Hotel acts after bedbugs complaint

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - A family, celebrating the birthday of a young boy, got more than they bargained for after staying the weekend at a Ramada Hotel on the east side of Indianapolis.

A 3-year-old boy woke up with bedbug bites on his abdomen.

The family, who asked not to be identified, told 24-Hour News 8 they went back to the hotel and met with General Manager Syed Gardezi. He escorted the group to the room where the youngster had slept, lifted up the mattress of the bed, and a bug fell out.

"It's not a bedbug, but I looked at the bug, and I said, ‘OK.’ You know what, whatever the case is, I actually refunded the entire amount for their room," Gardezi told 24-Hour News 8.

According to the aunt of the little boy, she was reimbursed $130 for one night at the hotel. But she's not convinced Gardezi took the problem seriously enough.

"He felt like the problem was no big deal,” she recalled, “they had multiple other cases, it happens all the time."

In fact, Gardezi admitted his hotel has had five bedbug complaints in the past year.

When this most recent complaint was made, Gardezi called Allied Services Pest Control to thoroughly clean the rooms in question. The rooms are being sprayed and won't be available for at least two more weeks.

Gardezi has also ordered the mattresses, box springs and curtains thrown out.

The aunt of the young boy said the family contacted the Marion County Health Deparment and the Occupational Safety and Health and Administration to lodge a formal complaint.

Gardezi said it's an unfortunate part of the business, but bugs can and do sometimes travel with customers. He insists his hotel rooms are clean and safe.