Relationship between talent attraction and performance of star rated hotels in Kenya
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51867/ajernet.7.2.62Keywords:
Human Resource Management, Performance, Talent Attraction, Talent Management, Star-Rated HotelsAbstract
In a modern business environment, which is characterized by dynamism, complexity, technology and innovations, the operation of an organization ought to be anchored on a human resource base that possesses enormous interpersonal skills, communication skills, ethics and integrity, a deep understanding of the individual’s tasks and talent. The objective of this study was to establish the relationship between talent attraction and performance of star-rated hotels in Kenya. The study was anchored on the Resource-Based View theory, which focuses on internal, firm-specific resources and capabilities to explain performance. The research design adopted was explanatory descriptive research. A census survey of 305 star-rated hotels was conducted, where data was collected from one respondent in each hotel to give a total sample size of 305 respondents. Data was collected using questionnaires and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings of the study predicted that talent attraction had a positive and significant influence on the performance of star-rated hotels in Kenya. Accordingly, employees who are provided with security of tenure tend to deliver high work output and attract clients, thereby increasing the accommodation rate and overall profits for the firm. Further, it was also found that many hotels have a good company image and are also committed to the well-being of employees, and that they have adequate infrastructure and facilities. The study therefore concluded that when talent attraction is low, the performance of the said hotels will decrease. Failure to implement talent attraction programs could then cost the company a lot in terms of decreased performance. Based on the findings, this study thus recommends that human resource managers and the general management teams should adopt talent attraction policies and programmes that would enhance performance.
Downloads
References
Aggrey, M., Pierre, T. J., Ingabire, S., & Kalulu, R. (2025). An analysis of how work-life balance impacts on employee performance and turnover in the hotel industry in Uganda. African Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, 4(1), 94-114. https://doi.org/10.37284/ajthm.4.1.2931 DOI: https://doi.org/10.37284/ajthm.4.1.2931
Ahmed, H. K. (2016). The impact of talent management on the competitive advantage in organizations. In Proceedings of the 37th ISERD International Conference (pp. 28-33). Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Areiqat, A. Y., Abdelhadi, T., & Al-Tarawneh, H. A. (2010). Talent management as a strategic practice of human resources management to improve human performance. Interdisciplinary Journal of Contemporary Research in Business, 2(2), 329-341.
Armstrong, M. (2011). Armstrong's handbook of strategic human resource management. Kogan Page Publishers.
Backhaus, K., & Tikoo, S. (2004). Conceptualizing and researching employer branding. Journal of Brand Management, 11(3), 233-237. https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.bm.2540172 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.bm.2540172
Barney, J. B. (1991). Firm resources and sustained competitive advantage. Journal of Management, 17(1), 99-120. https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/014920639101700108
Bellou, V., Chaniotakis, I., Kehagias, I., & Rigopoulou, I. (2015). Employer brand of choice: An employee perspective. Journal of Business Economics and Management, 16(6), 1201-1215. https://doi.org/10.3846/16111699.2013.848227 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3846/16111699.2013.848227
Berthon, P., Ewing, M., & Hah, L. L. (2005). Captivating company: Dimensions of attractiveness in employer branding. International Journal of Advertising, 24(2), 151-172. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650487.2005.11072912 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02650487.2005.11072912
Botha, A., Bussin, M., & De Swardt, L. (2011). An employer brand predictive model for talent attraction and retention. SA Journal of Human Resource Management, 9(1), 1-12. https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v9i1.388 DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/sajhrm.v9i1.388
Bowman, C., & Hird, M. (2014). A resource-based view of talent management. In P. Sparrow, H. Shipton, & P. Budhwar (Eds.), Strategic talent management: Contemporary issues in international context (pp. 73-90). Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139226468.006 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139424585.006
Cheraisi, E., & Busolo, H. (2020). Effect of talent attraction on organizational performance: A case of hotels in South Rift Region, Kenya. European Journal of Business and Management, 12(6), 54-61.
Ghani, B., Zada, M., Memon, K. R., Ullah, R., Khattak, A., Han, H., Ariza-Montes, A., & Araya-Castillo, L. (2022). Challenges and strategies for employee retention in the hospitality industry: A review. Sustainability, 14(5), 2885. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052885 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su14052885
Hervie, D. M., Tatár, E., & Illés, C. B. (2020). A comparative study of the importance of tourism and hotel sector in Ghana and Africa. In Proceedings of the 3rd International Conference Contemporary Issues in Theory and Practice of Management (CITPM).
Illes, J., Moser, M. A., McCormick, J. B., Racine, E., Blakeslee, S., Caplan, A., & Weiss, S. (2010). Neurotalk: Improving the communication of neuroscience research. Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 11(1), 61-69. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2773 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nrn2773
Iurchenko, S., Iurchenko, O., & Kondrova, A. (2021). Africa at the world tourism market in the context of globalization. The Journal of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University: International Relations, Economics, Country Studies, Tourism, (13), 216-227.
Kayumbi, V., & Wanyoike, R. (2021). Talent management and organizational performance in KCB Bank Limited: Case of head office, Nairobi City, Kenya. International Journal of Social Sciences Management and Entrepreneurship, 4(2), 131-149.
Kraaijenbrink, J., Spender, J. C., & Groen, A. J. (2010). The resource-based view: A review and assessment of its critiques. Journal of Management, 36(1), 349-372. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206309350775 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206309350775
Lyria, R. K., Namusonge, G. S., & Karanja, K. (2017). Role of talent management on organizational performance in companies listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange in Kenya. Journal of Human Resource and Leadership, 1(3), 1-17. DOI: https://doi.org/10.47604/jhrl.216
Maxwell, R., & Knox, S. (2009). Motivating employees to "live the brand": A comparative case study of employer brand attractiveness within the firm. Journal of Marketing Management, 25(9-10), 893-907. https://doi.org/10.1362/026725709X479282 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1362/026725709X479282
Minchington, B. (2011). Build employer brand equity: International waters-employer branding. HR Future, 2011(1), 13-14.
Musharaf, S., & Hussain, M. (2023). Determinants to gain organizational performance: Mediation model with talent attraction. Management Science Letters, 13(3), 219-228. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2023.4.001 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5267/j.msl.2023.4.001
Ndolo, F. M., Kingi, W. K., & Ibua, M. P. (2017). Effect of talent management practices on employee performance among commercial-based state corporations in Kenya. International Journal of Management and Commerce Innovations, 5(1), 580-591.
Oehley, A. M. (2007). The development and evaluation of a partial talent management competency model (Doctoral dissertation, Stellenbosch University).
Palys, T. (2008). Purposive sampling. In L. M. Given (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of qualitative research methods (Vol. 2, pp. 697-698). SAGE Publications.
Patra, G., Datta, S., & Bose, I. (2024). Managing talent and branding in learning organization. The Learning Organization, 31(4), 465-483.
https://doi.org/10.1108/TLO-04-2023-0067 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/TLO-04-2023-0067
Payne, S. C., Cook, A. L., Horner, M. T., Shaub, M. K., Boswell, W. R., & Ozias, A. (2010). The relative influence of total rewards elements on attraction, motivation and retention. WorldatWork Journal, 20(1), 6-21.
Poorhosseinzadeh, M., & Subramaniam, I. D. (2013). Talent management literature review. Australian Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences, 7(6), 330-338.
Rukunga, Y. M., & Nzulwa, J. (2018). The role of talent management strategies on organizational performance: A case of telecommunication firms in Kenya. International Academic Journal of Human Resource and Business Administration, 3(3), 263-288.
Saunders, M., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2009). Research methods for business students. Pearson Education.
Schwaiger, M. (2004). Components and parameters of corporate reputation: An empirical study. Schmalenbach Business Review, 56(1), 46-71. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03396685 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03396685
Sembiring, E., & Damayanti, N. (2023). Talent attraction, talent retention, and talent management as a mediator of organizational performance. Ultima Management: Jurnal Ilmu Manajemen, 15(1), 58-76. https://doi.org/10.31937/manajemen.v15i1.3125 DOI: https://doi.org/10.31937/manajemen.v15i1.3125
Wainana, R. W. (2022). Talent management and organizational performance of Nairobi City County Government, Kenya (Doctoral dissertation, Kenyatta University).
Wanjiku, A. M., & Kungu, P. (2022). Leadership style and performance of five-star hotels in Nairobi County, Kenya. European Journal of Economic and Financial Research, 6(1), 23-45. https://doi.org/10.46827/ejefr.v6i1.1262 DOI: https://doi.org/10.46827/ejefr.v6i1.1262
Wernerfelt, B. (1984). A resource-based view of the firm. Strategic Management Journal, 5(2), 171-180. https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250050207 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.4250050207
Workforce Africa. (2025, February 18). Why global companies are turning to Africa for talent sourcing. https://workforceafrica.com/why-global-companies-turn-to-talent-sourcing/
Yildiz, R. O., & Esmer, S. (2023). Talent management strategies and functions: A systematic review. Industrial and Commercial Training, 55(1), 93-111. https://doi.org/10.1108/ICT-01-2022-0007 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/ICT-01-2022-0007
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Eunice Ayuma Yeswa, Thomas Anyanje Senaji, Clive Mukanzi, Mbithi Mutua

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.













