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| Photo courtesy of Envision Digital Photography. |
Most of us take washrooms for granted until we're faced with one that sets off the “I can hold it!” reaction. In the event world, the loo can say a lot about your occasion and choice of venue, especially when it comes to those of the portable outdoor kind.
Consider then the following ideas for guaranteeing that your event's washrooms make a lasting impression of the good kind!:
Venue Facilities
- Ensure the ”facilities” are a detailed stop on the initial site tour of a venue. Inspect washrooms right before doors open and delegate someone to monitor them throughout the event.
- Keep in mind 5% of your guests will be using the facilities at any given time during an event with peak washroom use after a meal or presentation ceremonies.
- Ease washroom waiting times with entertainment such as a strolling musician or magician.
- Set up a “primping station” with mirrored lights and attending stylists to help freshen up hair and makeup.
- Don't overlook the marketing opportunity washroom breaks provide: Extend your event messaging with in-stall advertising and counter-top brochure holders.
- Include on-site service attendants in your costs to ensure washroom areas are constantly maintained and guests personally greeted and pampered.
- Simple details go a long way: place fresh flowers and a selection of quality toiletries on bathroom counters.
- If necessary, use signage to mark the way to the washrooms.
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| Enhance portable washroom facilities with temporary landscaping. Photo courtesy of Nature's Call. |
Portable Facilities
Along with the above, loos on the move have a few of their own unique needs to think about:
- Rule of thumb is one unit per 50 people at a four-to six-hour event with food and alcohol.
- Don't forget to include staffing in your head count. An event for 300 people often has a serving contingent of 40 to 50 people. For convenience, set up a separate staff washroom/washstand close to the service area.
- Women take twice as long as men in the washroom so consider a ratio of two female washrooms to one male unit.
- One four-basin washstand services six to eight portable toilets. Offer hand-sanitizer units beside soap dispensers in case wash stands run temporarily dry.
- Whether you go high-end deluxe washroom trailers or single-unit portables, make them look pretty by setting them amid temporary landscaping and florals.
- Since portable washrooms are self-contained, they can be placed anywhere. Make location accessible from dining and bar area under tenting or discreetly placed behind hedging or a partition wall.
- Evening events require lighting along the path to the facilities and at the washroom site.
- Avoid confusion and embarrassing moments with clear signage to designate male and female washrooms. Also position units with doors facing away from event area to avoid any “forgot-to-lock-the-door” faux pas.
With input and thanks to Kelly Squires, Nature's Call, www.naturescall.ca;
Harold Ross, Room to Go, www.roomtogo.ca;
and John Kenyon, It's My Potty, www.itsmypotty.com
