Nine Charlotte Hotels Report Bedbug Infestations

The Washington Times reported on Monday that nine of the hotels hosting delegates and media at the DNC in Charlotte have recently reported problems with bedbug infestations:

Some convention-goers were fearful in the run-up to the convention, and state officials and exterminators said bedbug reports have been on the uptick in and around the Queen City. . .

The rise in the pest’s activity has led to the advent of websites such as BedBugReports.com and BedBugRegistry.com, where hotel-goers can report their bad experiences in hopes of warning other travelers.

A search of BedBugRegistry.com brings up more than 30 Charlotte-area hotels where visitors have reported bedbugs, including nine hotels that will host at least 10 of the state delegations attending this week’s convention.

Some of the hotels — such as the DoubleTree by Hilton Charlotte Airport hotel, which will host the Connecticut delegation — have had a single report more than a year ago. But the Drury Inn & Suites Northlake, which will house Ohio delegates, had a report from an anonymous Internet user claiming there were “numerous bugs” during a stay in April after several pest-free visits.

The Charlotte-Center City Holiday Inn, which will welcome the Illinois delegation, has been reported three times since March by Web users whose complaints included finding bugs “in clear sight” and ending up “covered in bites” after a one-night stay.

Of the hotels expected to host convention delegates, the most complaints were aimed at the Charlotte Marriott City Center, where five reports have been posted since July 2011.

Visitors reported finding bites days after their stays, and at least two said they ended up bringing bugs home.

The reports of bedbug infestations were yet another indication that this week’s DNC is having trouble creating a positive message for the renomination of President Obama. No reports of bedbug infestations at the recently completed RNC have yet surfaced. 

The difference between the two conventions on this simple matter of public health provides new conservative media outlets with a compelling juxtaposition between how Republicans “get the job done” and Democrats ignore problems.