Event planners face countless challenges when organizing gatherings, but few prove as subtly complex as maintaining proper hygiene standards. You can install the most elegant dispensers and stock the finest sanitizing products, yet success hinges on one critical factor: actual guest participation.
Ensuring guests actually use your hand sanitizer stations can be surprisingly difficult. Visibility alone doesn’t guarantee usage. Some guests instinctively seek out hygiene stations, while others may walk right past them. The difference between simply having sanitizing equipment and achieving meaningful hygiene compliance lies in strategic design choices that naturally encourage participation.
Increase Visibility With Strategic Placement
Out of sight, out of mind. This principle is especially true for hand sanitizer. If guests cannot easily see or access your stations, they will not use them. The key to encouraging use is placing them in prominent, high-traffic locations where they are impossible to miss.
Key Placement Locations
Think about the natural flow of your event and identify the points where guests congregate or transition between activities. There are several effective spots to consider for your sanitizer stations.
- Entrances and exits: Place a station at every entry and exit point so guests can sanitize their hands upon arrival and departure.
- Near restrooms: While our portable sink rentals provide soap and water, placing a sanitizer station nearby offers an additional, convenient option.
- Food and drink areas: This is non-negotiable. Position multiple stations near any area where visitors will handle food or beverages.
- High-touch points: Identify areas with high-touch surfaces like registration desks and place sanitizer nearby to encourage immediate hygiene after contact.
By placing stations in these logical and visible spots, you integrate them into the event experience. Guests will not have to go out of their way to find them, which dramatically increases the likelihood of use.
Use Visual Design Psychology
Color selection dramatically influences guest interaction rates with hygiene stations. Bright, attention-grabbing colors like vibrant blue or green signal cleanliness and safety while ensuring visibility across crowded event spaces. Avoid colors that blend with the surrounding décor or create visual confusion. Your goal is to make stations noticeable without appearing garish or out of place within your event’s aesthetic framework.
Signage
Signage plays a crucial role in driving compliance, but message tone matters more than many organizers may realize. Commands like “Use Hand Sanitizer” can create psychological resistance, while inviting language such as “Fresh Start” or “Clean Hands, Happy Heart” generates positive associations.
Floor decals or arrows pointing toward the stations can also guide guests and serve as constant visual reminders.
Communicate the Importance of Hand Hygiene
Do not assume your guests know why they should use hand sanitizer. Active communication before and during the event is essential for promoting hygiene.
Pre-Event Messaging
Use your pre-event communications to set expectations. Include a small note in your email invitations, on your event website, and in social media posts mentioning that hand sanitizer stations will be available for everyone’s health and safety.
On-Site Announcements
During the event, use announcements to remind guests to sanitize their hands. A friendly mention from the stage by an MC, DJ, or event organizer can be highly effective. For example, before announcing mealtime, the MC could say, “Dinner is served! You’ll find hand sanitizer stations near the buffet line to use before you eat.”
These gentle nudges reinforce the importance of hand hygiene without being overbearing. When guests hear these reminders, it keeps the idea of sanitizing top-of-mind, making them more likely to take action.
Train Your Staff
Event staff members serve as crucial ambassadors for hygiene compliance. The staff should incorporate sanitizer use into their regular duties, creating organic demonstration opportunities that feel authentic.
Positive reinforcement from staff members proves more effective than correction or instruction. Simple acknowledgments like “great choice” or “thanks for keeping everyone healthy” create positive associations while encouraging continued compliance. Avoid negative commentary about guests who skip stations, as this creates defensive reactions and uncomfortable social dynamics.
Maintain Stations Throughout the Event
All hand sanitizer stations for events require consistent attention to remain effective. Assign staff members to regularly check each station, ensuring dispensers are full, clean, and fully functional. A station that runs out of sanitizer or malfunctions can frustrate guests and reduce compliance, undermining your hygiene efforts.
Regular maintenance also allows staff to quickly address any issues, such as spills or accessibility obstacles, keeping the area safe and inviting. By maintaining stations throughout the event, you reinforce their importance and make it easy for guests to sanitize whenever needed, creating a seamless and reliable hygiene experience.
Monitor Usage
Monitor usage patterns by observing guest behavior around different station locations and configurations. High-traffic stations indicate successful placement and design choices, while ignored installations reveal opportunities for repositioning or enhancement.
You can also track refill frequencies as practical measures of actual usage rather than relying solely on visual observations. Stations requiring frequent product replenishment clearly attract more guest engagement than those with minimal consumption.
Surveys
Guest feedback provides valuable insights into station effectiveness and user experience quality. Post-event surveys can include questions about station visibility, accessibility, and cleanliness. This information guides continuous improvement efforts, demonstrating the organization’s commitment to guest health and comfort.
Choosing the Right Type of Hand Sanitizer Stations
Hand sanitizer stations are not all equal. Selecting the right type for your event can significantly influence guest usage. Freestanding units are ideal for high-traffic areas, and you can move them as needed. Wall-mounted dispensers save space and are perfect for more permanent or indoor settings. For outdoor events, ensure stations are weather-resistant and stable on uneven surfaces.
The sanitizer itself matters, too. Choose formulations that are effective against a wide range of germs and gentle on the skin. Fragrance-free or lightly scented options are generally preferred, as strong scents can deter some guests from using the product. Some dispensers feature touchless activation, which adds an extra layer of convenience and hygiene that further encourages usage.
Your Partner in Event Sanitation
Hosting a successful event requires careful attention to every detail, and guest sanitation should always be a top priority. Providing hand sanitizer stations is a great first step, but ensuring guests actually use them requires a thoughtful approach combining strategic placement, clear communication, and visible leadership.
At Floods Royal Flush, we understand the importance of reliable and professional sanitation services for the Chicagoland community. From our wide selection of portable restrooms to our handwash stations and sanitizer stands, we provide the high-quality, affordable solutions you need to make your event a success.
