For many Americans, the start of summer means a rise in temperatures, outdoor activities and vacations with family and friends. But for airport professionals, the summer months mean record-breaking crowds, with millions of travelers passing through major U.S. airports each day. In fact, according to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), this summer is expected to be the busiest travel season yet, with 263 million U.S. passengers and crew members projected to pass through security checkpoints between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
Large crowds pose a number of challenges for airports, including longer wait times, baggage issues, and ensuring the safety and security of all passengers. However, airport professionals may be surprised to learn that dirty, overcrowded restrooms are guests’ number one concern at high-traffic venues such as airports — even more than long lines. In fact, 1 in 3 guests will even limit how much they eat and drink to avoid going to the restroom – which could hurt airports’ businesses with less money spent at concession stands and restaurants.
Large crowds not only cause headaches for airport passengers, but they also take a toll on cleaners who frequently travel long distances to check refill levels and restock restroom materials. This can result in other issues including fatigue, lack of motivation and reduced productivity among cleaning staff.
So how can airport managers ensure they are prepared for the large crowds that will pass through their restrooms this summer while keeping guests and cleaners happy? Fortunately, there are several measures airport professionals can take to prepare for large and unpredictable flows of traffic at any given moment.
Flexibility to Focus on Pressing Needs
Airport maintenance managers can now select restroom dispensing systems that can accommodate changes in traffic efficiently without compromising restroom flow, customer satisfaction and running costs. By selecting the right capacity systems that also offer consumption control and easy maintenance, challenges faced by cleaning staffs can be alleviated.
When cleaners don’t have to worry about constantly refilling dispensers and getting in the way of guests, they are able to devote proper time to the task at hand, improving guest satisfaction and the facility’s reputation.
Agility and Continuous Improvement
Today’s transportation hubs, which can experience unpredictable traffic flows at any given moment, must be prepared to respond to issues as they occur and anticipate problems before they arise.
That’s where data-driven cleaning comes in: it enhances the short and long-term efficiency of cleaning staffs. This type of software, which enables smarter cleaning through digital intelligence, allows facility managers to monitor high-traffic venues proactively and efficiently. By utilizing sensor technology to collect data about visitor numbers, cleaning needs, and refill levels in real-time, managers will have a better pulse on the flow of traffic, and cleaners will be empowered to work smarter and more efficiently. This type of technology is proven to reduce the number of cleaning hours by at least 20%, eliminate unnecessary tasks, optimize cleaning resources and serve as a tool to provide reports to upper management.
While there are certainly many factors, such as weather delays, that airport professionals face on a daily basis and cannot control, there are ways to address the growing number of crowds that airports face, and this change can start in the restrooms. With 8 out of 10 Americans agreeing technology should be integrated wherever it can improve efficiency, transportation hubs can improve passengers’ travel experience by implementing software and systems that allow airports to better cater to increasing amounts of travelers as well as improve overall guest satisfaction.
As Key Account Director, North America, Scott Millburn provide solutions to national and global clients in the commercial, industrial, healthcare and public interest market segments. He also leads a team of Key Account Managers in North America.
