ISSA and Tork Announce the Winners of Second Annual Spotless Spaces Competition
ISSA, the Association for Cleaning and Facility Solutions, and Tork, the global leader in professional hygiene, are proud to announce the winners of the second annual Spotless Spaces Competition, This exclusive ISSA-member benefit showcases the teams that go above and beyond to create safe, healthy, and accessible environments. From sparkling floors to fresh, inviting spaces, these teams set the standard for cleaning excellence.
“The Spotless Spaces Competition represents the very best of our industry worldwide —where precision, innovation, and a deep commitment to excellence come together,” said ISSA Executive Director Kim Althoff. “These companies are not just raising the bar—they are redefining it, creating environments where health, safety, and well-being are protected at the highest level. Their work sets a global standard and serves as a benchmark for what this industry can and should achieve and we applaud them.”
The competition recognizes excellence in three categories:
- Tork Think Ahead Facility Excellence Award Winner: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
- U.S. Spotless Space of the Year Winner: Tampa Bay International Airport, Tampa, FL; Maintained by Flagship Facility Services, Inc.
- International Spotless Space of the Year Winner: Quito Metro Stations, Quito, Ecuador; Maintained by Forto Facilities.
Tork Think Ahead Facility Excellence Award Winner: American Museum of Natural History, New York, NY
The Tork Think Ahead Facility Excellence Award honors a facility that demonstrates a best-in-class approach to hygiene for people and planet, selected following a rigorous criterial set by Tork. The U.S. and International Spotless Space of the Year winners were selected through an extensive voting process that engaged both industry professionals and the public.
“We are proud to recognize The American Museum of Natural History in New York as the recipient of the Tork Think Ahead Facility Excellence Award,” said Matthew Urmanski, Vice President Commercial, Region North America at Essity. “The Museum exemplifies sustainable hygiene principles through innovative practices that improve operational efficiencies and support better hygiene for all. By implementing a robust training program and adopting hygiene solutions that support inclusive hygiene, The American Museum of Natural History demonstrates their commitment to delivering cleaner, safer, and more welcoming spaces for all.”
“Creating a clean, welcoming environment is essential to the visitor experience,” said Michael S. Freshour, Senior Director of Custodial Services at the American Museum of Natural History. “I’m incredibly proud of our custodial team, whose hard work ensures a seamless, and comfortable, experience for every guest. This recognition is a testament to the consistency, professionalism, and care our team demonstrates on a daily basis.”
U.S. Spotless Space of the Year Winner: Tampa Bay International Airport (TPA), Tampa, FL; Maintained by Flagship Facility Services, Inc.
“We are incredibly proud of the strong partnership we’ve built with Flagship and deeply appreciate the reliability, dedication, and attention to detail their employees bring to Tampa International Airport. This ISSA award is a well-deserved recognition of their professionalism and the meaningful impact they make on the guest experience at TPA. It truly reflects the passion and high standards their employees bring to their work every single day,” said John Tiliacos, Tampa International Airport Chief Operating Officer.
“We’re incredibly proud of our team and our partnership with Tampa International Airport. Maintaining a spotless environment in such a high-traffic facility takes dedication, teamwork, and a shared commitment to excellence. This recognition from ISSA reflects the pride we take in delivering a clean, safe, and welcoming experience for every traveler who passes through Tampa Bay International Airport (TPA)”, said Derrick Deadwiler, Senior Vice President of Operations for Flagship Facility Services, Inc.
International Spotless Space of the Year Winner: Quito Metro Stations, Quito, Ecuador; Maintained by Forto Facilities.
“From Ecuador to the world, FORTO FACILITIES demonstrates that ensuring mass transit systems at a spotless standard is possible, 24/7. Being recognized as the International ‘Spotless Space of the Year’, with Metro de Quito stations awarded among the cleanest spaces globally, reflects the standard our team has built through discipline, excellence, and an unwavering commitment to every detail, every day,” said Andres Prado, President of Forto Facilities.
The Spotless Spaces Competition is an important feature of International Cleaning Week 2026, held from March 23-28. This global event underscores the cleaning industry’s vital role in protecting public health and driving economic impact. To see a list of
For more information about the Spotless Spaces Competition, its winners, runners up, and finalists visit https://www.issa.com/advocacy/international-cleaning-week/spotless-spaces-winners-2026.
About ISSA
With more than 11,000 members—including distributors, manufacturers, manufacturer representatives, wholesalers, building service contractors, in-house service providers, residential cleaners, and associated service members—ISSA is the world’s leading trade association for the cleaning industry. The association is committed to changing the way the world views cleaning by providing its members with the business tools they need to promote cleaning as an investment in human health, the environment, and an improved bottom line. Headquartered in Rosemont, Ill., USA, the association has regional offices in Milan, Italy; Toronto, Canada; Sydney, Australia; Seoul, South Korea; and Shanghai, China. For more information about ISSA, visit www.issa.com or call 800-225-4772 (North America) or 847-982-0800.
About Tork
The Tork brand offers professional hygiene products and services to customers worldwide, ranging from restaurants and healthcare facilities to offices, schools and industries. Our products include dispensers, paper towels, toilet tissue, soap, sanitizers, napkins, wipers, but also software solutions for data-driven cleaning Through expertise in hygiene, functional design and sustainability, Tork has become the global leader that empowers customers to think ahead and improve business outcomes through sustainable hygiene management. Tork is a global brand of Essity, and a committed partner to customers in over 110 countries. To keep up with the latest Tork news and innovations, please visit www.torkglobal.com/us/en.
About ESSITY
Essity is a global, leading hygiene and health company. Every day, our products, solutions and services are used by a billion people around the world. Our purpose is to break barriers to well-being for the benefit of consumers, patients, caregivers, customers and society. Sales are conducted in approximately 150 countries under the leading global brands TENA and Tork, and other strong brands such as Actimove, Cutimed, JOBST, Knix, LeukoplastLibero, Libresse, Lotus, Modibodi, Nosotras, Saba, Tempo, TOM Organic and Zewa. In 2025, Essity had net sales of approximately SEK 138bn (EUR 13bn) and employed 36,000 people. The company’s headquarters is in Stockholm, Sweden and Essity is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm. More information at essity.com.
