Occupational Commitment and Perceived Social Status for Hospitality Educators: A Case Study of Hong Kong

ABSTRACT Influenced by Chinese culture, educators are highly respected in Chinese communities. However, the work of hospitality educators is not a highly regarded position in society because Chinese people commonly perceive hospitality management studies as unnecessary. These conditions place hospitality educators in a contradictory position, in that society respects them as educators but does not value their subject. On this basis, this paper investigates the influence of perceived occupational prestige on the occupational commitment of hospitality educators and the moderating effects of their industrial and education work experiences. The findings show that perceived occupational prestige is strongly related to the occupational commitment of hospitality educators. It is also found that work experience does not always have positive moderating effects on their occupational commitment. This study provides essential information on how hospitality educators’ occupational commitment is influenced by perceived occupational prestige and the work experiences of hospitality educators in Hong Kong.