Create a five-star bath on a three-star budget

I recently spoke at a five-star hotel conference where the hoteliers were responsible for a variety of properties.

As I rolled out the images and narration, I said to my industry peers, “How do you decide what to put in the hotel property baths?” These peers indicated they make their purchasing and design decisions by analyzing the following: 1) Level of property—three-, four- or five-star; 2) Type of property—hotel, boutique hotel, resort, timeshare, etc.; 3) Type of guest—the mix of business and leisure; 4) Guest demographics; 5) Competition in the area; and 6) Budget type—new construction, remodel or renovation.

Affluent travelers have high expectations for their five-star bathroom amenities. Today’s No. 1 bath trend is bringing the spa experience into the guestroom bath. In the “shower versus tub” debate, 87 percent of consumers today prefer taking a “power shower,” yet a true five-star guest expects the amenities they have at home—a separate tub and separate shower. If offered a 5-foot tub only, affluent guests would prefer a shower.

Offered both in separate showers and tubs, there are great spa therapies such as hydrotherapy (water); chromatherapy (light and color); aromatherapy (essential oils and fragrances). All of these offerings are used to improve guest moods and to promote health. Additional offerings include vibro-acoustical and basic music sound systems available through the guest’s own iPod.

When it comes to showering, showerheads are No. 1 in bath selection followed by rainheads, domes, body sprays, shower columns and steam baths. These shower offerings are preferred by guests in the privacy of their bathrooms, rather than the hotel spas and fitness centers. Air massage bathtubs dispense billions of air bubbles that oxygenate the water and allow guests to add aromatherapy to their bathwater without voiding the air blower warranty.

Sustainability is easy to achieve through bath products. For example, I came across a great faucet find, Cascade Faucet (www.cascadefaucets.com) and its LaTorre brand of faucets. These feature single-control eco-cartridge faucets, so when guests raise the lever in the first level, it clicks into a 20- to 40-percent water-saving mode. Yes, it will take hotel guests some time to embrace this feature, but it should catch on like the dual-flush toilet did a few years ago. Furthermore, I found that Cascade’s LaTorre Faucets have ISO 9000 full factory green certification.

Other fashionable and cutting-edge bathroom trends in hotel baths are: bath furniture, backlit-lighting systems and LCD mirror TVs, magnification mirrors with lights (a must) and nightlights under the bathroom vanity that serve as mood lighting while enjoying the other bath therapies.

The essentials in midscale hotel baths include the showerhead (No. 1), curved shower rod; stylish faucets; better quality towels and toiletries; and magnification mirrors with lighting that can lighten the load on extensive bathroom task lighting.

The No. 1 most important thing to for experts to keep in mind is that there is no excuse for a poor design or bad taste in a three-star bathroom. You can deliver a five-star look on a three-star budget.

Peter Schor is a writer, lecturer, trainer and consultant. Contact him at pschor@dynamicresultsinc.com.