Shower power

Travellers are pickier than ever and expect luxury when they stay at a five-star hotel. Bathrooms included! And while the business traveller may not have the time to soak in a bubble bath, he expects a bath tub and a bathroom with the best of accoutrements.
After all, a bathroom and its line of amenities say a lot about the hotel.
They are, in fact, an extension of the hotel’s image and identity and guests demand the best. Gone are the days when you could get away with basic functionality and modest accessories. Competition is fierce and hotels willingly go that extra mile to pamper their guests with a luxurious bathroom.
The hospitality industry realised long ago a bathroom can be a key differentiator. Ulhas Madkaiker, director of engineering, JW Marriott Chandigarh, is forthright. “Bathrooms stopped being perceived as auxiliary rooms, spaces to be minimised in order to expand living areas.The modern tourist expects more than he gets at home in his journeys. A spacious bathroom with spa-like features is an open invitation to relaxation and a sure-proof method of alluring guests through the promise of ephemeral luxury.”
The more upscale the hotel, the more indulgent the bathroom. Satyajeet Krishnan, general manager, The Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, says “today, hotel bathrooms are more than just the sink and showerheads. Hotels, especially luxury brands, have started to pay remarkable attention to bathrooms, since they believe in providing a holistic experience to their guests. Right from design to décor, the materials used to technological innovation, hotels have started paying attention to each aspect of this space.”
Achal Aga, executive housekeeper, The Leela Palace Chennai, concurs, saying “the use of latest technologies infused with elaborate design elements is an USP of our property and guests enjoy the spa-like experience in our modern well-decked up bathrooms.”
Inspecting a hotel’s bathroom and its amenities is invariably the first thing a guest does after checking in to one’s room and they look forward to de-stressing and relaxing there. In fact, Pau Abello, MD, Roca, says “several travellers today check out the quality of the hotel bathrooms in addition to other amenities before making their bookings.”
Clean and classic bathrooms are in and both design and functionality are top priorities during planning. Mohammad Labban, GM, Hyatt Regency Pune says “design is very important since that can help add more space to the bathroom. It can also help hide some flaws. It definitely leaves a lasting impression.”
Krishnan believes bathroom design is a creative combination of efficiency, environment-friendliness and guest comfort. “It reflects the personality of the hotel,” he says. “Guests definitely pay heed to these little details and we put these together to provide the ultimate in luxurious experiences,” he adds.
Whatever the design, tiles are invariably a part of the equation. Luxury tiles can be a bathroom’s biggest cost, yet the most important in order to impart the right look and feel. Tiles can be ceramic, glass, metal, plain, patterned, smooth or textured and the options today are seemingly endless. And the hotels have to make the perfect choice based on look, functionality, design trends and easy maintenance.
For instance, glazed ceramic tiles are a popular choice as these are durable and easy to clean as well as maintain. They come in various styles and suit a wider range of preferences.
If décor and design are significant, accessories further increase the image or glamour quotient. Here, too, hotels spare no effort in offering the best. Aga agrees, saying “the modern accessories provided in bathrooms are automated WC seat covers, Jacuzzi, bathtubs, sensor-controlled wash basin taps, bidets, etc.”
As in other areas of a hotel, technology has made its presence felt in bathrooms. “From multifunctional brassware to all-singing, all-dancing showers, the bathroom is beginning to meet the needs of our technology driven culture,” says Madkaiker.
Ever-newer innovations are the name of the game and numerous technological developments are all vying for attention as they bid to outdo the other.
Madkaiker provides an insight as he elaborates. “Digital showers came into the market with button controls,” he says, “but are now starting to feature simple touch-screens for controlling lighting, scents and even varying water temperatures and pressures. Brassware is moving to a more digital realm with manufacturers starting to incorporate technology in the form of a digital screen interface that controls flow and temperature.”
Abello adds, “The latest range from us in faucets is the L20 series that are quite popular due to its sustainability and technology aspects. Every product in the range is equipped with the new frontal cold water start system for the bidets and basin models which not only help save energy but also cut carbon dioxide emissions.”
Hoteliers unanimously agree on the role of lighting in creating guest comfort. Krishnan says that while the area around the mirror definitely has to be well lit, he believes natural lighting is also essential in the bathroom.
Elaborating on another aspect, Labban says lighting has to set the correct mood for the moment. “They should not be too bright or too dim,” he says and adds that correct lighting plays a vital role in highlighting the desired corners in a room.
While accessories and amenities are meant to attract and please, hygiene and cleanliness are areas where there can be no compromise. Hotels have to and are providing the best maintenance for a bathroom.
Aga says that “for all accessories to be functional, periodic checks and CARE programme ensure the bathrooms are well-maintained. A lack of monitoring and checks adversely impacts the overall stay of guests and hampers the hotel’s reputation as well.”
Clearly, bathrooms have already become synonymous with luxury and guest expectations are rising all the time. Consequently, hotels are constantly striving to offer more. Abello sums it up when he says “a modern bathroom with the best of aesthetic accessories is as good a cost-effective proposition as every other fixture and installation in the hotel that exudes fine taste and luxury. Luxury and relaxation have become the focal point in the process of designing bathrooms and this has resulted in ever-increasing investments in the bathroom space in chic accessories, innovative designs and upbeat whirlpools, bathroom furniture and fancy showers.”