Emotional Intelligence Skills of Hospitality Leaders

Brazil’s hospitality industry is expanding and diversifying, increasing the need for emotional intelligence skills, especially among employees and management teams. This study assessed the emotional intelligence skills of mid-level leaders in a hotel organization, surveying 63 managers across five hotels in different Brazilian states. The theoretical framework explored emotional intelligence theory, leadership in hospitality and their interrelationship. Employing a quantitative approach, the study utilized the emotional intelligence appraisal by Bradberry and Greaves, a self-assessment tool analysing five constructs: self-awareness, self-management, self-motivation, empathy and social skills. Descriptive statistics and reliability coefficients were calculated using IBM SPSS software (version 29.01). The findings revealed high levels of emotional intelligence among the leaders, indicating a leadership profile focused on problem-solving, teamwork and personal development, which are essential skills for effective hotel management.