Access to drinking water is a small detail that makes a big difference to how guests experience your hotel. From first arrival to check-out, guests expect hydration to be easy, convenient, and well presented.
To make the biggest impact, hotels should aim to place a water dispenser in every main area guests regularly use. This not only improves comfort, but also supports sustainability, reduces single-use plastic, and helps your hotel feel thoughtful and well run.
Below, we explore the key areas where water dispensers add the most value and how the type of dispenser may vary depending on the space.
Lobby and reception areas
The lobby is where first impressions are made. A water dispenser here offers an immediate sense of welcome, allowing guests to refresh themselves after travelling or while waiting to check in.
Stylish countertop or freestanding dispensers work well in reception areas, providing chilled or ambient water without taking up too much space.
Our range of Brita water dispensers is a good place to start your search, as many offer a great balance between looks and performance. Plus, the brand name recognition goes a long way when it comes to impressing guests.
The Brita Fill T-Tap is a particularly sleek option:
Or if you’re looking for something in a more traditional shape that can sit nicely on a countertop alongside other furnishings, the Brita Top Pro might be more appropriate:
Guest rooms and floors
Compact water dispensers in guest rooms are a great way to reduce reliance on plastics and create a luxurious-feeling guest experience. Not to mention the pull this can be for the wellness crowd!
See the 6 ways hotel water dispensers fill empty hotel rooms.
Simplicity is key here, partly because you want to keep costs low to make the volume of installations more realistic, but also because you’re only serving between 1 and perhaps 4 people.
You don’t need high output or to overwhelm with a bunch of hydration options; the big gesture is the in-room dispenser itself, not the bells and whistles.
Single tap, countertop, chilled dispensers are the perfect choice. Where plumbing and budget allows, we also recommend a mains-fed unit so staff aren’t having to continually replenish the water supply.
Something like the Arctic Revolution 75B would be a great choice for guest rooms:
All that said, for some hotels, in-room dispensers aren’t an option. Instead, a few refill stations spread across the building on guest floors or in corridors can show you value the guest experience without catering to each guest individually.
Saving money on per-room installations frees up space in your budget to do something special with your communal corridor dispensers, and premium units like the Borg & Overstrom E6 are the way to go if you’re hoping to leave an immediate and lasting impression.
But, depending on the tone of your hotel, flash isn’t essential in these locations. Although you want corridor dispensers to look good and support the aesthetic established in more visually-led areas like your lobby, a more understated unit will work nicely.
However, as guests will be sharing these water points, hands-free dispensing is a thoughtful addition. So think something along the lines of the KaliX:
Bars and restaurants
Water dispensers in bars and dining areas support both guest experience and operations. Filtered water improves the taste of hot drinks, cold beverages, and food preparation, while also giving guests easy access to still or sparkling water during meals.
Dispensers here are often plumbed-in systems capable of delivering chilled, sparkling, and hot water to meet different service needs.
Versatile, easy-to-use, and space-friendly, the Brita C Tap is a great option for hotel bars and restaurants, as is the EZYTAP:
Wellness areas, gyms, and spas
Hydration is especially important in wellness spaces. Guests using gyms, pools, or spa facilities expect easy access to water before and after activity.
Dispenser systems designed for gyms and spas allow guests to refill bottles quickly with chilled or sparkling water, supporting recovery and relaxation while keeping the area clean and organised.
Find out how still and sparkling water compare in terms of hydration.
For higher-traffic zones, like gyms, the high capacity, twin-tap Brita Fill Pro is a premium option:
Although, this is one area where it’s acceptable to prioritise function over form, so a more rugged, high performance unit can work very well.
The HT HydroBoost Combination BFS, for instance, is a wall mounted unit with both a bottle filling station and a bubbler for instant hydration:
In spa lounges, treatment corridors, or poolside relaxation areas, quieter countertop or floorstanding dispensers with a clean, unobtrusive design are often the better fit. These spaces benefit from chilled or ambient water that’s easy to access without disrupting the calm, premium feel guests expect.
For inspiration, we’d recommend looking into the Brita Fill T Tap or the Hi-Class Top 30:
Conference and event spaces
Meeting rooms and event areas are often overlooked, but long sessions can quickly lead to dehydration. Providing water dispensers in these spaces helps guests stay focused and comfortable throughout the day.
Compact floorstanding or countertop dispensers work well here, reducing the need for bottled water while keeping refreshments readily available.
The Brita Fill Pro and Top Pro are a good fit for these areas, or for a sleek, business-leaning vibe, something like the Borg & Overstrom E4.
Staff areas and back-of-house spaces
Staff areas may off limits for guests, but when staff have easy access to drinking water, they stay more alert, energised, and better able to deliver great service.
Placing dispensers in kitchens, staff rooms, and service corridors ensures teams can hydrate efficiently without leaving their work areas, a simple step that supports wellbeing and performance.
While it’s important to treat staff well and with respect, they don’t need to be pampered the way your guests do, so you can focus on practical units that deliver on core needs.
A dedicated water boiler is an essential for busy kitchens, and is often the more energy efficient option in staff rooms, particularly for bigger hotels with larger teams. - browse our range of water boilers.
Related - Hot water dispensers vs kettles: Everything you need to know
As for cold water, there are several great options to choose from. To get you started, the Aquapoint 60B is a solid choice if you’d prefer bottled:
Or for mains fed, the extra quiet CWS Glacier ensures noise from staff spaces doesn’t spill into guest areas.
Hydrate your hotel with Cactus Water Systems
Thoughtfully placed water dispensers help hotels create a smoother, more comfortable experience for both guests and staff. At Cactus Water Systems, we make it easy to find, install, and maintain the right hydration solutions for your hotel.
We offer zero-to-low disruption installation around your business hours, flexible servicing and maintenance packages, and expert support you can rely on.
Browse our range of water dispensers for hospitality, or, if you’d like to discuss your options in detail, please feel free to contact the team today. We’re always happy to help!
