Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport have launched a smart restroom pilot program designed to improve restroom cleanliness and efficiency across both airports.
The program’s feedback stations are currently installed near gates D9 and A17 at IAH and near gates 29 and 30 at HOU. Travelers can quickly rate their restroom experience using a simple happy-or-sad face interface. If a user selects the sad face, they are prompted to identify specific issues they encountered — for example, dirty stalls, wet floors, or missing toilet paper — so staff can address problems more precisely.
“Passengers have repeatedly told us through customer surveys that clean, modern restroom facilities rank at or near the top of their priority list,” said Mario Diaz, aviation director of the Houston Airport System. “This pilot program demonstrates that we’re listening and taking action. By combining the dedication of our custodial teams with this technology, we expect to deliver a noticeably improved customer experience.”
Beyond the satisfaction buttons, the system includes sensors that track usage levels in individual restrooms. When a restroom reaches a set threshold of users, custodial teams receive automatic notifications, enabling more timely cleaning and restocking. This data-driven approach helps prioritize resources where they are most needed and reduces the time restrooms remain in a substandard condition.
The airports will evaluate the pilot over the coming months and consider expanding the system to additional locations based on results. The goal is to use direct passenger feedback and automated usage data to create cleaner, more responsive restroom services throughout both airports.