Whether the property has insurance is none of your affair. If it is obligated to cover your damages, it is obligated to cover your damages and it then deals with its own insurance carrier if it chooses to do so. Particularly in commercial situations where the maximum liability is likely to be $100 (remember, fair market value of a $500 pair of shoes is nothing near that if you've worn them a time or two)..
Thus, the process is that you file a claim with the property for the damage done to you, e.g. shoes + presumably washing your clothes. Most travel insurance carriers require that you at least make that attempt. If you agreed that the property is not responsible for personal belongings, the answer is pre-ordained.
If the claim is denied or not fully paid, you then claim the balance against your insurance if it is worth the claim.
No need to call people liars and turn this into more than it is. Claims such as this are processed around the world every day.