In today’s competitive hospitality landscape, offering guests an exceptional experience and superior amenities is what separate luxury hotels and high-end properties from the rest, according to Geberit, a European leader in sanitary technology, which continues to introduce innovative solutions to enhance guest comfort and elevate bathroom offerings to unparalleled levels.

One such stand-out offering is the shower toilet – a sleek, modern toilet providing a superior level of hygiene and comfort. For nearly 50 years, Geberit has been at the forefront of shower toilet innovation.  It was among the first companies to introduce this transformative technology in 1978, and its dedication to research and development has resulted in a range of sophisticated shower toilets – marketed under the Geberit AquaClean name – that redefine bathroom experiences.  

Today the collection includes four models – AquaClean Mera, Sela, Tuma, and the most recent addition Alba, which was introduced this year – which are characterised by minimalist designs that resemble conventional toilets and stand out from the more complex Japanese models.

“Shower toilets break with tradition by using warm water to clean instead of paper. When Geberit launched its first shower toilet in 1978, it was one of the first sanitary companies to begin breaking away from this norm. With its innovative products, the company is now the European market leader in the shower toilet sector,” remarks Louise Pitt, Head of Marketing & Communication (Gulf Office) at Geberit International Sales.

Geberit Aquaclean Alba

Geberit, celebrating its 150th year, has a rich history of innovation, including the development of shower toilets. Pitt recalls the introduction of the Geberella in 1978, a revolutionary toilet seat that featured an integrated under-shower and could be easily installed on standard toilets, adding a vibrant touch to the bathroom.

“Toilets were strikingly colourful when Geberit entered the shower toilet market with the Geberella,” she explains. “The Geberella was then available in more than a dozen colours – some shades that might appear unusual to today’s viewers. But it was not the colours, but the function that made the product special: instead of toilet paper, a water jet nozzle under the toilet seat provided cleaning of the area.

The water jet nozzle

“A year later, a so-called complete shower toilet system followed: the ‘Geberit-o-mat’ was a space-saving combination of toilet and bidet. It was described as ‘the toilet of the future that flushes, showers, dries with warm air, and additionally eliminates odours’, intended for people who value comfort, hygiene, and well-being. But the prophesied future in the bathroom was slow to come.”

The first shower toilet was invented in 1957 by the Swiss designer Hans Maurer. While shower toilets quickly spread in Asia, Europe reacted cautiously to the novelty. In the West, with its pronounced toilet paper culture, there was little willingness to change ingrained habits, Pitt adds.

“Geberit was convinced of the potential of shower toilets and was not discouraged by the scepticism. The company diligently developed new shower toilet models and launched sophisticated campaigns and striking PR actions to convince customers of the benefits of water cleaning,” she explains.

Breakthrough with Design, Technology

A breakthrough came in 2003: Geberit presented the Balena 8000, the first complete shower toilet system without an integrated cistern. As a result, the toilet looked much smaller and stood out visually from its somewhat-bulky predecessors. Wall-mounted and with a futuristic design, it impressed both the industry and customers: even today, 20 years after its introduction, the Balena 8000 is still widely used, Pitt points out.

Through years of research, Geberit managed to continuously develop and improve the technologies. “Our products offer the highest level of comfort, design, and quality. Features such as the hydraulically-optimised WhirlSpray shower jet or our quiet and efficient TurboFlush flushing technology contribute to the success of Geberit shower toilets,” says Pitt.

Nowadays, Geberit shower toilets also feature warm water, self-cleaning nozzles, a dryer function, odour extraction, seat heating, and the lady shower, a special function for gentle and thorough cleaning of intimate areas.

Since 2009, all shower toilet models have been marketed under the name Geberit AquaClean. This was also associated with a redesign of the products. In 2013, the first shower toilet that no longer looked like a shower toilet and set new design standards came onto the market with the AquaClean Sela.

With the Alba this year, Geberit aims to tap into new market segments.

“AquaClean Alba is the ideal model for shower toilet beginners. It offers the most important functions of a shower toilet but is extremely attractive in price. Anyone considering buying a new toilet can enjoy the benefits of an elegant and effective shower toilet for a small additional cost compared to a conventional toilet,” she concludes.