Employee experience and customer loyalty: Perceived authenticity and relational commitment as serial mediators

Keywords:
employee experience, perceived authenticity, relational commitment, customer loyalty, hospitality industry, customer age
Abstract

We investigated the impact of employee experience on customer loyalty in the hospitality industry, focusing in particular on the serial mediating effects of perceived authenticity and relational commitment, and the moderating role of customer age. To test the proposed conceptual model, we conducted an online survey with 649 participants who had used restaurant services in the past month. Results showed that employee experience exerted a positive impact on customer loyalty. In addition, the relationship between employee experience and customer loyalty was sequentially mediated by perceived authenticity and relational commitment, and the older the customer age, the stronger were the serial mediating effects. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed, and suggestions provided for improving hospitality services.

Author Biographies
  1. Jang Heon Han, Kyung Hee University
    College of Hotel and Tourism Management
  2. Jin Suk Lee, Dongguk University
    Department of Business Administration
References
Published
2019-10-04
Section
Articles
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