Archive for March, 2010

One of the most often overlooked, but absolutely critical pieces of your support staff is the maintenance team. They keep the hotel running smoothly and are on hand to fix all of your minor, and major, crises. Their work isn’t always glamorous – not that you’d expect that from unclogging toilets and shoveling snow. However, when they’re NOT there, you notice it.

To keep your maintenance crew running at peak performance, you need maintenance uniforms that are durable yet comfortable. They’ll undoubtedly get dirty, so pick stain resistant and tough fabrics that will withstand lots of wear and tear. They should also be comfortable and have enough flexibility that your staff won’t feel constricted when working in tight spaces. Finally, they need to look good. Maintenance staff are often called in to work on problems in rooms where guests are staying, so their appearance is just as important as the rest of your staff!

Your banquet staff are there to serve your guests at some of the most memorable and important events of their lives, like weddings, dances and other formal events. It’s important that they dress their best and that their attire reflects the importance of the events they are working at. As a result, they’re usually the very best dressed people at your hotel.

Attire can vary with the event and location, but in general you want your staff to be dressed in their very best, which is usually a tuxedo. The traditional black tie tuxedo is a classic and elegant look that can work for both the men and women on your wait staff team.

Our classic men’s wing tip tuxedo shirt looks great with a bow tie and matches perfectly with our ladies wing collar tuxedo shirt. With or without a jacket, these shirts take your look to the next level. Pair them with some comfortable work tuxedo pants and a bow tie and your guests will be impressed not only with your staff’s friendly and helpful demeanor, but with their top notch appearance as well.

We thought the staff at Sharper Uniforms, were dedicated to all who wear aprons, but low and behold, we’ve come across another site with that same dedication and that site is Rick Rack Shack. We recently connected with Deci from Rick Rack Shack as we were browsing other craft and kitchen blogs and we are so happy that we discovered her and her blog. She showcases everything pertaining to aprons, from fun designs and styles, to giveaways and contests, as well as offering patterns and informative video clips to her readers. We love the pizzazz and fun spirit behind each and every post of Deci’s! She was even kind enough to mention Sharper Uniforms on her blog here. We’d love for you to lend her a visit and enjoy the posts she’s highlighted about all topics pertaining to aprons! We hope you enjoy Rick Rack Shack as much as we do!

The men and women that staff your front desk are, essentially, the face of your hotel. They’re the first and last person your guests usually see when they are staying with you. They’re often answering the phones and helping guests with problems or special requests. With all of that depending on this group of staff members, making a first impression is important!

A good rule of thumb is to dress up your front desk staff so they are the best dressed people in the hotel (an exception would be banquet servers at formal events, when required). They are your front line for everyone who enters the hotel so you want them to look and feel their best. Men look great in a suit or a vest, generally. Women can wear a suit, but they can also look sharp in a vest or sweater.

Whatever the look you’re going for, make sure you choose a high quality fabric. Not only will it last longer and show less wear over time, but your staff will feel much more comfortable. And when they’re comfortable, they’re happy and pleasant with guests.

Do you find a particular style works best for your front desk staff? We’d love to hear your favorite styles!

When it’s time to dress the staff at a hotel or resort, there is a lot of ground to cover. At any given hotel you have as many as five different groups of staff to consider, along with the different needs of the men and women on your staff. This month, we’re going to take a closer look at all the staff uniforms you’d need to run a successful resort and the issues you’ll need to tackle for each group. These include:

• Front Desk Staff - they make the first impression on your guests and need to look their best at all times.
• Banquet Staffers – usually the best dressed of all your staff, they work formal dinners and black tie events.
• House Keeping Staff – comfort and a neat appearance are key for these crucial staff members. They need to be able to do their job with ease and still look professional.
• Maintenance – the crew that keeps everything running smoothly needs heavy duty uniforms that can withstand extra dirt and wear from a hard days’ work!
• Spa or Salon Staff – more and more hotels and resorts are adding a spa to their property so it’s important to dress your spa staff in professional, clean looking attire.

Next week we’ll dive in to the in’s and outs of your front desk staff’s attire!