Department by department: matching shoes to hotel roles

A doorman and a pool attendant are both in uniform and both on their feet, and almost nothing else about their footwear should be the same.

Front office needs a clean toe that holds a polish beside tailoring. Housekeeping needs a wider last and a footbed that lifts out. Kitchen needs a closed upper and an oil-resistant sole.

Building the specification

Start from the floor each department stands on and the hours it stands there, then choose the model, the material and the colour in that order.

Properties that do this end up with three or four models across the whole staff rather than one, and fewer replacements in the first year.