WASHED UP
Is a bathtub a necessity or a luxury? For some, the answer could be changing
When I was growing up, it seemed as if every television commercial break featured at least one advertisement that showed people (read: women) enjoying the benefits of a bath. In the ’70s and ’80s, Jean Nate ran ads that showed a woman stepping out of a luxurious bath and refreshing herself with the popular apres-bath scent. And who can forget the “Calgon, take me away!” ads? The catchy slogan became a verbal cry for any woman who needed a well-deserved break.
But in today’s frenetic, digitally paced world, taking baths — and owning bathtubs — has, to some, become a thing of the past.
If one looks to hotels as a sign of the state of the tub, many of the newer boutique hotel brands such as Canopy by Hilton have done away with bathtubs altogether. Instead, each bathroom is outfitted with a barrier-free walk-in shower.
Gary Steffen, the global head of Canopy by Hilton, says the company conducted years of research, including a survey of more than 9,000 travelers, and found that their guests most valued functionality. Canopy’s rooms feature extra storage for amenities, doorless “open” closets and walk-in showers — all