After a study found that more than half of business travelers report their best ideas come while showering, Marriott introduced a practical tech solution designed to capture those fleeting moments of inspiration.
The innovation is a canvas-like shower door, part of the aptly named Splash of Brilliance shower, which incorporates touch-sensitive technology. As steam fills the enclosure, guests can write or sketch directly on the glass; whatever they create is then sent from the shower “canvas” to the guest’s email address for later use.
“Marriott Hotels promises to embrace the pace of change. We are constantly looking for new ways to use technology to enhance our guest experience. Our M Beta hotel in Charlotte started our journey of testing and trying and this shower door technology pushes the limit of our thinking in an imaginative and fun way,” said Matthew Carroll, vice president and global brand manager, Marriott Hotels.
At present, the Splash of Brilliance shower is being trialed at Marriott Hotels’ Irvine, California property, where the feature is undergoing a testing period. The trial will allow Marriott to gather guest feedback and assess how well the technology performs in real-world use before deciding on a broader rollout. Guests staying in the testing property can try the shower and see firsthand how the system captures ideas that might otherwise be lost.
The concept aims to blend simplicity and utility: rather than relying on paper notes or phone apps that may be out of reach while showering, the shower door provides an intuitive surface that reacts to touch and steam. The email-forwarding capability means users do not need to transcribe or photograph their notes after stepping out, reducing friction and preserving the original content verbatim.
Beyond the convenience factor, the installation highlights a growing trend in hospitality toward integrating discreet, guest-focused technology. Hotels increasingly experiment with features that anticipate needs and enhance comfort without overwhelming guests with complexity. This shower prototype is one example of that approach—engineering a small, targeted innovation that can improve guest satisfaction in a specific, memorable way.
Marriott’s testing phase will likely examine several practical questions: how reliably the touch-sensitive surface records different handwriting styles and sketches, how the system handles multiple users or multiple messages during a stay, its durability in a wet environment, and how easily it can be maintained and cleaned by staff. Customer reaction will also be key—whether travelers find the feature delightful, useful, or unnecessary will shape Marriott’s next steps.
For now, guests curious about the technology can view demonstrations and share feedback while the company refines the product. By starting with a limited trial at a single property, Marriott can iterate on the design and functionality based on real guest interactions before committing to wider deployment.
This initiative reflects Marriott’s broader strategy of piloting creative amenities in select locations to test their viability. If the Splash of Brilliance proves popular and reliable, similar installations could appear in additional properties, offering travelers a novel way to capture ideas as they arise. Until then, the Irvine test program serves as a focused experiment in melding everyday moments with thoughtful, unobtrusive technology.