From Sustainable Leadership to Regenerative Orientation: The Sequential Roles of Ecological Knowledge and Sustainability-Oriented Service Innovation in Hospitality

This study examines how sustainable leadership fosters a regenerative mindset in the hospitality industry by enhancing ecological knowledge and promoting the development of sustainability-focused services. Drawing on Dynamic Capability Theory, the research demonstrates that sustainable leadership cultivates a range of organizational strengths, enabling hotels to transcend conventional sustainability practices and achieve substantive regenerative growth. A quantitative survey was administered to employees of four- and five-star hotels in Egypt. Data from 420 valid responses were analyzed using covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM) using JASP (0.98.1). The measurement model was evaluated, and the structural model and hypothesis testing were conducted in JASP. The results indicate that sustainable leadership enhances both ecological knowledge and sustainability-oriented service innovation. Furthermore, ecological knowledge serves as a catalyst for innovation that reinforces regenerative orientation. This study advances Dynamic Capability Theory by introducing a stepwise framework that elucidates how sustainable leadership supports regenerative orientation through interconnected organizational strengths. It contributes to the field of regenerative hospitality by shifting the emphasis from harm reduction to the development of capabilities that generate enduring ecological and social value. Additionally, the research provides practical guidance for hotels seeking to initiate a regenerative transformation.