The Impact of Motivation on Employee Performance in the Selected Hotel in Kuala Lumpur

This study examines the critical impact of motivation on employee performance within Malaysia’s dynamic hotel industry. In the highly competitive service sector, employee performance directly influences customer satisfaction and organizational success, making motivation a pivotal factor. Although the importance of employee motivation is widely recognized, its specific effects and effective application within the Malaysian hotel context remain underexplored. This research aims to address this gap by applying established motivation theories such as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory (Herzberg et al., 1959), and Self-Determination Theory. This study collects data through quantitative surveys from 52 respondents among hotel employees and key managerial staff across selected hotels in Malaysia. The anticipated findings are expected to contribute significantly to both theory and practice. Theoretically, the study enhances understanding of how different motivational strategies influence employee performance in the hospitality sector, thereby enriching academic discourse. Practically, it provides hotel managers and HR professionals with evidence-based recommendations to implement effective motivation programs, ultimately boosting performance, improving service quality, and strengthening competitiveness and sustainability in Malaysia’s hotel industry.