by Brianna Crandall — December 16, 2016 — The Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) International Airport was crowned the winner of the 15th annual America’s Best Restroom contest, sponsored by workplace products and services provider Cintas Corporation. The lighthearted contest honors businesses across the country that consider both cleanliness and design top priorities, and conveys the critical message that restroom hygiene matters for good health and good business.
As the winner, the MSP Airport will receive the royal restroom treatment from Cintas. This includes $2,500 in facility services like cleaning chemicals or wet mops to keep their restrooms “Ready for the Workday.”
Alan Howell, senior airport architect, Airport Development Department, Metropolitan Airports Commission, commented:
The restroom is often the first place visited on arrival and the last stop for departing passengers, leaving a lingering impression of their destination. We are thrilled to be honored with this award for our efforts to improve the aesthetics of our restrooms and make the customer experience memorable.
The MSP Airport restrooms are currently undergoing renovations that will continue through 2025 to encompass more than 100 sets of public restrooms. Baby-changing stations are integrated into each restroom – all with an adjacent sink and paper towel dispenser. Meanwhile, accessible stalls include a sink and hand-drying area, as well as automatic doors to provide a touch-free environment. Original mosaic art that reflects features of Minnesota is displayed within the restrooms near the entrances, created by a different regional artist at each set.
John Engel, senior marketing manager, Cintas, pointed out:
Public restrooms don’t get a lot of positive praise, so we’re proud to recognize businesses like the MSP Airport that are committed to providing clean and memorable bathrooms. We applaud the MSP Airport for making the investment to prioritize user comfort and cleanliness to ensure its restrooms are always Ready for the next traveler.
The finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. The public cast thousands of votes online from October 4 through November 2. The other nine finalists include:
- Coca-Cola Park, home of the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs — Allentown, PA
- Leña Brava restaurant — Chicago, IL
- The Novel Neighbor book store — St Louis, MO
- Safe House restaurant — Milwaukee, WI
- Swift & Sons restaurant — Chicago, IL
- The Charmery ice cream shop — Baltimore, MD
- The Vine restaurant — New York City, NY
- The Way Station bar — Brooklyn, NY
- Urban Ecology Center museum — Milwaukee, WI
For a description and photo gallery of each finalist, visit the Hall of Fame 2016 Web page.
Cintas Corporation helps more than 900,000 businesses of all types and sizes get Ready to open their doors with confidence every day by providing a wide range of products and services that enhance their image and help keep their facilities and employees clean, safe and looking their best. Products and services include uniforms, floor care, restroom supplies, first aid and safety products, fire extinguishers and testing, and safety and compliance training.
