| Texas Convenience Store Chain Captures the Crown in the 11th Annual Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Contest |
| Cincinnati, OH/New Braunfels, TX – America voted and agrees that the New Braunfels Buc-ee’s has a bathroom as big as Texas and some of the most spotless loos in the Lone Star State, making this pit stop perfect for any road warrior and fit for a king. With 83 toilets to choose from, guests even get their very own throne! |
| “Buc-ee’s brand of convenience stores knows firsthand that clean bathrooms mean big business,” Cintas’ Market Development Representative, Gary Gonzaba told onlookers as he presented Buc-ee’s co-owner, Arch “Beaver” Aplin, with the top honor during a media event this afternoon at the New Braunfels Buc-ee’s. |
| High-resolution images of today’s award presentation at Buc-ee’s as well as photos of all ten finalists are available at: www.bestrestroom.com/us/press/2012-finalists-images.asp. |
| Buc-ee’s was a fan favorite in Cintas’ annual contest beating out the other top nine contenders to take the crown in this year’s competition. America voted Arizona’s Liberty Market the No. 2 place to go No. 1. Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago took third, and California’s Hollywood Bowl followed close in fourth-place. |
| The 68,000-square-foot service stop plays host to thousands of vehicles a day with passengers filling up on fuel, grabbing food and using the facilities. |
| “We invite everyone to stop in to try out our award winning restrooms,” said Buc-ee’s co-owner, Beaver Aplin. “Maybe Buc-ee’s will be our city’s new claim to fame, the ‘Taj Ma-Stall’ of Texas … a tourist attraction in and of itself,” Aplin said jokingly. |
| “Buc-ee’s has been a welcome addition to our community by creating new jobs and generating hundreds of thousands of dollars a year for our City,” said Rusty Brockman, Director of Economic Development at the Greater New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce and one of dozens of City officials who attended Monday’s award ceremony. |
| “At the core, this contest is intended to recognize public restroom facilities that ‘serve’ local citizens, and Buc-ee’s is the essence of hospitality when you consider it’s an easily accessible, family friendly, well-maintained, convenient and free facility,” said Cintas’ Senior Marketing Manager, John Engel. |
| Customers who have made a beeline for the bathroom at Buc-ee’s say this Texas-based business flushes the competition when it comes to clean. “You gotta see it to believe it,” said one Canyon Lake resident and Chamber of Commerce member who nominated Buc-ee’s for this year’s contest. “Not only do they have a great atmosphere, the restroom facilities are amazing…they are spacious, uber clean and there are plenty for everyone… I have even changed clothes there without worrying about yuckiness,” said Kelly R., a Houston resident who also submitted Buc-ee’s for consideration this year. |
| The 2012 contest attracted nominations from a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, hotels, concert venues, football stadiums, night clubs and museums. Ten finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. |
| Thousands of votes were cast online through October, which produced the following results: |
| First Place: Buc-ee’s New Braunfels, Texas |
| Second Place: Liberty Market Gilbert, Arizona |
| Third Place: Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago, Illinois |
| Fourth Place: Hollywood Bowl Hollywood, California |
| Fifth Place: Lane Stadium at Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia |
| *Mie N Yu, an Asian fusion restaurant known for its elaborate decor just as much as its food, has closed after nearly 10 years on M Street in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, DC. Due to the closing, Mie N Yu is no longer eligible to place in this year’s contest. |
| Buc-ee’s and Liberty Market will receive the coveted America’s Best Restroom winner and runner-up plaque of recognition from Cintas and secure their place in the America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame. |
| To view photos of previous winners, visit the America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame on the contest website at www.bestrestroom.com. |
| Cintas launched the America’s Best Restroom Contest in 2002 to honor those businesses across the country that place hygiene and style at the top of their priority lists. “This contest is undoubtedly fun, but it also conveys a critical message that restroom hygiene matters for good health and good business and proprietors recognize the parallel between clean washrooms and customer retention,” said Engel. “We’re looking forward to celebrating our 12th year in 2013 and invite the public to nominate their favorite facility online now for consideration in next year’s competition,” he added. |
| For more information or to set up an interview, please contact the Survey Editor, Sabrina Zimring, at 757-338-7731. |
| About Cintas Corporation |
| Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning, promotional products, first aid, safety, fire protection products and services and document management services for more than 900,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
For more information about Cintas products and services, visit us at www.cintas.com. |
Category: United States
Buc-ee’s New Braunfels Bathroom is America’s Best
Ten Finalists Chosen For 2012 Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Contest
| Public Voting Begins for 11th Annual Contest. | ||||||||||
| Cincinnati, OH – Will America’s next Best Restroom be the result of a multi-million dollar renovation to the nation’s largest natural outdoor amphitheater, and set against picturesque iconic Hollywood Hills? Or will Sin City’s most luxurious loo, a sprawling 2,000 square foot space inside Vegas’ Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, earn America’s popular vote? Perhaps it’s the charm of the Old World Style Craftsmanship found in the hand carved wood doors and oversized oak barrel sinks that are nestled inside Georgetown’s Mie N Yu Restaurant that will capture the crown? | ||||||||||
| We will soon find out as the top ten public toilets compete for the coveted title in Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom, the popular contest now celebrating its eleventh year. | ||||||||||
| Voting begins now! The public is invited to vote for their top pick at www.bestrestroom.com through October 26 as these top ten venues compete to secure the most votes in hopes of being crowned Cintas’ 2012 America’s Best Restroom. | ||||||||||
| *Photos available for the media to download at www.bestrestroom.com/us/press/2012-finalists-images.asp. Unless otherwise noted on the actual photo, please credit the respective establishment. | ||||||||||
| The contest’s site takes visitors on a photographic tour of each facility and then encourages them to choose their King of the Throne. The winner of the 11th Annual Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Contest will be revealed during a nationally publicized media event this fall and both the winner and runner-up will secure a place in the Hall of Fame. | ||||||||||
| 2012 Finalists for Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom Contest: | ||||||||||
| Liberty Market Gilbert, Arizona |
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| This antiquated grocery store has been transformed into an urban bistro that blends retro with recent to create a washroom space that sports a chic, polished style. Each of the five unisex stalls at Liberty Market —restauranteur Joe Johnston’s (of Joe’s Farm Grill) latest brainchild — reflects a personally inspired design complimented by a coordinating playlist to set the mood in each stall. Keeping particulars top secret until the final reveal, and working on a fixed budget, Liberty Market’s four owners and one of the kitchen brigade members designed one stall each to reflect their unique style. There’s an Italian adventure, complete with photomurals of vineyards, “Vespa” bikes and the Italian countryside. With punk rock on the stereo, there is a real men’s room featuring walls that are painted vibrant red and trimmed with black tile. A single urinal atop floors picturing tattoos and classic automobiles give the space a masculine roadhouse feel. With its porcelain wall tiles, kitchen gray floor tiles and white walls, the stall behind door number three most mirrors a master chef’s kitchen. The brushed metal fixtures accent this lavatory and the walls have the expected sharpie writing. Upon closer observation, however, one can see that the writing isn’t the usual mix of phone numbers and off color references, but rather recipes from Liberty Market’s menu. Don’t forget to look up or you’ll miss the collection of whisks, spatulas and strainers hanging from the ceiling. | ||||||||||
| Hollywood Bowl Hollywood, California |
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| The Hollywood Bowl restrooms, recently renovated by the architecture firm Rios Clementi Hale Studios, serve an 18,000 seat outdoor amphitheater run by the County of Los Angeles. With minimal improvements made to them over the previous 30 years, the 14 restrooms were dark, dreary, and their design caused large lines to form during intermissions. Rios Clementi Hale Studios was tasked with making the restrooms feel brighter, more inviting and efficient. The renovated restrooms evoke the 1920s modern style of the Hollywood Bowl’s shell and stage. The primary color palette is a clean and simple white, with black and stainless steel accents on the walls, trim and ceiling. The floor of each restroom was painted a shade of green that was color matched to the Toyon tree, a plant native to Southern California and found around the Bowl. This color helps lead people in from the outside and also helps define the extents of the restroom. The design includes simple lines, pure geometry and sweeping paint accents that visually connect to the iconic stage’s arches. The combination of these curving lines along the walls and ceiling, and large round mirrors, help patrons see hidden areas where additional fixtures are available. In one of the largest restrooms, there is a green/red light system above the stalls to tell you if they are occupied. The restrooms were designed to save water and paper waste, with waterless urinals, dual flush water closets, automatic faucets, foam soap dispensers and hand dryers. | ||||||||||
| Gitane Restaurant San Francisco, California |
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| In French, Gitane means “Gypsy woman” and it’s no surprise where designers drew inspiration for this restaurant’s bold Bohemian décor. The dining room space, swathed in bold wallpaper, fuses with luxe fabrics and romantic furniture to create a warm, eclectic and glam interior that integrates vibes from three decades — the Euro-themed 50’s, Hippie-Driven 60’s and the Big Bling 70’s. By juxtaposing the bold, black and white geometric tile design on the floor with soft, feminine prints of flowers and the female form, San Francisco-based interior designer Charles Doell brings a hint of the nostalgia and romance of the era into Gitane’s bathroom space. The traditional Farmhouse Drainboard Sink paired with vintage hardware and a Victorian Style chandelier adds a final touch of girly glam. | ||||||||||
| Mie N Yu Restaurant Washington, DC |
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| The eye-popping blend of textures and colors continues cross-country to our nation’s capital where guests might mistake Georgetown’s Mie N Yu Restaurant for a Moroccan Bazaar. That’s because artists with CORE Architecture + Design infused accents of the Orient, like paper lanterns and lacquer-red shutters, to create a space with a true Singapore flea market flare. But patrons at this exotic DC diner have important choices to make besides what to eat. They must decide if they want their dinner in Turkey or perhaps Tibet because the Asian-fusion fare at Mie N Yu is served in thematic dining spaces that reflect its international flavor and are appropriately dubbed things like the Turkish Tent, Hong Kong Bar and the Venetian Lounge, just to name a few. But the journey is just beginning. Guests enter a whole new world with a trip to Mie N Yu’s unisex washroom, which is maintained by a round the clock attendant on weekends. The Old World Style Craftsmanship is carved straight into the rich dark wood that accents the face of each floor-to-ceiling stall door. The artistry continues at the communal hand washing station where four oversized wood barrel sinks face each other, positioned in such a way that invites bathroom banter. A rock lined copper basin complete with a rustic faucet sits atop each drum and completes this loo’s traditional look. | ||||||||||
| Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Chicago, Illinois |
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| It’s less than a year old but this latest artistic addition to Chicago’s cityscape needs little introduction or explanation as to why it’s not a regular Radisson hotel. Just take a peek inside the lobby’s loo and you’ll see exactly why we say the North American debut of Radisson’s hip sister chain, Radisson Blu, has got it going on! Thousands of reflective glass mosaic tiles wallpaper the washroom from ceiling to floor, like a giant disco ball. UK designer Jim Hamilton brings perfect balance to Radisson Blu’s flashy, edgy space by integrating solid shapes with sleek surfaces, like white marble floors and countertops that are complemented by a series of ceramic vessel sinks. Designers carry in a touch of color by lining the vanity with fresh flowers. Radisson Blu’s bathroom, just like the hotel brand, is “inspired by design and driven by function.” | ||||||||||
| Walker Art Center Minneapolis, Minnesota |
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| In 2005 the Walker Art Center engaged the renown Swiss architectural firm Herzog & de Meuron to develop a master plan and design for an expansion that doubled the size of the museum, adding new galleries, a restaurant and restroom facilities. The Walker’s washrooms have been given high marks by restroom raters and museumgoers alike that say the stalls are art forms themselves. With floor-to-ceiling glossy stall doors that starkly contrast the black restroom walls, the sleek, modern space is reminiscent of a first-generation iPod. | ||||||||||
| Vanity Night Club Las Vegas, Nevada |
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| From the creators of Gitane in San Francisco comes Vanity Nightclub. Hard Rock Hotel & Casino plays host to this star-studded hotspot dubbed the most luxurious loo in Sin City by the Travel Channel. Carrying a scant $1.2 million dollar price tag and donning flat screens over the urinals and faux reptile-skin walls, the men’s room at Vanity is nothing to scoff at, but it’s the women’s room that wows. Situated in the heart of the Vegas strip this lavish lair spans 2,000 square feet and features eleven stalls and six sinks. But it’s the individual vanity stations, each separately lighted and paired with red-velvet cushioned seats that really get the gals talking! The porcelain palace is also flush with gold plated faucets, gold laced curtains and finished off with a custom-designed $40,000 chandelier made from 70 hand-blown glass globes. With a cocktail waitress making rounds in the restroom, we might just argue the life of the party is in this lounge’s loo! | ||||||||||
| Da Marino Ristorante Italiano New York, New York |
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| Restaurant goers step off Broadway’s bustling city street for a taste of Tuscan paradise at Chef Pasquale’s cozy New York basement spot. Pasquale brings his unique twist on Italian and love for quality and freshness, learned long ago in his grandmother’s kitchen in Calabria, to Da Marino Ristorante Italiano. Well known for their authentic Italian cuisine and top notch waitstaff, Da Marino has played host more than once to celebrity guests like Mario Lopez, Usher, Sara Jessica Parker and Reba McIntire. Arguably the main attraction might be the bathroom, which captures the essence of the Italian Renaissance, rich with its traditions and artistic legacy, all within the four narrow walls of the women’s washroom. Guests entering through the hand painted door find a “miniature Italian sanctuary” on the other side, complete with beautiful stone inlay detail on the walls, authentic Italian art and sculptures. A tranquil running waterfall compliments the soft Italian opera tunes playing in the background. Twinkling colored lights and candles around the room glow in festive red for a fun finish. | ||||||||||
| Buc-ee’s New Braunfels, Texas |
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| Customers making a beeline for the bathroom at Buc-ee’s say this Texas-based business flushes the competition when it comes to clean! Offering up some of the most spotless loos in the Lone Star State, the Buc-ee’s brand of convenience stores knows firsthand that clean bathrooms mean big business! The Battle of the Alamo may explain the city’s nickname “Something to Remember,” but outside San Antonio just off I-35 North in New Braunfels, stands a sparkling restroom facility that’s almost impossible to forget! It’s hard to miss the 60 gas pumps that mark Buc-ee’s newest 68,000 square foot store. Or the 80 soda fountains inside that sit beside to the 31 cash registers. But it’s the 83 stalls in this Buc-ee’s restroom that really impress! Road warriors who frequent the New Braunfels Buc-ee’s say this one-of-a kind rest stop is fit for a King. And with 83 toilets to choose from, you even get your very own Throne! | ||||||||||
| Lane Stadium/Worsham Field at Virginia Tech Blacksburg, Virginia |
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| Virginia Tech’s Lane Stadium may be almost a half-century old but the restroom facilities on the Hokies’ home turf are sporting twenty-first century technology! Virginia Tech modernized Lane Stadium’s loos in 2010 by installing new digital mirror displays that guarantee a captive audience for both the college and its largest sponsors. That’s because stats show that the two sure-fire stops a fan will make during a sporting event is their seat and the bathroom, averaging 2.8 potty breaks during each game. The mirror itself is essentially a TV screen with two-way mirror glass over the top. Motion sensors at the base of each mirror detect when a fan approaches. This signals the start of an ad or short school message that plays for several seconds before it minimizes and rapidly retreats to a less prominent position on the mirror. When the screen goes black, the glass shows a mirrored reflection once again. University officials say this unique, cutting edge technology is a perfect fit for the research and engineering school which asserts in its slogan that VT grads “invent the future.” | ||||||||||
| Fans can also participate by visiting the Best Restroom Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube Channel to post comments, receive contest updates, share photos or upload videos; links to all three sites are on the contest homepage. | ||||||||||
| Nominations for any non-residential restroom accessible to the general public were accepted online through the summer. Qualifying facilities were then judged and finalists were selected based on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. | ||||||||||
| Cintas launched America’s Best Restroom Contest more than a decade ago to recognize establishments that place high value on hygiene and style in their public restrooms. “The condition of the washrooms in a restaurant, hotel or other public facility undoubtedly influences a customers overall experience,” said Cintas’ Senior Marketing Manager, John Engel. | ||||||||||
| “It’s certainly had a positive effect on our staff, which in the end, affects business. Our and facilities staff are certainly the unsung heroes of the Museum, and this recognition was exciting for them–increasing morale. I believe that shows in their continued work,” said Emily Waldren, Public Relations Manager at The Field Museum, which took the regal crown in last year’s contest. | ||||||||||
| Successful businesses recognize the correlation between clean restrooms and customer satisfaction and retention. “Cintas’ contest salutes owners and managers who invest in the upkeep of their facilities because they know it makes smart business sense,” Engel added. | ||||||||||
| It’s not too early to start sending in nominations for next year’s contest. “Whether you want to promote your own business, or bring recognition to a favorite restaurant, hotel, school or other establishment that you believe goes above and beyond in the design or cleanliness of its restrooms, we invite you to send us a name and photo,” says America’s Best Restroom Survey Editor, Sabrina Zimring. | ||||||||||
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| About Cintas Corporation | ||||||||||
| Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types primarily throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom cleaning and supplies, tile and carpet cleaning, promotional products, first aid, safety, fire protection products and services and document management services for approximately 900,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
For more information about Cintas products and services, visit us at www.cintas.com. |
CINTAS Kicks Off 11th Annual America’s Best Restroom® Contest
| Nominate a deserving restroom today! | ||||||||||
| Cincinnati, OH. – Do you own or operate an establishment with a restroom that gives guests more than one good reason to “Go”? Are you the creative mind behind a public restroom designed or customized to integrate function with fashion or to bring personality into a space where you least expect to see it? Maybe you’re the client or customer who appreciates a clean, well-maintained and tastefully designed washroom? | ||||||||||
| We need your help finding the best loo in the land! Nominate a deserving washroom online today at www.bestrestroom.com. Ten finalists will be announced in August, at which time online voting will begin. The winner and runner-up will be revealed this fall and top vote-getters will secure a place in Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom® Contest Hall of Fame. | ||||||||||
| Worthy nominees will compete for a chance to be crowned 2012 King of the Throne in the 11th annual Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom® Contest and revealed during a nationally publicized media event this fall. | ||||||||||
| The contest is open to any non-residential restroom in the U.S. that is accessible to the general public. Entries will be judged on cleanliness, visual appeal, innovation, functionality and unique design elements. | ||||||||||
| Cintas launched the America’s Best Restroom® Contest more than a decade ago to recognize establishments that place high value on hygiene and style in their public restrooms. “The condition of the restrooms in a restaurant, hotel or other public facility undoubtedly influences a customer’s overall experience,” said John Engel, Cintas Senior Marketing Manager. | ||||||||||
| “Participating in this contest was a great opportunity for us. If you have a restroom that you’re proud of it’s time to show it to the nation!” said Mark Mustacchio, Vice President of Don’s Johns Inc., a top 5 finalists in last year’s contest. “This contest not only creates national visibility of your venue or company, it creates pride in the work you put into your restrooms and sanitation. A contest like this shows your customers that you truly care about their experience,” Mustacchio adds. | ||||||||||
| Past winners and finalists, along with existing Cintas customers, recognize the correlation between clean restrooms and customer satisfaction and retention. “Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom® Contest salutes business owners who invest in the upkeep of their facilities because they know it makes smart business sense,” Engel said. | ||||||||||
| Chicago’s famous Field Museum gained national media attention for its spacious and family-friendly restroom design, taking first place in the 2011 contest. “It’s certainly had a positive effect on our staff, which in the end, affects business,” said Emily Waldren, who manages public relations for the Field Museum. “Our housekeeping and facilities staff are certainly the unsung heroes of the Museum, and this recognition was exciting for them–increasing morale. I believe that shows in their continued work,” Waldren said. | ||||||||||
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| Contact: Sabrina Zimring Survey Editor, Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom® Contest O: (757) 456-5212 C: (757) 338-7731 [email protected] |
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| About Cintas Corporation | ||||||||||
| Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire protection services and document management services to approximately 900,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
For more information about Cintas products and services, visit us at www.cintas.com. |
Chicago Landmark Voted Nation’s Best Restroom
| The Field Museum Wins 10th Annual Cintas “America’s Best Restroom Award” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cincinnati, OH. – The finest restrooms in America are inside The Field Museum in Chicago, Illinois. So says the Internet public who cast online ballots in the 10th annual “America’s Best Restroom” contest presented by Cincinnati-based Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS), a leading provider of restroom hygiene products and services. High-resolution images of the winners’ facilities are available at www.bestrestroom.com. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The 2011 contest attracted nominations from a wide range of businesses, including restaurants, hotels and museums. Ten finalists were selected based on exceptional hygiene, style, public accessibility and usability. “The Field Museum is honored to receive this award,” says The Field Museum’s Vice President of Finance, Jim Croft, who oversaw the redesign of the bathroom. “Host to over 1.3 million visitors each year, the Museum strives to give visitors the best service and exhibitions; we also feel this about the amenities and we are pleased to offer our guests these unique restrooms.” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| “This contest is undoubtedly fun, but it also conveys a critical message that restroom hygiene matters – for good health and good business,” said Cintas Senior Marketing Manager John Engel. “Cintas is proud to honor The Field Museum, and we congratulate all of our participants this year.” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tens of thousands of votes were cast at the program’s website, which produced the following results: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First Place: The Field Museum | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chicago, Illinois | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The ceilings of The Field Museum’s two large family-friendly restrooms features artwork of a beautiful night sky, a calming image that also absorbs sound. The Museum’s two ground-floor facilities offer sufficient stalls and sinks, as well as eco-friendly automated water faucets and hand dryers. The women’s restroom has a special nursing room with a door, sink and small sofa for mothers. The restrooms also feature a family-friendly “tot area” with smaller toilets for its littlest guests. Additionally, Museum displays are featured inside the restroom for a fun, educational flair. The restrooms are cleaned every hour to ensure the facilities are in tip-top shape for the 3,500 visitors the Museum welcomes each day. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Second Place: Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Arlington, Virginia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ForrestPerkins, the architect and interior designer for the hotel’s chic restroom uses light to reflect the evidence of motion throughout this elegant restroom. The hallway leading to the restroom is darkened with shadows of leaves, some blurred, some sharper, projected on the floor. Inside the restroom the walls ablaze with sunset tones of orange and gold. Mirrors above the vanity feature bird silhouettes that are lit and when a guest turns on the faucet, water flows in a sparkling red stream if it’s hot or a blue stream if cool. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Third: Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Scottsdale, Arizona | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This loo is sleek and modern with terrazzo flooring, glass-tiled walls and spacious, stainless steel stalls. An ingenious lighting system continuously shifts the colors of the space from cool blues and greens to warm golds and reds. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fourth: Don’s Johns: Presidential Luxury Restroom Trailer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chantilly, Virginia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This regal restroom trailer was actually set up for President Obama during the 2009 Inauguration. It features granite counters and shelves, black marbleized walls, wood panel doors and a hardwood-designed floor. Climate-controlled heat and air conditioning also guarantees to keep guests in maximum comfort during their visit. The dual audio system not only plays soothing music inside for the visiting guests, but those waiting outside can keep up with the event on an exterior-mounted flat screen television! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fifth: Snowbasin Ski Resort | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Huntsville, Utah | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Snowbasin’s restrooms feature Italian Carrera marble, Barovier, Tosso & Moscatelli chandeliers crafted from bronze and crystal, floor-to-ceiling commodes, beautifully inlaid African Anegre wood and hand-painted walls. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The remaining finalists were: Castello di Amorosa Winery in Calistoga, California; Habana Outpost in Brooklyn, New York; The Joule Poule in Dallas, Texas; Main Street Station Casino, Brewery and Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada and NINJA NEW YORK in New York, New York. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Field Museum received the coveted “America’s Best Restroom” plaque of recognition from Cintas during a special presentation today in Chicago, and secured its place in the “America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame” found at www.bestrestroom.com. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cintas created the America’s Best Restroom award in 2002 to honor those businesses across the country that maintain exceptional hygiene with style in their public restrooms. Previous winners were: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| For more information about the Cintas Best Restroom Award and the ten finalists, contact the Survey Editor, Sabrina Zimring, at 757-338-7731. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About Cintas Corporation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types, predominantly in the United States and Canada. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire protection services and document management services for approximately 800,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a Nasdaq-100 company and component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Fortune Magazine has consistently listed Cintas as a “Most Admired Company” in its annual survey for the past nine consecutive years.
For more information about Cintas products and services, visit us at www.cintas.com. |
Ten Finalists Chosen For 2011 America’s Best Restroom Contest
| Public Voting Begins for Tenth Annual Awards Program Presented by Cintas Corporation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CINCINNATI, OH, August 1, 2011.- Will America’s next Best Restroom be nestled inside a 13th century Tuscan castle and winery in Northern California? Will it feature silhouettes of birds in mid-flight? How about a section of the Berlin Wall? These are just some of the spectacular images inside the ten public bathrooms that will compete for the coveted title of America’s Best Restroom, the popular contest sponsored by Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS) and now in its tenth year. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The public is invited to vote for their top pick at www.bestrestroom.com through Monday, September 19, 2011. The site takes visitors on a photographic tour of each facility and then encourages them to choose their favorite. The winner will be announced this fall. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| This year’s finalists for America’s Best Restroom are: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| New this year, fans can conveniently vote from any web-enabled mobile device. The mobile website is a fast and easy way to nominate a deserving restroom while on the go. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| You can also participate by visiting the America’s Best Restroom Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube Channel to post comments, receive contest updates, share photos or upload videos; links to all three sites are on the contest homepage. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cintas created the America’s Best Restroom award in 2002 to honor those businesses across America that place hygiene and style at the top of their priority list. Proprietors recognize the parallel between clean restrooms and customer retention. “We like to think of this contest as an entertaining way of drawing the public’s attention to the very important issue of restroom hygiene,” says Cintas Senior Marketing Manager Rich Bing. “People don’t think about this issue until they walk into a poorly kept restroom, and then it matters. After that, the odds are they won’t be back.” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Over the last decade, this contest has attracted tens of thousands of voters. The 2011 winner will receive a plaque of recognition and a coveted place in the America’s Best Restroom “Hall of Fame” section of the program’s Web site. Previous winners were: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| For more information or to set up an interview, please contact the survey editor, Sabrina Zimring, at 757.456.5212. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About Cintas Corporation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire protection services and document management services to approximately 800,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.For more information about Cintas products and services, visit us at www.cintas.com. |
The Search is On for the 2011 America’s Best Restroom
| Nominations Now Being Accepted for Cintas Corporation’s Tenth Annual America’s Best Restroom Award | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| CINCINNATI, OH – February 22, 2011 – Have you ever been in a public restroom that was so clean and stylish that you wanted to tell others about it? Well, now you can tell the world, thanks to the 10th annual America’s Best Restroom competition, sponsored by Cintas Corporation. The public can submit the names of deserving men’s or ladies’ restrooms at www.bestrestroom.com through April 15th, 2011. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cintas’ America’s Best Restroom contest is open to any non-residential restroom accessible to the general public. “Whether you want to promote your own business, or bring recognition to a favorite restaurant, hotel, school or other establishment that you believe goes above and beyond in the design or cleanliness of its restrooms, we invite you to send us a name and picture,” says Cintas Senior Marketing Manager Rich Bing. Past champions have featured unique décor, sparkling fixtures, spacious accommodations and breathtaking skyline views. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| New this year, fans can place nominations and vote at www.bestrestroom.com from any web-enabled mobile device. Powered by Usablenet, a global technology leader for multichannel customer engagement, the mobile website is a fast and easy way to nominate a deserving restroom while on-the-go. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| “This is our tenth year for America’s Best Restroom, and it just keeps growing in popularity and participation,” says Rich Bing. “The nominees go well beyond just being clean; they are truly memorable. Most importantly these businesses recognize and value the impact a restroom has on their guest’s experience.” | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Internet public, which will choose the 2011 champion through their votes, can also visit the America’s Best Restroom Facebook page, Twitter account and YouTube Channel to post comments, receive contest updates, share photos or upload videos; links to all three sites are on the contest homepage. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cintas will announce up to ten finalists in July, at which time online voting will begin. The winner will be crowned in September and receive the coveted America’s Best Restroom plaque of recognition from Cintas during a ceremony at the champion’s location. The top five vote-getters will secure a place in the America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame, which is housed on the official website. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Previous winners in America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame are: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| For more information or to set up an interview, please contact the survey editor, Sabrina Zimring, at 757.456.5212. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| About Cintas Corporation | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire protection services and document management services to approximately 800,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.For more information about Cintas products and services, visit us at www.cintas.com. |
St. Louis Ice Cream Parlor’s Restrooms Voted Nation’s Best
| Fountain on Locust Wins 9th Annual “Cintas America’s Best Restroom Award |
| Cincinnati, OH. – The finest restrooms in America are in the Fountain on Locust in St. Louis, Mo. So says the Internet public who cast online ballots in the 9th annual “America’s Best Restroom” contest presented by Cincinnati-based Cintas Corporation (Nasdaq: CTAS), a leading provider of restroom hygiene products and services. High-resolution images of the winners’ facilities are available at www.bestrestroom.com. |
| The 2010 contest attracted nominations from a wide cross-section of businesses, including restaurants, hotels and several theatres. Ten finalists were selected based on exceptional hygiene, style and open access to the public. “We are absolutely thrilled and honored to have been chosen by the public as having the Best Restrooms in America,” says Joy Christensen, owner of the Fountain on Locust. “We put a lot of thought and effort into the design and construction, and we are certain that many of our customers come back because they know our bathrooms are not just unique but also clean. Earning this national recognition means a lot to our entire staff.” |
| “This contest is fun, but it also conveys a critical message that restroom hygiene matters – for good health and good business,” said Cintas Senior Marketing Manager Rich Bing. “Cintas is proud to honor The Fountain on Locust, and we congratulate all of our participants this year.” |
| Tens of thousands of votes were cast at the program’s web site, which produced the following results: |
| First Place: The Fountain on Locust |
| St. Louis, Missouri |
| Known as the most photographed restaurant in St. Louis, the restroom in this vintage ice cream parlor features hand-painted murals, ornate fixtures and designer mirrors. |
| Second Place: Grand America Hotel |
| Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Italian Carerra Marble, bronze and crystal chandeliers, floor-to-ceiling commodes, beautifully inlaid African Anegre Wood and hand- painted walls. |
| Third: Bryant Park |
| New York, New York |
| Beaux Arts design, full-time attendant, fresh cut flowers, scented oils and electronic seat covers. |
| Fourth: Embassy Theatre |
| Fort Wayne, Indiana |
| Egyptian design, fireplaces, gold columns and custom wainscoting. |
| Fifth: The Muse Hotel |
| Individual washrooms, each featuring customized fixtures, marble and mosaic tile. |
| The remaining finalists were: The China Grill at Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas; Lawrence Dumont Stadium in Wichita, Kansas; Rivue Restaurant and Lounge in Louisville, Kentucky; Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California; and Joe’s Farm Grill in Gilbert, Arizona. |
| The Fountain on Locust received the coveted “America’s Best Restroom” plaque of recognition from Cintas during a special presentation today in St. Louis, and secured its place in the “America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame” found at www.bestrestroom.com. |
| The Cintas Corporation created the Best Restroom Award in 2001 to honor businesses across the country that maintain exceptional hygiene with style in their public restrooms. Previous winners include restrooms at the University of Notre Dame; The Grand Casino in Biloxi, Miss.; Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan, Wis.; the Fort Smith, Arkansas Airport; Wendell’s Restaurant in Westerville, Oh.; Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, Oh.; The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tenn. and Shoji Tabuchi Theatre in Branson, Mo., the 2009 winner. |
| For more information about the Cintas Best Restroom Award and the ten finalists, contact the Survey Editor, Sabrina Zimring, at 757-338-7731. |
| About Cintas Corporation |
| Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types, predominantly in the United States and Canada. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire protection services and document management services for approximately 800,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a Nasdaq-100 company and component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index. Fortune Magazine has consistently listed Cintas as a “Most Admired Company” in its annual survey for the past nine consecutive years.
For more information about Cintas products and services, visit us at www.cintas.com. |
The Search is on for America’s Best Restroom
| Nominations Now Being Accepted for Cintas Corporation’s Ninth Annual America’s Best Restroom Award |
| CINCINNATI, OH – February 22, 2010 – Nominations are now being accepted for the ninth annual “America’s Best Restroom Award,” presented by Cintas Corporation. Submissions can be made at www.bestrestroom.com through April 26, 2010. |
| In addition to making nominations, the public is also invited to visit the America’s Best Restroom (ABR) YouTube Channel and Facebook sites to post comments, share photos or upload videos; links to both sites are located on the ABR Homepage. |
| Up to 10 finalists will be announced in July, at which time the Internet public will be asked to cast votes. The winner will be announced in September and receive the coveted ABR plaque of recognition from Cintas during a formal ceremony and media event. The top five vote-getters will secure a place in the “America’s Best Restroom Hall of Fame” found at www.bestrestroom.com. |
| Cintas’ “America’s Best Restroom” contest is open to any non-residential restroom that is free of charge and open to employees, visitors or the general public. Nominators are not required to have a professional relationship with the business or staff that manages the facility, but personal experience is encouraged. Past champions have boasted breathtaking skyline views, unique décor and sparkling fixtures. |
| “There is no question that restroom hygiene plays a big role in determining customer satisfaction and repeat business,” said Cintas Marketing Manager Richard Bing. “Of course, the winners of this contest go well beyond just being clean; they are truly memorable.” Cintas created the “ABR Award” to honor businesses that combine good hygiene with functionality and exceptional style in their public restrooms. The contest has attracted tens of thousands of votes since its inception in 2002. |
| Previous winners have included restrooms at University of Notre Dame; The Grand Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi; Kohler Art Center in Sheboygan, Wisconsin; the Fort Smith, Arkansas Airport; Wendell’s Restaurant in Westerville, Ohio; Jungle Jim’s International Market in Fairfield, Ohio; Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee; and in 2009, Shoji Tabuchi Theatre in Branson, Missouri. |
| For more information or to set up an interview, please contact the survey editor, Sabrina Zimring, at 757.456.5212. |
| About Cintas Corporation |
| Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom supplies, promotional products, first aid and safety products, fire protection services and document management services to approximately 800,000 businesses. Cintas is a publicly held company traded over the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol CTAS, and is a Nasdaq-100 company and component of the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index.
For more information about Cintas products and services, visit us at www.cintas.com. |