The importance of a bathroom experience has evolved over the years and is no longer considered just-a-bathroom, but a space which is personal enough to rejuvenate, unwind after a long day and have some me-time.
With the constant demand from guests seeking perfection in every aspect of their hotel stay, there’s no doubt the bathroom experience is an equally important factor that has triggered a sort of a revolution in this space. Going back in time, the bathroom was always considered a second entity, with the hotel’s focus completely driven on designing the ‘room’ experience for the guest. However, with change in consumer expectations and the growing demand, the bathroom space now shares an equal identity with the guest room.
Designing a bathroom is completely dependent on the hotel classification by star rating and brand preference of the company. Multiple factors play a critical role while designing a guest bathroom such as the layout, theme, target clientele as well as the capital expense that the hotel can incur.
Hotel operators are now looking at technology, design and innovations which offer consumers more options to make the experience more personal. “Guest bathrooms are designed to make a statement and their performance must meet and exceed guest expectations offering something over and above the comfort of their own homes,” says Pavan Krishna Pusuluri, executive housekeeper, The Westin Hyderabad Mindspace.
In fact, hoteliers are of the opinion that the bathroom is the most important element of the hotel room and is the key selling point for the property. “It is a very personal space where the guest is extremely comfortable walking barefoot and is closer to oneself. Hence, it is very necessary for the hotel to design the bathroom keeping in mind the consumer’s comfort and convenience as well as the ease of maintenance for the housekeeping staff,”says Namrata Menon, executive housekeeper, Hyatt Regency New Delhi.
The new-age bathroom is now looked at in two distinct parts – the wet and dry areas. Typically, a guest tends to follow a particular sequence in using the bathroom, starting with the dry area comprising basin and water closet, followed by the wet area consisting of the shower or the bathtub. “The bathroom is becoming an area with the room with both allowing more of personal time. One cannot fail to notice that with time, the wall between the bathroom and the room is being replaced with glass, and it is also more spacious and comfortable. For a four-fixture bathroom comprising shower, bathtub, water closet and basin area, the shower area is the turning point of the guest experience,” says Dev Malhotra, group advisor, Jaquar India Pvt Ltd.
Showering area is getting more interesting with the concept of rain showers picking up in the industry. The new trend of a shower cubicle with thermostatic control is gaining prominence over the once popular bathtubs. For example, a business traveller in particular, would prefer to have a quick shower, instead of a using a bathtub which is more time consuming. “For the showering area, customers look for bigger showers to enhance the overall experience. More and more consumers these days are also opting for green products. Designers on the other hand have shown preference for more sleek and minimalistic lines,” says Salil Sadanandan, MD, Kohler Kitchen and Bath India.
Citing similar views, Agradeep Mondal, director, sales, at Lixil India Pvt. Ltd which promotes American Standard in India says, “The hotel industry has noticed an upward trend towards offering a very good showering experience to the guest. Designers are realising the need to create shower cubicles, an area which is separated with a glass door that offers more privacy while bathing. Hand showers are also a must while creating the shower cubicle.”
As much as a good shower area is critical, hoteliers and especially resort operators are also focusing on bathtub experiences from a wellness point of view. Malhotra recommends hoteliers to offer whirlpool bathtubs, offering hydro massages as a great option for leisure customers. “Offering a bathtub with a whirlpool increases the value proposition offered to the guests. I suggest hotels have a whirlpool bathtub instead of a plain bathtub,” says Malhotra. Earlier, the bathtub fixtures used were ceramic based. However the new trend is to use enameled cast-iron bathtubs which are permanent fixtures and are easy to maintain. Bathtubs too should be enabled with thermostatic controlled water fixtures with water temperature set at 38°C.
A great shower or a bathtub experience is always complemented with a very good water closet and basin. The water closet, popularly referred as the WC has seen many innovations from a technology and space utility point of view. The WCs which are wall-hung look aesthetically more appealing, while concealed flush tanks make the bathroom look more spacious. Hotels are also offering ergonomic seat covers. “The thumb rule is to keep the WC simple. Too many electronic controls tend to confuse the client, which eventually spoils the experience. Design the WC keeping in mind the comfort of the client,” Malhotra says.
Hoteliers are also realising the need to provide a health faucet, hot and cold water through concealed thermostatic controls as well as a tissue holder. The option of providing a health faucet and a tissue holder may vary as per the hotel classification. For instance, a five-star luxury hotel has to provide a tissue holder in the WC whereas a three-star hotel may choose to provide a health faucet and give the tissue holder a skip.
Moving to the basin area, there is no dearth of imagination while selecting the shape of the wash basin. Gone are the days when the basin was fixed inset and a round basin was the only available option. Hoteliers are now experimenting with the shape as well as the placement of the basin. Bathrooms are widely seen with innovative basin shapes that are placed in the counter or above the counter top. Also, accessories such as towel shelves, hooks for bathrobes, tissue holders and toiletries add to the overall look and appeal of the bathroom.
Maintenance and upkeeping of the bathroom space is the other side of the coin. As much as the aesthetics and the comfort of the client play an important role, the cleanliness of the bathroom also contributes equally in creating the guest experience. “Be it modern fittings to a totally automated mechanism, the maintenance of the bathroom is a combined responsibility of the engineering and housekeeping departments,” says Syeda M, executive housekeeper, JW Marriott Pune.
At Alila Diwa Goa, the bathrooms are designed considering maintenance and hygiene. “We use branded disinfectant chemicals to maintain hygiene. In a guest room, 60% of the cost goes in bathroom chemicals. It is important due to the presence of moisture and high contact surfaces in all the rooms,” states Dhanish Dharmarajan, executive housekeeper, Alila Diwa Goa.
While the guest bathroom is an important element of the hotel experience, one cannot miss the bathroom areas at banquet venues, lobby and the spa section of the hotel.
The hotel also pays a lot of attention to the bathroom areas at banquets, lobby as well as the spa section of the property. Hotels tend to design bigger bathroom for banquet and lobby areas purely because the usage is on the higher side. Water saving products such as automatic sensor taps are used at the wash basin area while a dressing area is also included for visitors. “The guests visiting the lobby or banquet bathroom could be there to freshen up. Other than the basin and the WC, we have designed a dressing area with seating and a vanity counter for our women’s bathroom in the lobby,” reveals Menon. Hotels also cater to the needs of differently abled guests with necessary facilities. The requirement at the hotel’s spa section is completely different from the rest of the bathrooms areas. Hotels offer whirlpool bathtubs, recliners, steam and sauna to create a relaxing atmosphere for their clientele.
Each hotel may use a different concept, theme or a colour scheme for their guest, lobby, banquet and spa bathrooms. Aesthetics, comfort and ease of maintenance are the three critical elements which determine a good bathroom experience and help in making it a centre of attraction.
At the end, a good bathroom can only make or break your mood!
