Bathrooms more indulgent, extravagant and luxurious

Sagebrush bone vanity and Blue pebble porcelain sink

By Marni Andrews

“Bathrooms are almost as important as bedrooms as a place for guests to escape and relax, and are therefore becoming more indulgent, extravagant and luxurious,” says British designer David Linley.

Linley is so very right. The features that guests are looking for to help them escape and relax are bigger, oversized bathrooms; soaker tubs; clean-lined vanities with lots of open counter space; walk-in showers; granite and stone countertops; and large tiles. Furniture pieces in the bathroom, too, help create a leisure area for lounging that is a microcosm of what these trends are really about: the bathroom as spa.

A hotel bathroom is ideally a place to enjoy quiet, restorative moments. This is why the best hotels are always the epitome of luxury, which beckon to guests in need of pampering. These bathrooms encourage indulgence because for many people their home bathrooms do not, whether from lack of time or space or both. Thus every detail should be perfect and of the highest quality befitting the level of property. The optimum question for hoteliers is: How can this bathroom help a guest relax after a busy day?

“People have always expected a spa-like experience in the bathrooms of their favourite hotels,” says Donna Church, manager — marketing and communications for Kohler Canada. “And now that they’re creating relaxing and rejuvenating home bathrooms, their expectations of commercial spaces have changed accordingly.”

“Bathrooms have often been treated as a separate room and neglected when it comes to the overall design of a hotel room,” says Claudia Emde, marketing manager for W Montreal, which features an exposed bathroom.

“By exposing the bathroom and making it ‘see through,’ it becomes an integral part of the in-room experience, accentuating the overall spaciousness of the room and increasing the feeling of pampering and self-indulgence.”

Bathroom vanity at The Rosseau

At The Rosseau, the first JW Marriott in Canada in the Muskoka region just north of Toronto, guests love the spacious bathrooms, says Leah Leslie, director of sales and marketing. The 221-room resort features luxurious marble and granite bathrooms decorated in pale green and cream tones. Each bathroom has a tub and shower with rain forest showerheads and a separate toilet. The toilet is so private that one guest called the front desk to find out where it was located!

“Guests comment on the size of the bathtubs in the suites and the illuminated magnifying makeup mirror,” says Leslie. She adds that many guests want to know where they can purchase the extendable makeup mirror.

“Great design paired with exceptional performance is likely to catch the attention of most people,” says Church of Kohler, who notes that the trends they are seeing all focus on creating a minimalist and relaxing spa-like environment. Natural materials such as glass, cast iron and bamboo are all popular because they contribute a calm, earthy feeling and are environmentally friendly.

Church also agrees that furniture in the bathroom is a trend that’s taken hold. She adds that wooden vanities, decorative mirrors and upholstered chairs are now available that have been constructed specifically for the warm, humid bathroom climate.

Jeff Barrett, founder and CEO of Massachusetts-based Eggrock LLC, produces prefabricated bathroom pods. He has produced and delivered more than 2,000 bathrooms across North America to brands such as Courtyard by Marriott and Hilton Garden Inn.

“Virtually all the major brands are pushing toward higher quality design elements in the bathroom. Showers are becoming more popular. Granite has become a commodity product and we are also seeing resurgence in the use of tile, which with the use of epoxy grouts offers a waterproof and low-maintenance alternative to cultured marble,” he says.

“What guests are asking for are simple things: extra outlets, a cosmetic mirror, a footrest for leg shaving, fog-free mirrors, adequate ventilation, warmed floor tile and, most of all, a clean bathroom without unsightly caulk joints and mold.”

Amenity programs

Hotels are leaning toward licensed brands with a well-known retail presence rather than amenities labelled with the hotel name and logo, says Cynthia Guy, brand manager, Marietta Corporation, which manufactures and distributes personal care amenities for the hospitality market. Their most popular licensed brand is Aveda.

“Hotel guests are interested to know that they can purchase retail sizes of the amenity products they use. More than ever, people appreciate personal care amenities that have a distinct ‘brand story,’ beyond just being a great product,” says Guy. “They are intrigued by the bigger picture, background information such as is it global or local, is the brand involved in community giving, is it eco-conscious on a broader scale, the brand history, whether or not a brand is favoured by celebrities, etc.”

She adds that amenity user experience aspects are also a noticeable trend. Attributes such as appealing unisex fragrances, easy-to-read labelling, squeezable bottles, flip-top dispensing caps and the general look of the product are all important factors. Some guests are even blogging about hotel amenities when they’re suitably impressed.

John Hunter, president, Hunter Amenities International Ltd., which produces custom-designed toiletries in proprietary hotel logo designs and retail-branded amenities such as Bliss, Miller Harris and Portico, says that hotels are looking for amenity programs that reflect the design element of their bathroom décor. This can be achieved with colour, texture, shape, etc.

“Well-designed and known boutique name brands work well,” he says. “I believe client demographics are a large factor in the selection of guest amenities. If guests are young and hip, you may go after a design or brand that reflects that like Bliss for W Hotels. Fairmont Hotels and Resorts uses Miller Harris branded amenities that are well aligned with their demographics.”

Amenities can be promoted as an extension of the room feel and product offering on a broad scale, says Hunter. “The pamper effect of a well-created amenity offering can be quite positive.”

Green movement

The hotel marketplace is increasingly turning to spas for inspiration, agrees David Fisher, president, Fisher Distributing Inc., which offers in-room hotel products including the spa-inspired personal care amenities line called Truterra.

Fisher notes that, like other industries, the hotel market has been swept up in the green movement. According to Fisher, Truterra was the first in North America to introduce a foaming hand soap pump as an alternative to miniature in-room soaps that are generally used only once.

“It’s good for the environment and provides drastic savings for the property. Soap and shampoo is in every hotel room,” he says. “It is a chance for every hotelier to exceed their guests’ expectations or miss the mark completely.”

Swisssol Mood Shot Naturals

Today’s business traveller and leisure guest are much more conscious about the protection of the environment, says Paul Weber, president, Swisssol Creative Body Care. He adds that they are asking for 100 per cent non-smoking hotels and choosing hotels that are making a strong effort to preserve the environment with fewer small bottles in the bathroom. Accordingly, Swisssol’s most popular line is the eco-friendly, tamper-proof and drip-free Press + Wash dispenser line and the Naturals line.

“The green movement is coming; it’s the direction of the future,” says Nicholas Carson, general manager of the 203-room Prince George Hotel in Halifax, which is currently undergoing bathroom renovations.

“It will take us away from all the little bottles of creams and shampoos. The next generation of soap wall dispensers are sophisticated. If building from scratch, hotels will hide the main bulk dispenser behind the wall and just have the spigot coming through,” he says. “I’ve seen this in some high-end European hotels and it’s beginning here, but there’s still the stigma of the cheap motel attached to that product and manufacturers haven’t caught up yet.”

Guy of Marietta Corporation says that hotels are becoming increasingly eco-conscious and are seeking brands whose formulations and packaging are environmentally friendly. Marietta recently formed a partnership with Sonoma Soap Company, which offers 100 per cent natural products, to produce an eco-friendly amenity line that launches this month.
She adds that while many guests were initially perturbed when hotels started offering the option to not change towels daily in order to conserve water and limit pollutants, now they appreciate and even expect this conservation effort.

Tubs v. showers

The Prince George Hotel in Halifax is removing its bathtubs. General manager Nicholas Carson says that very few people take baths now so why not build a generous five-foot, walk-in shower with rainheads and a built-in seat instead? When it comes to baths, you need a soaker tub that’s a little bit higher and longer than a standard tub, he says.

“A hotel should have a blend of showers, tubs and a few Jacuzzis in suites,” he explains. “You’ll always get honeymooners who enjoy a Jacuzzi but not too many. Commercial business travellers want a full-sized shower and make sure it has lots of light. If it’s a five-foot shower, it doesn’t need a door.”

At the recently reopened St. Regis Vancouver, general manager Jeremy Roncoroni says that the redesign on the almost century old hotel that took the property right down to the studs cost $11 million. The new tally is 60 per cent showers v. 40 per cent soaker bathtubs in the 65 rooms and suites. The showers are equipped with a bench large enough to sit down.

“Most guests don’t use the bathtub and prefer to use the shower,” he explains. “However, one lady who stays with us says she wouldn’t care if she had to sleep in a single bed but she wants a bathtub!”

At Hilton Hotels Corporation, Becka Chester, vice-president interior designs, says that tub/shower combos were converted to showers only in king-bedded rooms as these are typically requested by business travellers. In Hawaii, however, the tub/shower combo was kept since it’s primarily a family and leisure market and families appreciate a bathtub for the kids.

Chester adds that the Hawaiian market as well as the Japanese markets love soaker tubs while urban markets with business travellers tend to prefer shower only.

“The shower only design feels cleaner and in a small bathroom, we can use a frameless glass door shower surround to make it feel bigger and open up the space. A shower curtain cuts off the visual,” she says. “With shower only, we’ve also added a little foot perch for women shaving their legs.”

Vanities and towels

Priscilla Nesbitt, director, Best Western Supply, Canada, notes that free standing, furniture-style vanities with open shelving below are becoming more common as they give hotels and guests more options for storing towels, hair dryers and other amenities. She says that darker shades of wood are being used more widely because they add a rich tone to the room and provide a contemporary feel.

“Hotels and designers are specifying elements found in a residential setting such as spacious vanities with extra counter space. Beautifully framed mirrors and residential-quality lighting at the vanity have also become prevalent,” she says.

Tom Heaton, director, design and construction for Delta Hotels, says that the brand is looking to move bathrooms to a more residential feel at non-historic hotels in urban areas.
“These hotels tend to be very small so we’re trying to create a sense of space by reducing the size of vanities or getting creative with vanity shape and more modern, water-efficient toilets,” says Heaton.

Barrett of Eggrock thinks that engineered stone will replace granite as the preferred vanity solution since it is low maintenance and does not grow bacteria. Colour options are “endless” and more manufacturers are entering the market which is starting to lower prices.

Roncoroni of the St. Regis Vancouver says that his newly redesigned hotel offers very, very clean space with no clutter in the bathrooms.

“Most rooms have built-in vanities with shelving above the toilet. There are no tent cards, generally just toiletries on the counter, so it’s very clean looking with lots of space.”
Peter Scott is president, Scodesign Distribution Inc., the Eastern Canadian distributor for Dupont Surfaces. He notes that vanity top designs and faucet handles are reflecting the needs of an ageing population and the disabled.

“Minimalist styling with straight lines is on trend. Corian Glacier White countertops with simple, efficient, ½-inch edge profiles are the coming trend. Bold vibrant colours can also be popular,” he says. “The classic look of granite, while popular with traditional furniture, is waning.”

Standard Textiles hospitality textile consultant Neil Fowler says that most hotel brands and many independents have placed a renewed focus on the bathroom to heighten the guest experience. They are increasing the weight of towels as well as their size. Standard offers a range of engineered terry products and robes including pre-laundered product that is ready to use right out of the box. The Centium Core towel uses a special fibre with a lower specific gravity than traditional yarn, which yields a towel with more loft and buoyancy for the same weight. Marriott is using this product.

“Hotel guests want towels that are soft, absorbent and generous in size. The quality of the linen and the care taken in processing the linen are part of the ‘wow’ factor that a guest expects,” explains Fowler.

Bruce Gravel, president of the Ontario Accommodation Association, offers a word of caution for those Ontario properties that have recently completed or are currently undergoing a bathroom renovation. This fall, the draft version of Standards for Built Environment will be released for public review. He suggests on holding off till then to see what changes may be made to regulations since government compliance funding is not offered. 

Heaton of Delta Hotels is not worried about the brand’s Ontario properties since he says that Canada already follows the American standards set by the ADA (American Disabilities Association), which tend to be fairly rigid.