Professional identity, passion and career change during the pandemic: comparing nascent and experienced hospitality professionals

PurposeGiven that the recovery of the hospitality industry is hampered by worker shortages resulting from the loss of talents during the ongoing pandemic, the purpose of this study is to examine how professional identity affects hospitality employees' psychological responses to the COVID-19 crisis and their intentions to leave the industry.Design/methodology/approachThis study sample consisted of 1,188 US hospitality employees. The cross-sectional data were analyzed using partial least square structural equation modeling, analysis of variance and multigroup analysis.FindingsA double-barreled effect of professional identity on career change intention was identified. Hospitality employees possessing a stronger professional identity were found to be more passionate and satisfied with their careers and less likely to switch to other industries. However, these individuals also feel more distressed by the pandemic crisis, which is associated with a heightened level of career change intentions.Research limitations/implicationsThe findings of this study confirm the importance of identity building as a means of sustaining the hospitality workforce. As nascent professionals possess a weaker identity and stronger intention to leave the industry, immediate attention should be paid to these individuals.Originality/valueThis study expands the knowledge surrounding the influences of hospitality professional identity as it exerts a double-barreled effect on career change intention. Further insights regarding how hospitality employees at various career stages respond differently to the COVID-19 crisis are uncovered by examining the moderating effects of industry experience.

A hotel stay for a respite from work? Examining recovery experience, rumination and well-being among hotel and bed-and-breakfast guests

Purpose>This paper aims to examine the relationship among guests’ lodging recovery experience, work-related rumination, guest satisfaction and well-being, within the context of hotels and bed and breakfasts (B&Bs).Design/methodology/approach>The sample included 823 Taiwanese full-time workers. The proposed relationships were tested using partial least square structural equation modeling, and the moderating effects of accommodation types were tested using multi-group analysis.Findings>The research findings indicate that staying at a hotel or B&B provides a respite from work and reduces negative, repetitive thoughts about work issues (work-related rumination). These recovery effects then contribute to customer satisfaction and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being.Practical implications>The findings indicate that practitioners need to develop products that could reduce customers’ negative emotional attachments to work and enhance the well-being of customers in a stressful society, which could ultimately contribute to promoting the public health of full-time workers.Originality/value>To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to examine the stress-recovery aspect of lodging experiences and their impacts on customer satisfaction and well-being. Further insights are demonstrated with the inclusion of work-related rumination.