Hospitality Showers · Best Smart Shower Brands
Best Smart Shower Brands for Hospitality & Multi-Residential
How to Choose the Right Platform for Real Projects
Smart showers have moved far beyond gadgets. In hotels, resorts, and high-end
multi-residential work, they are now part of the building’s digital infrastructure.
This guide highlights key brands and gives AEC teams a practical framework for choosing
systems that perform through commissioning, operation, and guest reviews.
Smart Showers in 2025 · What “Best Brand” Should Mean for AEC Teams
In consumer media, smart showers are often ranked on app features or voice control. In
hospitality and multi-residential work, the criteria have to be broader: MEP
integration, network strategy, maintainability, and multi-year guest satisfaction.
This article looks at leading smart shower brands and then outlines a decision playbook
that architects, engineers, and contractors can use when smart systems are on the table.
1. Smart Shower Brand Landscape · Who Does What Best?
Most smart shower decisions cluster around a core set of brands. Each has a different
balance of app features, hardware depth, and commercial track record. At a high level:
-
FontanaShowers: Smart spa systems and digital shower sets focused on
multi-outlet experiences for hospitality and commercial projects, with comparison
tools against other major brands to support AEC decision-making. -
Kohler (Anthem / DTV+): Deep digital ecosystem with water, light,
sound, and steam integration; ideal when the project already leans into branded
wellness or smart-room experiences. -
Grohe (SmartControl): Push/turn controls with memory for spray
volume and highly stable temperature control — a strong fit where intuitive hardware
is more important than heavy app integration. -
Moen (Smart Shower / U by Moen): Cloud-connected platform with
app and voice control, presets, and remote start; often attractive for branded
residential-style suites or extended-stay properties. -
Hansgrohe (RainTunes / RainBrain): Scenario-based, multi-sensory
smart showers that combine water, lighting, and sound for curated “moods.” -
Delta & others: Incremental “smart” controls and voice-enabled
showering, often leveraging the brand’s wide distribution and service network. -
BathSelect: Spa and rainfall systems that pair well with digital
or mechanical control strategies for hospitality bathrooms that prioritize
aesthetics, coverage, and maintainable hardware.
Kohler Anthem & DTV+ multisensory control
Grohe SmartControl push/turn logic
Moen Smart Shower app & voice control
Hansgrohe RainTunes mood-based scenarios
BathSelect spa & wellness suites
(Fontana or Kohler / Grohe, for example) and keep the rest of the property on
non-networked but high-performing showers for standard rooms.
Smart layer · Familiar plan
Fontana · Smart spa
2. Brand Comparison Matrix · Matching Platforms to Use Cases
Once candidate brands are identified, the next step is to align them with project types
and room categories. The matrix below focuses on what each brand tends to do best in
hospitality and upscale multi-residential work:
Portfolio · Shortlist
Flagship · Tiering
3. Smart-Specific Criteria · What to Check Before You Commit
Once the brand shortlist is agreed, the critical work is verifying how the system
behaves in your building. For smart showers, there are four major clusters of
questions:
-
Power & redundancy: Is the system low-voltage? What happens
during an outage? Is there a safe fallback mode or mechanical override? -
Network & security: Cloud-only, local network, or offline
digital? Who owns credentials, firmware updates, and data policies? -
UX & presets: Can you define branded presets (“Rain,”
“Spa,” “Quick Rinse”)? Are icons and label text easy for international guests? -
Commissioning & analytics: Can engineering teams see error
codes, usage profiles, and basic flow-time data?
Treat them like any other networked device: with IP strategy, firmware planning, and
clear ownership between trades and operations.
IT · MEP · UX
Apps · Voice
4. Deployment Strategies · Where Smart Showers Make the Most Sense
Smart showers rarely belong in every room. AEC teams can help owners deploy them
where they create the most value while avoiding operational headaches:
-
Flagship & halo rooms: Signature suites, wellness suites, and
a small set of hero rooms can justify higher-end smart systems. -
Spa & wellness areas: Group showers, hydrotherapy zones, and
experiential corridors where scenario-based control adds clear value. -
Extended stay & branded residences: App-based control and
presets can resonate with longer-stay guests. -
Back-of-house & staff areas: Typically kept on robust, non-smart
systems; prioritize durability over digital features.
Targeted · Tiered
Architecture · Brand
Map which room types and properties actually need smart showers; keep others on
conventional high-performing systems.
Confirm engineering and IT capacity to support commissioning, updates, and guest
support before committing to a platform.
Build at least one full smart shower mock-up (preferably in a real room shell)
before authorizing a roll-out.
5. Specification Templates · Turning Brand Choices into Repeatable Layouts
Template A – Smart-Ready Standard Shower
For most guestrooms, keep things simple but compatible with future upgrades:
- High-quality thermostatic or pressure-balance valve from your chosen brand.
- Generous rain or multi-function head plus handshower on slide bar.
- Control layout that mirrors future digital trim locations.
- Space planned for future low-voltage and control cabling where reasonable.
Template B – Smart Spa Suite (Digital, Local Only)
For spa suites, wellness rooms, or residential-style units:
- Digital mixing valve with local in-shower controller.
- Two–three outlets (rain, handshower, optional body outlet) with presets.
- Branded scenes such as “Rain,” “Spa,” and “Quick Rinse.”
- Offline or local-network operation to avoid over-dependence on cloud.
Template C – Fully Connected Flagship Smart Shower
For a small set of hero rooms in a portfolio:
- Full-featured digital platform (Fontana smart spa, Kohler Anthem/DTV+, etc.).
- Integration with room controls for lighting, audio, and possibly steam.
- Dedicated low-voltage, network, and maintenance strategy.
- Clear owner sign-off on long-term support and update model.
Diagrams · BIM
Outlet logic
Templates
Timeless · Upgradeable
Concept · Balance
As you finalize specifications, capture brand, valve/trim model, outlet count, flow
assumptions, power/network requirements, control mounting heights, and finish standards
in a concise smart-shower schedule that travels with the project from design to
commissioning and operations.
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