Journal of Tourism & Hospitality
Open Access

Abstract

Exploring Employee Turnover and Retention Strategies in the Gulf Cooperation Council's Hotel Sector

Assem Abdelazim*

Objective: This research investigates employee turnover in the relatively unexplored context of the Gulf Cooperation Council.

Methodology: Employing a qualitative approach, this study delves into the factors contributing to turnover and the countermeasures employed within the hotel sector to mitigate this phenomenon.

Findings: The study reveals that the rationales behind employee turnover are contingent on both organizational and individual factors. The strategies to curtail turnover encompass the cultivation of a positive work environment, the provision of transfer prospects, the implementation of talent and development planning and the execution of exit strategies to ascertain the motives driving employees' departures. These insights hold significant implications for the human resource planning of the hotel industry, particularly given the predominantly expatriate workforce, with the potential to yield cost reductions related to new recruitments.

Conclusion: In a context-specific perspective, disparities arising from the cultural diversity among employees' nationalities contribute to turnover, specifically concerning variations in compensation and benefits. Human resource professionals should accord due significance to the "social" and "economic" value elements when crafting employee benefits.

Published Date: 2025-06-19; Received Date: 2024-07-09