The Hospitality Industry's Footwear Needs

The hospitality industry forms a microcosm comprised of a wide range of jobs. Consider the staff at a hotel or resort: on one hand, there are the housekeepers, whose main task is to keep rooms clean and tidy. Then there's the front desk personnel, the first faces guests meet: the doorman, concierge, reception desk staff. Furthermore, in dining areas, we find the headwaiters, waitstaff, chefs, and bartenders. Each of these roles, from the manager down to the entire staff, has its own responsibilities and specific needs regarding workplace safety. It's undeniable that in the hospitality sector, most staff spend their day walking, standing, and constantly moving in an effort to provide guests with the best experience. As a result, they must wear the appropriate footwear. Below, we briefly discuss the peculiarities of each type of hospitality work shoe.

Housekeeping Staff

While the workload for housekeepers may vary from place to place, we can refer to Women's Day magazine, which noted that many housekeepers clean and tidy around 16 rooms each day. This amounts to several kilometers walked daily, leading to foot fatigue and strain on the legs, arms, and lower back. The type of work shoes housekeepers wear is crucial; it could be the difference between feeling just tired at day's end or being completely worn out. Firstly, cleaning staff often deal with messes, be it in bathrooms, rooms, or hallways. To avoid dangerous slips and falls, housekeepers require non-slip shoes. A single accident could lead to a head injury, ankle sprains, or other injuries, emphasizing the need for proper footwear. Comfort should also be a priority; a cushioned insole can relieve the pressure of constant standing and walking.

Front Desk Staff

Doormen and concierges should wear work shoes that are safe, non-slip, comfortable, and of course, professional-looking, as they represent the hotel's image.

Reception staff may or may not have a chair, but even if they do, they'll spend much time on their feet. It's hard to greet every guest with a smile when your feet hurt. While they might not be heavily involved in cleaning, they might still encounter wet floors, so non-slip work shoes are a good idea. At Zeddea's online store, we offer a wide variety of professional shoes with non-slip soles, particularly our Oneflex brand, which are tested in labs and real conditions per the European standard EN-ISO 20347.

Surfaces with low traction, especially wet ones, can cause dangerous accidents. The non-slip soles in our Oneflex shoes have passed tests certifying excellent grip on such surfaces.

Restaurant and Kitchen Staff

Many hotels and resorts aren't just great places for guests to enjoy poolside relaxation, fantastic excursions, and restful sleep, but also to indulge in gastronomic experiences. When it comes to restaurant and kitchen staff, there's no doubt about the necessity of work shoes. Kitchen shoes must be non-slip due to the constant risk of liquid and oil spills. Sharp utensils, hot surfaces, and slippery floors are everyday hazards. Chefs, cooks, waiters, and waitresses all need footwear compliant with European Union standards. Low traction areas can lead to potentially fatal slip and fall dangers. Kitchen staff must be equipped with non-slip shoes with low heels.

Hotels and resorts undergo high activity levels. Everyone involved in their daily management must prioritize their safety, and a significant part of that depends on their work shoes.

For this reason, at Zeddea, we strive to offer our customers an ever-widening range of hospitality footwear, featuring modern and varied designs that provide style alongside comfort.