U.S. Hospitality Sector Urged to Tackle Legionella Risks Ahead of Summer
With Legionnaires’ cases at record highs, hotels and vacation rentals are being reminded to prioritize water safety during peak season prep.
- By Stasia DeMarco
- Jun 12, 2025
As the busy holiday season fast approaches, U.S. hoteliers, holiday let owners, and B&B operators are being urged to prioritize Legionella risk control as part of their summer readiness plans, following reports that US cases have reached an all-time high.
Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially fatal lung infection caused by inhaling droplets of water containing Legionella bacteria. It can be found in a range of man-made water systems including taps, showers, air conditioning units, spa pools, and hot tubs.
In the U.S., official reports reveal that the incidence of Legionnaires’ disease has surged by approximately 1000% over the past two decades.1
Legionella, the bacteria that cause Legionnaires’ disease, thrives in stagnant water, particularly in temperatures between 20°C and 45°C, common in unused or little-used water systems. The risk is particularly high in hotels, B&Bs, and holiday lets that may have been vacant or experienced intermittent use during the off-season. According to one recent report, average U.S. hotel occupancy was projected to reach 36.2% in 2023.2
With this, Hydrosense, a leading authority in rapid Legionella testing technology, is urging the sector to pay due diligence to increasing Legionella risk, especially the effects of dormant water systems, as an absolute safety priority in preparing for peak season.
“As bookings ramp up for the busy summer season, it’s crucial that hoteliers, holiday let owners and the like don’t overlook the importance of ensuring a robust approach to water safety,” said Greg Rankin, CEO at Hydrosense. “Legionella bacteria can build up quickly in stagnant or underused systems, especially during warmer months, creating the perfect conditions for bacteria to grow. Acting now – flushing systems, checking temperatures, carrying out risk assessments to incorporate rapid Legionella testing, can make a big difference in keeping guests safe and properties compliant.”
All property owners and duty holders are responsible for identifying and controlling the risk of exposure to Legionella, including hoteliers, B&Bs, holiday let owners, and managers.
Along with regular maintenance, frequent flushing, and risk assessments, Hydrosense asserts there is also a clear case to incorporate regular rapid Legionella testing, which can detect Legionella in just 25 minutes, as part of any water safety regime.
“The reality is that Legionella cases in the U.S. are rising at unprecedented rates. As with most health risks, prevention is far easier – and far less costly – than dealing with an outbreak and becoming another statistic. Incorporating rapid Legionella testing into their peak season preparations empowers hospitality operators to minimize potential exposure, gain peace of mind, and preserve their reputation with every stay."
Unlike conventional culture-based methods, which can take days, modern rapid Legionella testing solutions can deliver results within minutes. With real-time data to assess contamination levels, users can implement corrective measures quickly should a risk arise, ensure compliance, and provide peace of mind for the customer, especially in high-turnover environments like hotels, B&Bs, and holiday lets.
For further information, please visit: https://hydrosense-legionella.com/
About the Author
Stasia DeMarco is the Content Editor for OH&S.