Hannah Stephenson, 31, from Bassingbourn, has received £2,000 in compensation from Travelodge after experiencing bedbug bites during a hotel stay in Cambridge.
Ms Stephenson booked a one-night stay at the Travelodge on Newmarket Road on 26 July. The following morning, she reported waking up with itchy red lumps and blood spots on the bedding, which she attributed to bedbugs.
She stated that the bites spread to her face and caused swelling on her arms, leading her to feel self-conscious and miss social events. Ms Stephenson believes her decision to post pictures of the bites on TikTok prompted the hotel to contact her after an initial complaint.
A Travelodge spokesperson expressed apologies for Ms Stephenson's experience, stating that customer safety is a priority and that stringent measures are in place to manage pest issues. They added that affected rooms are immediately taken out of service for inspection and treatment by independent experts when an issue is reported.
The British Pest Control Association notes that bedbugs are more active during warmer months, thriving due to increased feeding and mating. They advise that signs of bedbugs include irritating red bites, small blood smears on linen, and small brown insects in or around sleeping areas.