A digital platform allowing travellers to flag hotels allegedly infested with bed bugs has attracted around 200,000 users in China, but its growing popularity is raising concerns among hotel operators over potentially damaging false claims.
The app allows users to mark hotels suspected of having bed bug infestations on a digital map, making the reports visible to everyone using the platform.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), as cited by NDTV, more than 600 hotels across China have been flagged since the app was launched on Sept 21.
However, several hotel operators have complained that their premises were wrongly listed, China Business News reported.
Initially, users could report suspected bed bug infestations without providing photographs or other supporting evidence. The lack of verification sparked complaints from hotel operators, resulting in the app being suspended twice within a week in October.
Following the backlash, its creator, identified only as Wang, introduced stricter rules requiring users to submit evidence before their reports could appear on the map.
Wang now personally reviews each submission and usually seeks help from two other individuals to verify whether insects shown in the photographs are actually bed bugs.
The platform also provides illustrated guides to help users identify common insects and recognise the bite marks they leave behind.
Wang, an engineer working for a manufacturing company, developed the app despite having no previous programming experience. He began using artificial intelligence (AI) to write code in July.
The idea came after he was bitten by insects while moving house during the summer. He said information about hotels with suspected bed bug problems was previously scattered across different sources, making it difficult for travellers to find relevant reports and avoid affected accommodation.
He therefore wanted to create a centralised platform where people could share such information more easily.
However, Wang acknowledged that the app was still far from perfect as he had developed it on his own. He described himself as merely the person who started the project and hoped the public would help gather and verify the information shared.
So far, four hotels have filed appeals against reports published on the platform, submitting supporting documents such as business licences, pest control photographs and inspection records from third-party organisations.
One hotel manager revealed that a customer had previously demanded a refund of 3,000 yuan (approximately RM1,800) for a four-night stay after claiming to have been bitten by bed bugs at the property.
The hotel subsequently hired an independent pest control company to inspect the customer’s room, along with 23 other randomly selected rooms.
The inspection found no bed bugs or eggs in any of the rooms.
The manager said the hotel submitted the inspection report and relevant records through the app’s appeal section. The appeal was approved, and the marker linking the hotel to a bed bug infestation was removed from the map.
Meanwhile, Beijing Jindu Law Firm lawyer Lin Feiran warned that online reports alleging bed bug infestations could trigger disputes involving the reputation of hotel operators.
He called for stronger verification procedures to ensure information shared on the platform complies with the law.
Lin also recommended requiring users to sign agreements confirming the accuracy of their reports, while suggesting that the platform engage qualified experts to identify insects and establish whether they are genuinely bed bugs.
