by Brianna Crandall — November 5, 2018 — Specialized workplace products and services provider Cintas Corporation has announced the winners of its 2018 Best Restroom Contest in both the United States and Canada. 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.
2018 America’s Best Restroom
Cintas says the public is wild about the restrooms at the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel, Florida, the winner of the 2018 America’s Best Restroom contest.
Toni Westland, supervisor refuge ranger, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, remarked:
We’re thrilled that the public is as wild about our restrooms as we are. As one of 566 national wildlife refuges around the country, we saw the restrooms as a major missed opportunity for educating visitors, which is why our new Learning Lavatories encourage visitors to become entirely immersed in refuge habitat and wildlife.
Cintas revealed the 10 contest finalists on August 6 and opened voting to the public through September 18. As the winner, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will receive the revered restroom treatment from Cintas. This includes $2,500 in Cintas products and services for restroom cleaning or facilities management (FM) to keep their restrooms Ready for the Workday, along with a lifetime of bathroom bragging rights.
Inside the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge restrooms, tarpon, otter, osprey, and sea turtle sculptures provide an underwater wildlife illusion. Photographic tile murals depict a lush, watery mangrove scene on one wall. Close-up professional bird photos wrap stall doors, with identification information on the inside. These Learning Lavatories dazzle, but also educate along the walk with interpretive messaging about the wildlife and saving the environment.
Sean Mulcahey, marketing manager, Cintas, commented:
We’ve been hosting this contest for 17 years, and we’re still blown away by facilities like J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, which find new and innovative ways to make the restroom experience memorable. This contest serves as a great reminder that investing in your restroom facilities is more important than ever because it can impact the success of your business.
The other finalists in the 2018 America’s Best Restroom contest included:
- Barrio — Chicago, IL
- Bryant Park — New York City, NY
- Dream Hollywood Hotel — Hollywood, CA
- Green Bay Botanical Garden — Green Bay, WI
- Hotel La Jolla, Curio Collection by Hilton — La Jolla, CA
- MI VIDA — Washington, DC
- Morgan Manufacturing — Chicago, IL
- The Mud House — St. Louis, MO
- The Progress — San Francisco, CA
The ten finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements.
For more about the contest, as well as a description and photo gallery of each year’s winners and finalists, visit the Cintas America’s Best Restroom Contest website. Nominations of restrooms are also being accepted for the 2019 contest.
Cincinnati, Ohio-based Cintas Corporation helps more than one million businesses of all types and sizes get Ready for the Workday by providing a wide range of products and services that enhance customers’ image and help keep their facilities and employees clean, safe and looking their best. Products and services include uniforms, mats, mops, restroom supplies, first aid and safety products, fire extinguishers and testing, and safety and compliance training.
2018 Canada’s Best Restroom
“Pump the brakes!” says Cintas Canada. The group announced that the St. Albert Honda dealership is the winner of the 2018 Canada’s Best Restroom contest. After receiving the most votes, the St. Albert Honda dealership claims the top prize of $2,500 in Cintas products and services to keep its washrooms as clean as a shiny new car.
Ross Hodgins, owner, St. Albert Honda, stated:
We’re absolutely thrilled to be the winner of the 2018 Canada’s Best Restroom contest. The customer’s first impression is important in any retail experience, so we put just as much thought into our restrooms as our showrooms and service areas because we want to provide the best experience. We’re fans of our user-friendly, hands-free and auto-themed washrooms, so we’re excited to learn that Canadians find our facilities worthy of the title.
The St. Albert Honda washrooms were modeled after the dealership colors, and feature an accent wall intended to represent the revolutions per minute (RPM) meter in a vehicle and the redline effect. The revving restrooms promote convenience and cleanliness with specialty fixtures such as touchless faucets, soap dispensers, hand dryers, towel dispensers, automatic air fresheners and deluxe baby changing stations in both female and male washrooms. The hands-free “stepNpull” door opener helps guests avoid contact with door handles when exiting the washrooms.
Candice Raynsford, marketing manager, Cintas Canada, noted:
With five clean, completely unique and well-designed finalists, this year’s competition was not an easy feat. The Alberta community rallied behind the St. Albert Honda dealership, proving just how big of an impact washrooms have on the public. We’re pleased to present the 2018 award to our first-ever car dealership!
St. Albert Honda won over the public at several summer events, including the annual St. Albert’s Rock’n August event where the dealership hosted a barbeque and promoted its participation in the contest. The company also spread the word via e-newsletters, social media posts and local media opportunities; received local, regional and national media coverage; and enjoyed the support of loyal, enthusiastic staff, family and friends.
The 2018 finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. Online voting was open to the public from July 16 through August 17, which produced the following results:
- St. Albert Honda — St. Albert, Alberta
- Erin Mills Town Centre — Mississauga, Ontario
- Anh and Chi — Vancouver, British Columbia
- Saskatchewan Science Centre — Regina, Saskatchewan
- Oretta — Toronto, Ontario
Last year’s winner, the Bayview Shopping Centre in Toronto, Ontario, took the title for its elegant chandeliers and stylish nursing room, equipped with a changing station, sink and cushioned chairs.
For more about the contest, as well as a description and photo gallery of each year’s winners and finalists, visit the Cintas Canada’s Best Restroom Contest website. Nominations of restrooms are also being accepted for the 2019 contest.
Mississauga, Ontario-based Cintas subsidiary Cintas Canada helps more than 65,000 Canadian businesses of all types and sizes get Ready for the Workday by providing a wide range of products and services that enhance its customers’ image and help them 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.
