Holiday Crowds, Clean Spaces
How SMS Supports High-Traffic Facilities During the Busiest Season of the Year
The holiday season brings a noticeable shift across airports and shopping centers as travelers take to the skies and shoppers fill retail spaces. As the season begins in November and builds through December, foot traffic increases, lines grow longer, and facilities must remain clean, safe, and fully operational from opening to closing. During the busiest weeks of the year, reliable cleaning and disinfecting become even more critical, especially as cold and flu season overlaps with peak holiday activity.
High-Traffic Environments at Their Peak
Airports experience some of the highest seasonal demand of any facility type. Passenger volume increases, security areas move continuously, restrooms stay in constant use, and high-touch surfaces are handled by thousands of people each day. Shopping centers see a similar surge as families, tourists, and last-minute shoppers move steadily through entrances, corridors, food courts, and restrooms. These environments require consistent attention, rapid response, and proactive surface care to support both safety and appearance during the height of the season.
To match this increased demand, standard SMS procedures focus on adjusting schedules and coverage to align with peak traffic periods. Some properties utilize increased traffic hours during the holidays, while others bank hours throughout the year to support heavier seasonal demand based on contractual structure. This flexible approach enables SMS teams to ensure facilities receive comprehensive coverage during peak times without disrupting long-term staffing plans. Crews remain visible and responsive, addressing spills, trash overflow, and high-use zones as crowds fluctuate throughout the day.
Cleaning for Cold and Flu Season
Cold and flu season adds another critical layer to holiday operations. With more people moving through public spaces during the winter months, proper disinfecting of high-touch areas becomes even more essential. Door handles, railings, restroom fixtures, seating areas, and shared surfaces require frequent cleaning and disinfecting to help reduce the spread of illness. Floor care also plays a key role during this time of year, especially in weather-impacted regions where moisture, snow, and tracked-in debris can quickly create safety concerns.
Technology That Supports Daily Execution
Technology supports this elevated level of visibility and response. Our proprietary quality assurance program, SMART System, enables SMS teams to monitor task completion through geo-tracking, confirm service in real-time, and maintain consistent quality assurance across high-traffic environments. This level of oversight helps teams stay ahead of changing conditions and gives facility partners confidence that cleaning and disinfecting efforts are being verified throughout the day.
School Breaks Create a Different Kind of Demand
While airports and shopping centers see increased crowds during the holidays, schools experience the opposite. As students leave for winter break, SMS teams shift into deep cleaning and project-focused work across classrooms, offices, restrooms, gyms, hallways, libraries, and cafeterias.
Standard break procedures focus on thorough surface sanitizing, floor care, glass cleaning, restroom deep cleaning, and detailed attention to high- and low-touch areas throughout the building. In addition to routine break cleaning, teams also identify site-specific needs, such as carpet staining and floor restoration, and other project work. They then build structured plans with managers and supervisors to ensure everything is ready before students return.
Ready for Whatever the Season Brings
The holiday season brings higher expectations along with higher traffic. Travelers and shoppers notice when spaces feel clean, organized, and well-maintained, especially during the most hectic weeks of the year. A consistently maintained environment supports safer movement, stronger guest impressions, and smoother daily operations when pressure is at its highest.
Whether a facility is welcoming increased public traffic or taking advantage of seasonal downtime for deep cleaning, SMS remains active. While schools may be on break, airports remain busy, shopping centers remain crowded, and SMS teams remain at work across all environments. Through planning, flexible coverage, technology, and consistent execution, SMS helps facilities move through the holiday season prepared, supported, and ready for what comes next.