Ecuador. The Quito Metro system was selected as the only finalist from Latin America in one of the most important international recognitions in the professional cleaning industry, highlighting the management of maintenance and hygiene in its stations.
The nomination is part of the awards organized by ISSA (International Sanitary Supply Association), one of the most influential global organizations in the professional cleaning and facility management sector, which each year recognizes public and private facilities that stand out for their standards of maintenance, operation and cleaning culture.
In the 2026 edition, Quito Metro stations compete in the "International Impeccable Space of the Year" category, along with highly operationally demanding infrastructures such as urban transport systems in cities such as Los Angeles and Washington D.C., as well as airports, hospitals, universities and large transport hubs in different regions of the world.
The finalists also include facilities from countries such as Canada, Romania, Malaysia, Mongolia, Estonia and Australia, which positions Quito's transport system within the group of best-rated urban infrastructures in terms of cleaning and maintenance management.
According to the organization, the winner will be defined by international public vote.
Cleaning management and culture of use
According to the system operator, the recognition responds to the combination of operational cleaning protocols, constant maintenance of the facilities and the commitment of users to the care of public space.
The Metro's operating model is based on the concept of "Metro Culture", which promotes principles such as respect for facilities, compliance with rules of use and co-responsibility between operators and passengers to keep stations in optimal conditions.
In practice, this translates into everyday actions such as avoiding throwing waste, not consuming food within the system and respecting the infrastructure, factors that contribute to maintaining high standards of cleanliness in an infrastructure of intensive use.
