15 October 2007
Company expects to clean
up with private lavatories
The rich now have more
places to "go"
 SAN
DIEGO -- For years, individuals of means have been able to enjoy
membership in private resorts, private country clubs, private lakes,
private airports, private ski areas, even private cross-country heliowraping. Now the wealthy are purchasing memberships in the newest
must-have amenities: private lavatories.
These facilities, which have been popular in Japan for years, are now
making their way to Europe and North America and have been causing quite
a stir among the affluent as well as among wall street analysts.
Geraldine LaMeux, senior vice president for hygiene investments for the
financial firm of McSwite & Hedges, told Travel Fox, "We see the private
lavatory business as having great upside potential and being both
inflation- and recession-proof. We are recommending it as a 'strong buy'
to our clients."
Private lavatories have begun appearing in airports in Europe under the
"Blue Loogoon" banner and will be showing up in North America beginning
early next year. Unlike those in Europe, however, the first private
lavatories to be installed here will be along the Interstate highway
system.
According to Pee Ditty, ex-rapper and spokesperson for Sweet Pee
International (SPI), the largest private lavatory company operating in
the U.S., "Market research showed us that potential SPI members were
most concerned with having to find themselves in need of a restroom
facility while driving on the open road, where they would have to share a
public restroom with... well, the public. Toward that end, we have
developed the Sweet Pee Personal Comfort Station."
Literature obtained from SPI notes, "For the safety, security and
discretion of our members, Sweet Pee Personal Comfort Station facilities
are often disguised as rows of stored portable toilets. When a member
approaches an entrance, the locations of which are communicated secretly
to each member, an iris scanner verifies his or her identity, whereupon a
faux panel slides out of the way allowing the member access to the
facility. The member is then escorted by a personal concierge
to a private chamber.
Once inside, each Personal Comfort Station features:
 A private
compartment
(150 square feet) with individual climate controls
Indirect,
reflexive lighting that varies to match or to change the mood of the
occupant
Multi-head (13
nozzle) shower
Deep (48 inch) spa
tub with sonic vibrator
Super-soft™
oxygen infused, conditioned water
Windvane®
Air-Thrust™ jet drying turbo fans with
conditioning injectors
Height adjustable
commodes (2) with heated and cooled padded seats
WiFi, telephone
and cable access
Stereo radio with
8 CD changer
High-definition
television (56 inch) and DVD player
For an additional yearly fee, members can phone ahead for reservations.
Then when they arrive, their Personal Comfort Station will have been
prepared to include a selection preferred coffees and/or teas a mixture
of their favorite CDs and DVDs, their preferences of bath soaps and
oils, and daily newspapers of their choice.
According to Ditty, SPI is signing up members at a better than expected
rate and will soon introduce a frequent user program similar to the one
in France called "LaTrine." Information about the program will be
released in the next few months.
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© 2007 Applied Psychology
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