Rodents Don’t Take Holidays: How New Zealand Hotels Can Stay Ahead This Festive Season

With the festive season approaching, New Zealand hotels are preparing for a surge in guests — and with that comes increased operational pressure. Rooms are fully booked, kitchens are working overtime, deliveries increase, and waste accumulates faster.

While your team focuses on delivering memorable guest experiences, rodents are looking for the perfect opportunity to slip in unnoticed.

Busy Hotels Are High-Risk Environments

Rodents are opportunistic, and the holiday period offers everything they need to thrive: warmth, food, shelter, and increased foot traffic to mask their movements. Hotels become particularly vulnerable because of:

• Constant kitchen activity and food waste
• Frequent deliveries and multiple access points
• Overflowing bins and cluttered storage areas
• Staff stretched thin, making it harder to spot early signs

The presence of rodents in guest areas, kitchens, or back-of-house zones can quickly escalate from a minor issue to a public relations crisis. One photo or one negative review can cause significant damage.

SMART Pest Control Detects What People Miss

Flick’s SMART digital pest control system is designed for environments that can’t afford mistakes like hotels during peak season.

Unlike traditional pest control methods, SMART uses 24/7 digital monitoring to detect rodent activity in real time. Once movement is detected, the system alerts Flick technicians, enabling a fast, targeted response often before your staff is even aware of the issue.

SMART offers New Zealand hotels:

• Non-toxic protection suitable for food preparation and guest areas
• Discreet service that minimises disruption to daily operations
• Audit-ready reporting to support compliance and inspections
• Genuine prevention, not just reactive control

It’s a smarter, quieter way to ensure pests never impact your guests, your team, or your reputation.

Early Signs Your Team Should Never Ignore

While SMART works continuously behind the scenes, early human detection remains important especially in back-of-house areas.

Train your staff to watch for:

• Small droppings around storage rooms or behind appliances
• Gnaw marks on packaging, skirting boards, or wiring
• Unusual, musky odours in enclosed spaces
• Scratching sounds within walls or ceilings
• Greasy rub marks along baseboards

If you notice any of these signs, act immediately. Rodents rarely travel alone.

Your hotel doesn’t get a break during the busy season — and neither should your pest control.

Flick’s SMART system helps keep your venue clean, compliant, and guest-ready throughout the busiest months. Don’t wait for a complaint before taking action.