Hotel Bathrooms

The role of the hotel bathroom has changed fundamentally in recent years. Oversized infinity-edge bathtubs, walk-in steam rooms, digitally controlled rain showers, and whirpool spas with multiple massage jets are just some of the luxuries that are becoming not only the centrepiece of the bathroom, but the selling point of a suite.

With twenty years in the industry, Marc Teasdale, Contracts Sales Director for Roman is well-informed to comment: “The bathroom has moved from being a commodity room in the hotel and has turned into a spa-like sanctuary – this is particularly true in the top-end hotels. The bathroom often forms part of the marketing of hotels, with images of the en suites included in photo galleries on hotel websites – it has become a key selling point.”

Gill Few, Channel Manager for Kohler Mira agrees: “The bathroom is now an integral part of the hotel’s brand identity and therefore greater attention is being paid to all aspects of the design.”

Hotel bathrooms need to make a statement and their performance must meet guest expectations offering something over and above the comfort of their own homes. A particular trend is the blurring division between bedroom and en suite, with some making a roll top freestanding tub or overflowing whirlpool a feature of the main room. In addition, the television has moved into bathroom with the introduction of waterproof flatscreens.

Jonathan Carter, Marketing Manager at Victoria & Albert says: “A big sexy bath is the hallmark of luxury in a hotel room and has been recognised as such by fashion-led chains such as Hotel du Vin and Malmaison.”

Roman claims that the increasingly popular wetroom is a key trend for the future, adding that the look and feel of the enclosure is now towards minimal framing and thicker glass, whilst the top trend reported by Kohler is digitisation: “It offers guests a personalised experience through individual showering settings and high tech experiential bathing.” For example showers can be remotely controlled from another room allowing precise control of water temperature and pressure whilst baths feature autofill options.

In terms of floor and wallcoverings, Rob Jull, Managing Director for RAK Ceramics states that trends are towards larger size tiles with specifiers considering porcelain as a low maintenance, high performance option: “As many solid stones are either expensive or prone to natural imperfections, a growing number of architects and specifiers are turning to realistic replicas made from porcelain for commercial use. With porcelain stone-look tiles you get the best of both worlds – a hardwearing surface that doesn’t need treating with a protective finish to maintain its waterproof qualities and, looks-wise, is hard to differentiate from the real thing.

“In terms of popular tile sizes we are seeing a demand for larger tiles of 60x30cm or 40x40cm whilst mosaics are used for decoration and colour features. Most of all riven or matt finishes are preferred with their anti-slip qualities, vital in an area where excess water may be present.”

Reliability, durability, ease of care, and maintenance are key objectives in designing bathrooms that not only remain fully operational but look as good as the day they were installed. As a result, the shower curtain has been replaced by the more watertight and easy-to-clean option of a screen. Other key considerations include the quality of products and whether they will sustain the rigours of regular use, plus installation and after-sales support offered by the manufacturer.

In line with the rise in ecological awareness, a number of companies have noticed the need to conserve water and energy. This is being driven by eco-conscious consumers but, more importantly, by designers who now have water efficiency at the forefront of their projects. 

Finally, branding is becoming more significant in the bathroom. By including high quality well known brands, a hotel can create a natural synergy and positive brand association either with their own label products, or with international backing from the likes of Clarins or Elemis who have introduced toiletries specifically for en suites. 

The following product portfolio showcases a number of recent case studies and new products to the market that take into account the latest trends in the hotel bathroom...