5 Reasons Airports Should Outsource Their Janitorial and Maintenance Services
Airports never stop moving, and neither do the people who work in them.
From the first travelers lining up for early morning flights to the last passengers picking up their bags late at night, activity is constant. Behind the scenes, a tremendous amount of effort goes into keeping terminals clean, safe, and welcoming.
For many airports, outsourcing janitorial and maintenance services is the most efficient way to maintain high standards. Partnering with a trusted provider like SMS ensures your facility benefits from trained staff, proven systems, and reliable support while freeing your team to focus on broader operations.
Here are five reasons SMS is the right choice for your airport.
1. We’re Industry Experts
Janitorial and maintenance is not a side service for us, it is our specialty. For more than three decades, SMS has focused exclusively on large public-facing facilities, including airports, hospitals, arenas, shopping centers, schools, and more. Our training, processes, equipment, and people are designed with the demands of high-traffic environments in mind.
Good people are our most important asset. We hire individuals who are hard-working, conscientious, and personable, then give them the training and tools to succeed. From day one, new hires learn that cleaning for health and safety requires specific methods to reduce germs, prevent slips and falls, and protect everyone who uses your airport.
Training does not stop at onboarding. Employees receive continuous instruction to stay current with evolving standards and best practices. Our investment in modern, environmentally friendly equipment and supplies ensures every task is done efficiently and effectively.
Supporting our front-line staff is a team of subject matter experts and executives with decades of combined experience. Their knowledge covers HR, quality assurance, safety training, compliance, and operations. This depth allows us to respond quickly to challenges without airports needing to divert their own teams or hire outside consultants.
Safety is built into every process. Our programs focus on preventing accidents, reducing liability, and ensuring compliance with all OSHA standards. From using the right equipment to following proven cleaning techniques, our teams work with safety in mind at every step. By reducing hazards and maintaining high standards, we help create a cleaner, healthier, and safer environment for both passengers and employees.2. Technology that Works for You
Our proprietary SMART System is one of the most advanced tools available in facility services. This in-house quality assurance platform provides real time visibility into the work being done across your airport.
Every SMS employee carries a work-issued device running the SMART application. Tasks are logged as they are completed, capturing who performed the work, when it was done, and where it took place. This creates a reliable service record that both SMS and airport management can access at any time.
Geo-tracking is a key feature. A live map divided into zones shows exactly where work is happening and how often each area is serviced. This makes it easy to identify high-traffic spots and ensure staff are deployed where they are needed most.
SMART System also generates detailed reports that can be tailored to your priorities. Whether you need daily updates on restrooms, weekly inspection results, or quarterly reviews, the data is available on demand. Dashboards provide instant access to trends and metrics that help improve decision-making.
Travelers can even provide feedback directly through QR codes posted in restrooms and other high-use areas. Their input creates work tickets that are tracked until resolution, with response times measured for accountability.
No other provider offers a system as comprehensive, and because it is built in-house, SMART System continues to evolve with the needs of our customers.
3. Service with the 5 E’s of Engagement
Airports are filled with people who may be rushed, tired, or stressed. Small interactions can make a big difference in their experience. That is why SMS trains employees in the 5 E’s of Engagement: Eye Contact, Ear-to-Ear Smile, Enthusiastic Greeting, Engage, and Educate.
These steps are simple but powerful. A smile or a friendly greeting can ease tension. Taking a few seconds to engage with a traveler shows they are noticed. Educating passengers by pointing them toward the right gate or explaining how to find a shuttle creates positive moments they will remember long after their flight.
The 5 E’s are part of our culture. They are reinforced in training, modeled by supervisors, and supported by leadership as an everyday expectation. For airports, this means the people responsible for keeping facilities clean also play a role in creating a welcoming environment for travelers.
4. Support Built into Your Services
With SMS, you get more than a front-line team. Our service model includes layers of support that ensure consistency, accountability, and rapid response.
On site, your airport is served by dedicated supervisors and managers who oversee daily operations. They are backed by a divisional leadership team that provides additional oversight and coaching. Beyond that, our Nashville headquarters provides centralized expertise in HR, payroll, IT, legal, compliance, and more.
This structure means airports benefit from the resources of a large organization without needing to stretch internal staff or hire additional third parties. Our corporate Customer Support Center includes specialists in risk management, finance, marketing, and technology, ensuring every part of your program is covered.
Smaller providers may deliver staff, but they cannot match this depth of support. With SMS, it is part of the package from the start.
5. Whatever It Takes
SMS was founded on the philosophy of doing “Whatever It Takes” to serve our customers. For airports, this means handing off the responsibility of janitorial and maintenance so leaders can focus on the complexities of running an airport.
We handle staffing, training, supervision, scheduling, equipment, and supplies. Our employees and managers take care of the daily details so your team can concentrate on passenger flow, security, and operations.
Doing “Whatever It Takes” also means stepping up when challenges arise. Our people are committed to solving problems quickly, adapting to new demands, and going beyond expectations. Backed by values of honesty, integrity, hard work, and appreciation, we build long-term partnerships grounded in trust.
When you work with SMS, you gain more than a vendor. You gain a partner that takes ownership of your janitorial and maintenance program, freeing you to focus on delivering a safe, efficient, and positive airport experience.