Natural hot springs around the globe continue to be a popular tourist attraction and a reminder of how the ancient practice of bathing became part of our everyday. The international SPA association (ISPA) agrees that hydrotherapy has been used in European spas for a long time. Various forms have been recorded in European civilisations, including the Romans who built communal baths and the Egyptian royalty who chose to bathe with flowers. Hydrotherapy was rediscovered in the 18th and 19th Century and a factor in its revival was that since it is based on a natural substance, it was relatively cheap to practice at home.

In 1943 Kenneth Jacuzzi developed rheumatic fever, which left him with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. He was almost two years old. Recognising that monthly hydrotherapy sessions at hospital eased his son’s symptoms, lead Candido Jacuzzi, the youngest of the 7 brothers, to develop a new hydrotherapy product that would give Kenneth more regular treatment at home. Little did Candido realise that not only did the new idea help improve his son’s illness, but it also sparked a new luxury trend that would extend across the globe.

In 1954 he filed a patent for the J-300, a first submersible portable pump that could be used in a bathtub at home. The J-300 became a new commodity and hydrotherapy at home was an overnight success. Candido was issued a patent for the first whirlpool system designed for home use on 20th March 1956. From there, the Jacuzzi brothers continued to listen to their customers and in 1962 they developed the J-500 and J-600, two stand alone bathing units with exterior pump. The company launched the first ‘family spa’ in 1964 which held more people and featured wall mounted jets.

In 1969 Roy Jacuzzi, grandson of Guiseppe (4th brother in the original family) launched a new range of whirlpool baths named the Roman bath collection and from here; the growth in the new hydrotherapy industry began.

As larger units were designed to accommodate more people, Jacuzzi® incorporated heating and filtration systems to keep the water warm and clean, thus creating the first hot tub in 1970. Hot tubs, unlike the whirlpool baths, could be used outside with this heating system. In 1979, the family sold the business to New York based Kidde Inc. All the family members left the business, except for Roy, who stayed on to run the Jacuzzi® operations.

In 1990, Roy Jacuzzi® was placed in the National Kitchen and Bath Hall of Fame in the USA, recognising him for his many contributions in the innovation of hydrotherapy for home use.

In 2001, the Jacuzzi® bathroom brand was expanded in the UK to include sanitary ware, premium shower enclosures, furniture, brassware and accessories to offer a full contemporary bathroom collection.

Jacuzzi® has become the world's most recognised and largest selling brand of jetted whirlpool baths, hot tubs and spas. In addition to the first whirlpool bath patent, Jacuzzi® has 250 worldwide patents for advancements in pump systems, jet technology and product design. This ongoing commitment to innovative product development ensures its leadership position in the industry, and sets the standards the world over.