Shepherd and Beagle 'Sniff' Around Paris Hotels... France Aims to Erase Global Stigma

Beagle and Labrador Deployed for Bedbug Search
"Hotels Likely Do Not Want Negative Reviews"

As the Summer Olympics scheduled to be held in Paris, France this July and August approach, the popularity of 'bedbug detection dogs' is rising. Mainly beagles, known for their excellent sense of smell, are being deployed to eradicate bedbugs.

According to the French daily Le Parisien on the 2nd (local time), even though it is more than half a year before the Olympics, some hotels are continuously making reservation inquiries to bedbug detection dog companies. These companies train breeds with keen olfactory senses such as beagles, Labradors, and German Shepherds to conduct 'bedbug searches.' S?bastien Pizocaro, president of the Detection Dog Association, said, "Hotels request additional preventive inspections because they do not want bad rumors to spread after bedbug photos appear on accommodation booking sites," adding, "It helps detect infestations before tourists flood in all at once."

[Image source = Website of a detection dog company in France]

Olivier Gremot, who runs a detection dog company called 'SynoScan,' is also benefiting significantly from the Olympic-related demand. He pointed out, "Hotel guests are unlikely to pay two or three times more just to see bedbugs." The reason Paris hotels are using bedbug detection dog services is that news of bedbug outbreaks in France last year sparked controversy worldwide.

Last year in France, videos showing bedbugs appearing in public places such as trains and cinemas spread on social networking services (SNS). Furthermore, according to a report released by the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES) in July last year, more than one in ten households across France were found to have bedbugs between 2017 and 2022. The British BBC reported this, stating, "With the 2024 Olympics approaching, bedbugs have surged, plunging Paris into bedbug fear."

With an estimated 10 million people expected to visit Paris during the Olympics, hotels cannot avoid 'reputation management' to attract customers. Hotels that reserved detection dogs reportedly declined media interview requests, fearing rumors of 'bedbug infestations' might spread.

Meanwhile, as overseas travel has become active again after the COVID-19 pandemic, the hygiene environment of accommodations and other facilities in France has deteriorated due to tourists from various countries coming and going. In particular, there are concerns that bedbugs have developed resistance to insecticides, making them difficult to eliminate.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.