Hotel Uniforms Revamped

Tuesday 24th of April 2007 11:53:29 PM

As many hotels search for ways to entice guests into staying, giving new uniforms to employees has helped raise moral, which transfers to the guests. Hotel uniforms range from grey lifeless rags that the maid staff wears to drab black blazers and pants the front desk wears. But some hotels have turned to fashion designers for inspiration. Uniform companies like Cintas Corp. have also taken a serious look into upgrading uniforms so employees can feel more comfortable on the job. “When you put someone in a 100 percent polyester, binding thing that is uncomfortable and shiny and does not allow the person to be themselves, it's hard to expect them to do their best work," said president of W Hotels, Ross Klein.

“We have designers and merchandisers that are constantly looking at fashion trends. Hotel employees don't want something that looks and fits and feels like a uniform. They want to look like they just went to a department store and picked it off the shelf. People tend to feel better about wearing a designer label,” said Cintas spokesperson Ahmed Said. The company has annual contests for companies in order to get an idea of what they are looking for when dressing employees.

Those who work in the hotels that have made these uniform changes couldn’t be happier. "As soon as I leave here, I go out partying in my work clothes. My friends say, 'Oh my god. That's fabulous.' I say, 'Thanks, it's my uniform.',” said hotel worker, Jessica James.

Updating uniforms is a lot cheaper than renovating buildings or launching a new marketing campaign. Many hotels have seen this as an opportunity to make workers feel more comfortable and to give guests a new impression of their hotels.

(c)Anton Malan, www.sxc.hu