airport restooms

Tampa Int’l Airport takes the throne for Best Restroom

Congratulations to Tampa International Airport (TPA), which takes the throne as the Winner of the 2022 America’s Best Restroom Contest. 

The Airport’s sleek, modern, and newly renovated Airside C restrooms were among 10 finalists selected by Cintas Corporation based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality, and unique design elements.

The public had the opportunity to vote during the month of August. And the competition included restrooms at Delaware Botanic Gardens and Newark Liberty International Airport’s (EWR) all-gender restrooms.

TPA’s Airside C facilities were completed on the north side of the terminal earlier this year and will be finished on the south side in the coming weeks.

The restroom entrance welcomes travelers to a uniquely Florida experience. There are large graphics and a natural, deep blue stone with high-res images of quintessential Florida flora.

The loos also feature light-colored solid surface vanities. These counters incorporate TPA’s signature “cockpit” concept that provides guests with their own sensor-activating sink and soap, personal paper towel dispensers, and trash receptacles all within arm’s reach.

As part of its prize, TPA receives Cintas UltraClean restroom cleaning service and $2,500 in Cintas products and services. And in a nice touch, TPA airport will be donating these services and products to the Hurricane Ian recovery efforts taking place in southeast Florida. 

Airports cleaned up in this contest in the past

America’s Best Restroom contest is highly competitive, but some airports have claimed the throne in the past.

Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) won in 2016 for the first of 100 sets of restrooms being updated. Among a wide variety of nice amenities, MSP’s upgraded loos feature a waiting area with flight information, emergency devices, and curated art display cases.

And Arkansas’ Fort Smith Regional Airport (FSM) landed the award in 2005, That loo got high marks for cleanliness and for its dried flower arrangements and automated toilets and sinks.

ATL: 5 Things We Love About Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Int’l Airport

The “5 Things We Love About…” series on StuckatTheAirport.com continues today with some of the features and amenities that delight us at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).

Keep in mind that some amenities at ATL and other airports may be temporarily suspended or unavailable right now due to health concerns, but we’re confident they’ll return.

If we don’t include your favorite service or amenity at ATL airport or if you’d like to nominate an airport to be featured, please add a note in the comment section below.

Want to sponsor one or more of the entries in the “5 Things We Love at …” series? Get in touch.

5 Things We Love About Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)

1. The art at ATL

Hartfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) has an extensive collection of art and history exhibits throughout the domestic and international terminals spaces, in all seven concourses, and in connecting walkways between concourses.

Here are just a few of the pieces in ATL’s art and history collection:

Photos and artifacts pay tribute to Civil Rights leaders John Lewis (Domestic Atrium) and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (Concourse E).

Flight Paths, by Steve Waldeck (in the underground walkway between Concourses A and B) simulates the sights and sounds of a walk through a Georgia forest.

Elsewhere, you’ll find a series of Zimbabwean stone sculptures, a selection of images from National Geographic’s Photo Ark project, and many more permanent and temporary exhibitions.

2. Kid stuff at ATL

Kids will enjoy finding some of the cool and quirky art exhibits at ATL, including the Lunch Box Time Capsule exhibit on the boarding level of Concourse E (near Gate E14).

Fun too: a ride on the airport’s Plane Train. Just be sure to get a spot in the front or back car for a cool view of the tunnels between concourses.

 

3. Shopping at ATL

ATL is home to the World’s Largest Hudson shop, which is actually a collection of shops within a shop. In addition to Georgia-themed-souvenirs, you’ll find old-school candy, plenty of books and even some vinyl records.

4. The ATL Canopies

The two massive canopies over the north and south sides of the domestic terminal at ATL are part of a multi-billion dollar capital improvement project.

Each canopy is nearly 900 feet long – the length of nearly three football fields. In addition to being waterproof, the translucent arches can also be lit up in a wide variety of colors.

5. Lav lights at ATL

Two pairs of restrooms (at Gates B18 & B23) use red or green lights to signal when a restroom stall is occupied or empty. (Brilliant!) The system also tracks restroom usage so the janitorial staff knows when a lav needs to be cleaned. A nice partnership between TRAX and Tooshlights and ATL.

Sneak peek at SFO T2 – part 2

Little things add up. And in renovating and rebuilding Terminal 2 at San Francisco International Airport, they’ve been paying attention to a lot of the little things.

SFO T2

In a open house for the community on April 9th (It’s free, but you’ll need a ticket) and when it opens to the flying public on April 14th, travelers flying in or out of SFO’s Terminal 2 will see live plants, loads of living room style furniture and lots of inviting, outlet-enhanced surfaces for getting work done.

SFO T2 Seating

SFO T2 work tables

There are some nice touches in the restrooms as well.

SFO T2 restroom

Stalls are deep (so there’s room for you and your carry-on in there) and out at the sinks, you’ll find outlets and those fast-working, Dyson hand-drying machines.

SFO Restroom T2

And for those who travel with their own water bottles, SFO T2 provides these easy-to-access refill stations.

SFO T2 Refill station

The sneak preview continues tomorrow….

In the meantime, take a look at the StuckatThe Airport.com preview of the artwork at SFO’s T2.