Talent management in the hospitality and tourism industry: the role of societal and organisational culture

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the role of societal and organisational culture on talent management (TM) within the Greek hospitality and tourism (H&T) industry. Specifically, this study tests societal culture’s effect on TM approaches and the mediating role of organisational culture. Design/methodology/approach In this quantitative study, the questionnaire sample included employees of all hierarchical levels from three hotels located in northern, central and southern Greece ( n = 188). Data analyses were carried out by using the PROCESS Version 4 macro in SPSS. Findings The results show that neither societal nor organisational culture are decisive factors in impacting the perceived TM approach. This might be due to the organisations imitating other firms without pre-establishment of societal and organisational fit. Practical implications This study emphasises TM’s alignment with both societal and organisational culture. Given the context-specific nature of TM, achieving culture fit can enhance talent acquisition, retention and engagement, ultimately leading to improved talent and overall organisational performance. Originality/value This study integrates more centrally a cultural lens into the TM discourse. It provides empirical evidence of TM approaches in the Greek H&T industry, drawing on a multi-stakeholder sample including managers and talents.