What we know about transformational leadership in tourism and hospitality: a systematic review and future agenda

Leadership is crucial in tourism and hospitality, shaping employee motivation, job satisfaction, and performance. Transformational Leadership (TFL) is essential to promoting innovation and positive culture. However, knowledge of TFL needs to be more cohesive, requiring holistic research. Therefore, the study compares hospitality with the attributes of both TFL and Servant Leadership (SL). The study reviewed 38 articles published between 1970 and 2022, revealing TFL’s significant positive impact on the industry, increasing employee satisfaction, motivation, and performance. The study’s originality lies in its comprehensive systematic review of empirical research on TFL in the tourism and hospitality industry. The study addresses the gap in knowledge surrounding TFL’s impact on the industry and provides valuable insights into its positive effect on employee satisfaction, motivation, and performance. Additionally, the study highlights the common attributes of TFL and SL, suggesting that the two leadership styles may complement each other in this industry. Through this research, practitioners and researchers can gain a more comprehensive understanding of TFL’s effectiveness and develop new theories and avenues of research to enhance leadership practices in the tourism and hospitality industry.