Towards sustainable development in the hospitality sector: does green human resource management stimulate green creativity? A moderated mediation model

Green human resource management (GHRM) is an important organisational approach to promote the sustainable development of organisations. Although the literature regarding the effect of GHRM is growing, little is known about the mechanisms and boundary conditions that may facilitate the link between GHRM and green outcomes. Through a combined underpinning of ability–motivation–opportunity, job demands–resources and social exchange theories, this study examines the relationship between GHRM and green creativity through green work engagement, with spiritual leadership moderating the GHRM–green work engagement relationship. Also, we explore the links between GHRM, spiritual leadership, green work engagement and green creativity using a moderated mediation model. Using survey data of 271 front-line hotel employees in UAE, we use a partial least squares structural equation modelling to conduct our statistical analysis. The results show that GHRM positively influences green work engagement and green creativity, while green work engagement positively influences green creativity and mediates the GHRM–green creativity nexus. In addition, spiritual leadership amplifies the nexus between GHRM and green work engagement and the mediating effect of green work engagement in the nexus between GHRM and green creativity in the context of the hospitality sector in the UAE. Our study offers industry-specific practical implications and suggests agendas for further research.