How bed bug safety enabled a first-time hotelier to build Brussels’ #1 and #2 Tripadvisor hotels.
"I'm very satisfied about Valpas. It looks like, in terms of our customers, it's something that makes them feel very secure. We really put it front and center, we have it on our website, we include a message in our rooms, so it’s something that reassures all our guests." - Martin Duchateau, Owner
In Brussels, standing out takes more than design or location. It takes trust, earned guest by guest.
Made in Hotels is a family business led by Martin Duchateau. Their ethos is Made for memories: every interaction counts, every smile, every conversation, every need thoughtfully met. That care helped Hotel Made in Louise and Hotel Made in Catherine reach #1 and #2 on Tripadvisor in Brussels, a recognition that means the world to them because it comes from guests.
From the start, both hotels have focused on what guests feel most: warmth, comfort, and attention to detail. The Valpas bed bug-safe certification helped take that trust to the next level, turning genuine care into measurable business results.
A step ahead: bed bug safety as a growth catalyst
Becoming Valpas-certified bed bug-safe wasn’t just a safety measure for Martin Duchateau. It became a competitive advantage.
The digital certification and the promise of a bed bug-safe stay and return home appear on the website when guests book, and at reception when they arrive. This small but powerful signal shows the hotel takes guest comfort and safety seriously, and it converts.
(Screenshot: Made in Catherine website displaying the Valpas bed bug-safe certification prominently on the room booking section)
Simple to use. Powerful in impact.
Valpas provides permanent, pesticide-free protection in each room using patented smart bed legs that bed bugs are naturally attracted to. Because bed bugs travel with people and luggage, the legs capture any that may have been brought in and stop infestations before they start. The team receives a clear notification in the mobile app with simple, step-by-step guidance and digital proof. When needed, this proof can be shown to guests to confirm the room is bed bug-safe at check-in. No pesticides, no complexity.
“The best thing is that it is very easy to use and very easy to set up. If there is any notification, we can react very quickly. As the owner, it is very easy to handle if there are any challenges.” - Martin Duchateau, Owner
(Image: The Valpas mobile app, the Valpas smart bed leg and the Valpas bed bug-safe certification)
Proof in practice
At Made in Louise, the team prevented an incident within hours and resold the room the same day. Before Valpas, a single event could take a room out of service for two to three weeks.
Traditional treatments often require inspections, heat or chemical applications, repeat visits, extensive laundering, or in the worst cases, refurbishment, followed by careful follow-up. That means lost revenue, potential refunds or relocations, and pest control costs. With Valpas, the issue became a non-event for guests and for the business.
“Valpas stopped a bed bug last year. We were able to react very quickly and even resell the room the same day. Before Valpas, I had infestations where we had to close the room for two or three weeks, no revenue, plus treatment costs.” - Martin Duchateau, Owner
A standard for the future
In a competitive city like Brussels, small details make a big difference. For Martin Duchateau, Valpas is not only protection. It shows leadership and foresight in a family-run setting.
Offering Valpas-certified bed bug-safe rooms tells travellers that Made in Louise and Made in Catherine deliver care that goes beyond the visible and fits modern expectations for safety, wellness, and sustainability.
“It is things like this that really differentiate us from the competition. I really hope it becomes even more common in a few years. It is still new, Valpas as a name is not yet widely known on the market, but I am sure it is the way to go.” - Martin Duchateau, Owner
(Photo: Valpas bed bug-safe certificate at the reception of hotel Made in Catherine)
Safeguarding reputation and peace of mind
Independent hotels grow through word of mouth and online reviews. Permanent protection helps keep both strong. By quietly protecting rooms and guests, and giving digital proof in every room, Valpas helps safeguard review quality so rankings on platforms like Tripadvisor can stay high and reflect what guests already feel.
“If a guest finds a bed bug or has visible marks, it can easily lead to very bad comments or reviews, which could harm my business for weeks. So, it is really good on several aspects, to be honest.” - Martin Duchateau, Owner
Why every hotel is exposed
Exposure is not about cleanliness. Bed bugs travel with guests in luggage and clothing. They can arrive unnoticed at any property. With Valpas, both hotels keep their guest promise with confidence and offer safe, sustainable stays, guaranteed.
“For the moment, except for Valpas, there is no way to be completely secure. Bed bugs are perhaps not the hotel’s fault. It is often the guest who brings the bug. But it really harms the reputation of the hotel badly.” - Martin Duchateau, Owner
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Hotelier? Book a demo with us and learn how to make your hotel Valpas-certified bed bug-safe.
About Hotel Made in Louise
A 50-room boutique hotel in Brussels’ Ixelles district, known for personal service, character, and comfort. A family-run property made for memories, consistently rated among the city’s top hotels for its warm atmosphere, and attention to detail.
About Hotel Made in Catherine
A 21-room contemporary sister hotel to Made in Louise, near Place Rogier. Opened in 2024, it brings the same family spirit to a modern, design-forward setting where guests feel instantly welcome.
About Valpas
Valpas is the hospitality standard for safe, sustainable stays, guaranteed. Its patented in-room technology keeps rooms bed bug-safe without pesticides, gives hotels and travelers digital proof of safety, and supports a reliable guest promise. More than 300 hotels in over 70 destinations cities are part of the Valpas community.