This Week >> 2/26/2009


Big Ben and the Statue of Liberty
London/New York and the Best American Restroom Competition

Come with Let's Travel! this week to London and New York to discover what's hot and where the bargains and the "hidden gems" are in these two great cities. Then for a change of pace, the topic is restrooms -- specifically the contest to find the best restroom in the United States. And you can nominate your choice on our Website!









Where we'll be exploring



Map of London
The London Coat of Arms London, England

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom, and the largest metropolitan area in the European Union. An important settlement for two millennia, London's history goes back to its founding by the Romans. Since its foundation, London has been part of many movements and phenomena throughout history, including the English Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, and the Gothic Revival. The city's core, the ancient City of London, still retains its limited medieval boundaries; but since at least the 19th century, the name "London" has also referred to the whole metropolis that has developed around it. Today the bulk of this conurbation forms the London region of England and the Greater London administrative area, with its own elected mayor and assembly.

London is one of the world's most important business, financial and cultural centres and its influence in politics, education, entertainment, media, fashion and the arts contributes to its status as a major global city. Central London is the headquarters of more than half of the UK's top 100 listed companies (the FTSE 100) and over 100 of Europe's 500 largest companies. The city is a major tourist destination for both domestic and overseas visitors, with annual expenditure by tourists of around £15 billion. London hosted the 1908 and 1948 Summer Olympic Games and will host the 2012 Summer Olympic Games. Samuel Johnson, author of the first complete dictionary, famously wrote about the city, citing "You find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."

Greater London contains four World Heritage Sites: the Tower of London; the historic settlement of Greenwich; the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; and the site comprising the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret's Church.

London's population draws from a wide range of peoples, cultures, and religions, and over 300 languages are spoken within the city. As of July 2007, it had an official population of 7,556,900 within the boundaries of Greater London making it the most populous municipality in the European Union, with a population more than double that of its nearest rival. As of 2001, the Greater London Urban Area had a population of 8,278,251 and the metropolitan area is estimated to have a total population of just under 14 million, the largest metropolitan area in the EU. The public transport network, administered by Transport for London, is one of the most extensive in the world, Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the world by international passenger traffic and the air space is the busiest of any city in the world.





Map of New York
The Flag of New York City New York City

The City of New York (commonly referred to as New York City) is the most populous city in the United States, while the New York metropolitan area ranks among the world's most populous urban areas. It is a leading global city, exerting a powerful influence over worldwide commerce, finance, culture, and entertainment. The city is also an important center for international affairs, hosting the United Nations headquarters.

Located on the Atlantic coast of the Northeastern United States, the city consists of five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. It is the most densely populated major city in the United States, with an estimated 8,274,527 people occupying just under 305 square miles (790 km2). The New York metropolitan area's population is also the nation's highest, estimated at 18,815,988 people over 6,720 square miles (17,400 km2).

New York is unique among American cities for its high use of and 24-hour availability of mass transit, and for the overall density and diversity of its population. In 2005, nearly 170 languages were spoken in the city and 36% of its population was born outside the United States. The city is sometimes referred to as "The City that Never Sleeps", while other nicknames include Gotham and the Big Apple.

New York was founded as a commercial trading post by the Dutch East India Company in 1624. The settlement was called New Amsterdam until 1664 when the colony came under British control. New York served as the capital of the United States from 1785 until 1790, and has been the nation's largest city since 1790.

Today, the city has many landmarks and neighborhoods that are world famous. The Statue of Liberty greeted millions of immigrants as they came to America in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Wall Street, in Lower Manhattan, has been a dominant global financial center since World War II and is home to the New York Stock Exchange. The city has been home to several of the tallest buildings in the world, including the Empire State Building and the twin towers of the former World Trade Center.






Other Topics



Public Restroom
Nominations Now Being Accepted for Cintas Corporation’s Eighth Annual America’s Best Restroom Award


CINCINNATI, OH – February 2, 2009 – Nominations are now being accepted for the eighth annual "America's Best Restroom Award" - presented by Cintas Corporation. Nominations can be submitted at www.bestrestroom.com through March 31, 2009. Also, the public is invited to visit the America's Best Restroom (ABR) YouTube Channel at www.youtube.com/user/BestRestroomAwards to post comments, view and share videos. Facebook subscribers can locate and join the fan site by typing "America's Best Restroom Awards" into the search bar.

Up to 10 finalists will be announced in June, at which time the Internet public will be asked to cast their votes. The winner will be announced in August and receive the coveted ABR plaque of recognition from Cintas. The top five vote-getters will secure their 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 Senior Marketing Manager Keith Hartman. 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 Notre Dame University; 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; and in 2008, Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee.


For more information or to set up an interview, please contact the survey editor, David Brandt, at 757-456-5212.



About Cintas Corporation


Headquartered in Cincinnati, Cintas Corporation provides highly specialized services to businesses of all types throughout North America. Cintas designs, manufactures and implements corporate identity uniform programs, and provides entrance mats, restroom service and 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.