide you with simple, DIY tips to keep your home pest free. If you’re noticing your DIY efforts are unsuccessful our home pest protection program is an excellent option to keep your home pest free year round.

 

07Nov/16

Commercial Pest Problems

 

premier

Hotels, restaurants and other businesses have a deep, dark secret that owners and managers like to keep under wraps; we know that you are not exempt from pest problems. We also know that you did nothing to attract bedbugs, cockroaches or other unwanted pests into your business but once they are there- you better act fast!

We will quickly and quietly cure your problem.

At Premier Pest we know your hotel depends on having no vacancy and that a pest problem is sure to turn travelers away.

We know that you can’t close down your restaurant, or any other retail business as this costs you money…

You also do not need rumors to start flying!

We offer several confidential pest control solutions for commercial business, including:

Night Assessments

We provide night time assessments of vacant rooms to check for signs of pests and to treat pest problems. Out of sight, out of mind is our policy. We strive to provide 100% private assessments for our hotel clients.

 

Confidential Vehicles

There is nothing worse for business than a pest control vehicle in the parking lot as potential guests are pulling in. Premier Pest will assess your pest problem and needs in an unmarked vehicle, always.

 

Monthly Assessments

Exclusively for hotels, Premier Pest offers monthly assessment services. During your monthly assessment we will inspect between 6 and 10 unoccupied rooms as a precautionary and preventative measure against infestations.

The most common culprit of infestation in hotels is bed bugs. They can spread quickly turning into an infestation in as little as a couple of months. Ensuring proper education of your staff and having a pest prevention plan in place is ideal to keep your hotel running smoothly.

 

One simple call to Premier Pest can ensure your hotels pest problem is treated quickly or better yet prevented all together!

Get in touch with us to find out more.

01Nov/16

The Unwanted House Guests – Maple Bugs In Saskatchewan

 

They won’t harm you – but they will move into your home, make a mess and leave a foul smell behind – Who wants a guest like that?

With fall in full swing we have seen a drastic increase in box elder bug sightings here in Regina. Also known as the maple bug, box elders become an annoyance in the fall when the cooler weather sets in.  They are an agricultural pest – they feed all summer in crops and fruit trees, then they look to bunk down in your home for the winter. We’re going to let you know how to detect them and explain why they aren’t a health hazard, just a dirty, smelly, annoyance.

 Identify the Maple Bug

Maple bugs are black with red or orange markings and are approximately 12.7 mm in length as a full grown adult. When nymphs first hatch they are bright red and stick close together for warmth. These pests release a compound that deters their predators allowing them to grow rapidly without being preyed on.

Ideal Living Conditions

Maple bugs only nest indoors during the fall and winter. During spring and summer, they dwell in box elder, maple and ash trees, giving preference to female box elders. Maple bugs are quite harmless and do very minimal damage to any trees they encounter. They are commonly found grouped together along warm outside walls of houses and buildings, along foundations, under loose siding, under windows and in walls/door cracks. Commonly, we see an influx of maple bugs in the spring as they emerge from their warm winter hideaways.

 What’s the Harm?

Maple bugs, while a nuisance, are harmless to property, structures, pets and house plants. The biggest concern with maple bugs is that their excrement can stain curtains, furniture and clothing. Aside from that, they emit a foul odor when squished.

Maple Bug Life-cycle

After emerging in the spring, maple bugs fly to the nearest boxelder tree to deposit their eggs. Boxelder eggs are oval shaped and rust coloured. During their stay, they feed on the soft parts of the box elder trees including leaves, flowers and new twigs. They are able to extract juices from the trees they live for sustenance as well.

Infestation Risk  

Maple Bugs only become a problem when they infest the inside of homes, storage sheds or garages. It’s important to note that certain structures are more likely to become attractive to box elder bugs. Homes with a lot of sun exposure, that are at higher elevation than others or those on flat ground with no surrounding buildings are ideal ground for maple bugs.

 Take Control to Prevent an Infestation

Prevent your home from an infestation with the following simple suggestions:

×         When possible plant male boxelder trees vs. females

×         Seal cracks in foundations, windows, doors

×         Reattach loose siding

×         Use a mixture of liquid laundry detergent and water to apply to bugs to

×         Vacuum or sweep up any bugs found indoors

If maple bugs have turned from nuisance to pest, we can help! We service Regina and the surrounding area. 

27Oct/16

German Cockroaches, Saskatchewan’s Newest Major Pest

 

German Cockroaches…Regina’s Newest Major Pest

Here in Regina, German Cockroaches are becoming widely well known for all the wrong reasons. They are an urban pest that commonly invade homes, apartments, restaurants, hotels and other buildings. German Cockroaches are one of many species of roaches and are the most common we see Canada.

Identifying Characteristics of a German Cockroach

German cockroaches are long, flat and wide with two long antennae and six legs. They are light brown to tan in colour and have two dark lines on their back. German cockroaches are unable to fly and adults can be anywhere from 13 to 16 mm in length.

German Cockroaches are omnivorous and prefer sugary foods, grease, starch and meat. In overly infected buildings, German Cockroaches will resort to eating glue, and packaging or one another. Cockroaches can survive an entire month without food and approximately 2 weeks without water.

German Cockroaches reach adulthood faster than any other species of cockroach in Canada. This quick development enables them to populate indoor areas quickly, causing infestation to occur easily. A German Cockroach has a 10-week life span and lives for approximately 5 to 7 months after reaching adulthood. Adult females produce 7 or 8 egg cases in her life and produces an average 350 offspring during her lifespan.

These nocturnal pests prefer warm and humid areas to inhabit. German Cockroaches seek out food and water sources and a safe place to reproduce once they make their way into your building. You can expect to find roaches in a variety of spots including:

×         Medicine cabinets

×         In and under appliances

×         In bathrooms

×         Under the sink

×         In pantries

×         In storage closets

How do Cockroaches Travel?

It is highly unlikely that cockroaches move from one building to another on their own but they can and do spread via shipments and packaging to nearly anywhere in the world.

The Dangers of a Developing Infestation

German Cockroaches can cause great amounts of damage to you and your home. They transfer pathogenic organisms to humans through contamination of food with their feces and defensive secretions. The diseases they carry can cause diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid fever and cholera. Frequent or prolonged exposure to cockroaches can cause mild to severe allergic reactions including dermatitis, itching, swelling and respiratory conditions.

Do cockroaches bite?

If German Cockroaches bite it is during your sleep. Cockroaches feed off food particles left on the face and skin of humans. Babies and children with sensitive skin are increasingly attractive to cockroaches because of the smell of milk. There is no information to suggest German Cockroaches are able to transfer pathogens by biting. Cockroach bites appear as small red spots that eventually scab over and can cause secondary infections.

Your Best Methods of Prevention and Control

To prevent an infestation of cockroaches, ensure:

×         You are mindful of good housekeeping practice including regular vacuuming, washing of floors and counters and more

×         You do not leave leftover or pet food out overnight

×         You wash dishes, pans and utensils immediately after use

×         You clean food and drink spills immediately

×         You remove garbage regularly

×         You repair leaky faucets or pipes promptly

×         You recycle cans and bottles on regular basis

×         You increase ventilation to avoid condensation

Be mindful of the fact we have seen a dramatic increase in the presence of German Cockroaches here in Regina and the surrounding area. Keep an eye out for cockroaches in your home, office, restaurant or storage space.

Premier Pest Management is one call away to solve your German Cockroach battle efficiently!

Contact us today.

21Oct/16

Early Detection of Bed Bugs and How To Prevent Bed Bug Infestation

Battling Bed Bugs
Premier tips for early detection and pest prevention


It’s important to first realize that we are all vulnerable to bed bugs. Anyone can be at risk of coming into contact with these pesky little night crawlers. Whether you are a homeowner, tenant, landlord, traveler, hotel manager or healthcare facility – Bed Bugs do not discriminate. Your first line of defense is always prevention.

Where do they come from?

These small, nocturnal, wingless insects feed on humans and other warm blooded animals. They travel most frequently via luggage, bags and used furniture. They love fabrics and dark small crevices.

The fact that they do most of their movements in the dark of night, coupled with their flat, thin body shape is what makes them difficult to detect visually. Most times, they aren’t detected by sight until there is already a full swing infestation in place and bed bug bites begin to occur.

Detecting the problem

Bed bugs are about the size of an apple seed. If you wake up with red itchy bites or notice small blood spots on your sheets or pillows you should investigate further. Check the corners of your mattresses (especially under the hard plastic corners of the box spring). Also check the piping along the mattress itself. Bed bugs love to crawl into those crevices and will always stay close to the host and come out at night to crawl and feed.
Bring in the Pest Professionals

The problem with bed bugs is that their name is misleading. They don’t just stay on beds – They will eventually migrate to other furniture, clothing, stuffed animals, books and baseboards. This is what makes them so difficult to get rid of and why a professional is needed for the job. Bed bugs lay very small white eggs in furniture and on linens – these are almost invisible to the naked eye. Be sure to call in a professional to help effectively get rid of the infestation.

Maintenance and Prevention

To assist in preventing the problem from re-occurring, be sure to follow all of the detailed instructions given to you by the pest management company. They are experts and the advice they give will be crucial. Properly laundering all items (including stuff animals) will be essential to ridding yourself of the problem when your home or business has been infested. Also consider mattress encasements – this will prevent the bed bug from burrowing deep within the crevices in the bed and keep them in more visible areas.

Remember, Bed bugs do not discriminate – they are not attracted to dirt. No matter how clean your home or business is, you could still be a host for these little pests. They travel on buses, airplanes, luggage, books, and clothes. It’s best to always do a routine inspection of your home or business.

Here at Premier Pest Management, we understand how quickly and quietly you need to take of your pest problems.

We handle all areas across Saskatchewan and will travel to you.

To hear more about our maintenance package or have an inspection done, head here and get in touch with us today!

23Jul/16

Do you notice insects in your kitchen? Then you will want to read this!!

The kitchen can be a haven for insect pests.

How those pests arrive is varied and unpredictable. They may arrive in the corrugations of a cardboard box or in a bag of flour. They may arrive on wing or by hitching a ride in some item brought into the kitchen. They may arrive as an egg on the side of a container or inside a bag, any time of the year.

The best way to control kitchen insects is to prevent them from entering the kitchen or becoming a problem once in the kitchen. More on this later. First, which insects are commonly found in the kitchen? The ones that turn up most are saw-toothed grain beetles, flour beetles and the Indian-meal moth. They are other insects such as the cockroach, larder beetle and carpet beetle, which turn up in the kitchen but they also inhabit other areas of the house.

Saw-Toothed Grain Beetles

They get their common name from the saw-toothed looking edges on the top body area between their head and their abdomen (thorax). There are two separate species of this insect: the merchant grain beetle and saw-toothed grain beetle. These insects will infest virtually any product in the kitchen, whether it is packaged or left as food debris on shelves or counters. The adult is a reddish-brown beetle that is slender and somewhat flattened. It is about 2-3 mm in length and about 1/2 mm in width. These beetles can penetrate packaged foods readily except for tinfoil-packaged foods. Eggs are laid in or near food, hatch in 3-17 days in heated areas, and the larvae will pupate to an adult in 3-6 weeks. The adult reportedly can live up to three years.

Flour Beetles

There are also two species of flour beetle: the red flour beetle and the confused flour beetle. The red flour beetle is more commonly found in rural areas associated with grain storage or around country elevators, whereas the confused flour beetle is found mainly in flour but it does infest most other products in the kitchen. They are a shiny, reddish-brown, flattened insect about 3 mm in length and about 3/4 to 1 mm in width. Slight differences in antennae and thorax shape differentiate the two insects. The adult may live as long as 1-3 years. Their life cycle from egg through larvae, pupa and adult takes from 7 weeks to several months, depending on temperature and the food source. Like the grain beetle, their flattened body and small size allows them to enter most products that are not well sealed or in a strong package.

Indian-Meal Moth

This moth is often mistaken for a clothes moth. It can be distinguished by wing markings. The wings of an Indian-meal moth are metallic reddish-brown on the outer two-thirds and creamy-grey on the inner third. The larvae is about 13 mm long, usually dirty-white but sometimes tinted green or pink. Larvae leave a trail of silk wherever they crawl. They will completely infest the food product they are in with a mat of silk. When you see the larvae crawling in the cupboard or on the ceiling, they are usually looking for a place to pupate. They infest most foods in a kitchen but are characteristically known to infest dried fruits. Of the other foods, coarse grain are usually infested instead of finely milled grains. Their life cycle varies with food and temperature from five weeks to nearly a year.

Control

Prevention is the best control. Vacuum up crumbs and clean shelves of spilled food frequently. If some eggs do hatch and there is no food, the larvae dies.

You may inadvertently bring food pests into your home in the foot products you buy. Don’t give them a chance to move to any other part of the kitchen. Seal them inside a container which they can not escape from. Use air-tight containers such as mason jars with rubber rings and metal ring caps. A “Tupperware” type container is the next best container to use, as long as it is airtight. Find containers for all grain-based products in the kitchen, including four. Store larger bags of flour in a garage or some outside, cool location. The insects will develop slowly in the cool temperatures; this will give you time to control the problem. Put products you suspect may be infested in the freezer at the lowest setting for 3-5 days if they are freezable.

For infestations, begin control by a thorough cleanup of the whole kitchen area: behind the stove and fridge, cupboards, shelves, drawers, breadboards, baseboards and all cracks and crevices. Use the vacuum cleaner first and then follow with a washing of all surfaces to get any crumbs and possible eggs laid by the insects. Use any kitchen cleaner. If they are adult insects you want to kill use a household “Raid” type product and wipe the surface areas with soap and water after spraying. Overall,. Control of insects in your home is best achieve by frequent and thorough cleanings, along with the continued use of sealed containers. 

If the problem still exists, don’t hesitate to call us! Your pest problem is our pest problem 306-992-6066 or 1-855-752-7378

 

22Jun/16

How To Protect Your Hotel From Bed Bugs

One of the biggest pest management nightmares that hospitality services can face is the presence of bed bugs, which feed exclusively on human blood. Since pests are great hitchhikers and can arrive with guests, it’s essential to check for them frequently.

Pest management is a task that must be constantly tended to: Infestations can occur if establishments are left unchecked, since bed bugs have many hosts to feed on. A few bed bugs can turn into a thousand in just over two months. Therefore, hospitality staff members should be trained on pest recognition to ensure that there are as many eyes on the lookout as possible.

You can ensure that employees are properly trained on spotting bed bugs by working with Premier Pest Management which provides free training to hospitality venues. Staff members will learn to inspect bed bug-prone areas in rooms and can raise an alert if any of these pests are spotted, dead or alive.

Unfortunately, it’s difficult to prevent bed bugs from making their way onto your property. There are guests arriving from all around the world on a daily basis, and these pests can take a ride in their luggage or clothing. Personnel should familiarize themselves with the various signs of bed bugs; this includes recognizing them by their size, shape and color, as well as knowing what their feces look like.

As a hotel manager, it’s essential to have a response plan, in case guests find bed bugs in their rooms. Rather than hold yourself responsible, figure out what your staff members can do immediately to help resolve the problem. Fast action will show your venue’s dedication to guest service and satisfaction.’

If you suspect bed bugs may be present, have professional pest control specialists do an inspection to verify the problem. If identified, have the bugs taken care of right away to ensure that the infestation doesn’t spread to other areas of the venue.

Although housekeeping services spend the most time in hotel rooms, having all staff members trained means being able to check rooms more efficiently, both prior to guests arriving and in cases when they have spotted bed bugs.

Our licensed technicians can set up a monthly program to suit the needs of your hotel by doing monthly bed bug inspections on blocks of 6-10 rooms a visit as a precautionary preventative measure against a major infestation to insure the quality and safety of hotel guests.