If you’re traveling by air this Thanksgiving, you may have the chance to visit the latest winner of America’s Best Restroom. The Minneapolis-St. Paul (MSP) International Airport has been crowned the winner in the 15th annual contest, sponsored by Cintas Corporation. 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®.
“The restroom is often the first place visited on arrival and the last stop for departing passengers, leaving a lingering impression of their destination,” said Alan Howell, Senior Airport Architect, Airport Development Department, Metropolitan Airports Commission. “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 Minneapolis-St. Paul International 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.
“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,” said John Engel, Senior Marketing Manager, Cintas. “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 Oct. 4 through Nov. 2.
The other nine finalists include:
- Coca-Cola Park, home of the AAA Lehigh Valley IronPigs, Allentown, PA
- Leña Brava restaurant, Chicago
- The Novel Neighbor book store, St. Louis
- Safe House restaurant, Milwaukee, WI
- Swift & Sons restaurant, Chicago
- The Charmery ice cream shop, Baltimore, MD
- The Vine restaurant, New York City
- The Way Station bar, Brooklyn, NY
- Urban Ecology Center museum, Milwaukee, WI