Innovation in sanitaryware for the hotel sector

How advanced shower toilets are transforming the guest experience

Although hotels do not invest in sanitary facilities on a daily basis, good toilets are indispensable. This is another way for an accommodation to distinguish itself, by offering comfort that people often don't have at home and that international guests increasingly demand. Speaking to Hotelvak, Robin van den Brink, Concept Manager at Geberit AquaClean, talks about the future of sanitary facilities.

Since 2011, Van den Brink has been involved in promoting the Geberit AquaClean shower toilets, a concept that at the time was still seen as an outlier in the Western market. "In many cultures, cleaning with water is a daily habit, something that is not yet so established in Europe." The shower toilet has been developed and marketed by Geberit since the 1970s. In countries such as Japan and Switzerland, its use is the most normal thing in the world. "We strongly believe in the benefits of cleaning with water. Research shows that there is a growing need for wet toilet paper, and we want to facilitate this need for better cleaning in the right way."

According to Van den Brink, the introduction of shower toilets in hotels offers guests a unique opportunity to experience this ultimate form of hygiene. "Hotels are an ideal stage to showcase the benefits of our products," he says. Through a QR code, guests can provide feedback on their experience and receive a cash-back on the purchase of their own AquaClean product. "For this, the hotelier receives a fee and can thus recoup part of their investment."

The accessibility of shower toilets is also a key issue for Geberit. Van den Brink stresses, "Research shows that price is often a barrier for our customers. Previously, an AquaClean shower toilet required an investment of 2.5 thousand euros, which is obviously a considerable amount, especially for large hotels. Our new AquaClean Alba offers the essential features such as the WhirlSpray shower spray and TurboFlush flushing technology, but costs a thousand euros. This makes this technology available to everyone, not just the luxury market."

According to the Red Dot Awards jury, AquaClean Alba not only offers refreshing cleaning with water, but the product is also a model of elegant design and innovative technology. The Alba was therefore awarded the Red Dot Award 2024. "Winning this prestigious award underlines our ongoing commitment to quality and functionality, and we are proud of that," Van den Brink said.

Geberit now has several partners in the hotel sector, from luxury hotels like the Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam to smaller hotels like the Landhuishotel Bloemenbeek and B&B De Droomhoeve in Nunspeet. "High-end hotels want to be the best on all fronts," says Van den Brink. "They were the first places to see flat-screen TVs and box springs before they became commonplace. We naturally hope the same will be true for our products. When upgrading its hotel, the Conservatorium Hotel opted for shower toilets because international travellers have become more demanding. The product is really just a requirement for them." B&B De Droomhoeve started with one shower-toilet, but expansion soon followed. "The owner wants to spoil her guests with products they don't have at home, in terms of gastronomy, but thus also in terms of sanitary facilities. There was a very good response to this and now all rooms are equipped with an AquaClean toilet."

Geberit also works closely with architects and hoteliers to ensure the smooth installation of shower toilets. "One of the advantages of our products is that they are easy to install, often within hours, without having to close the room for days," Van den Brink explains. "This makes it an attractive option for hotels looking to upgrade their plumbing without major renovations."