ABSTRACT: This study investigates the relationship between employee retention strategies and performance of employees in the hospitality industry with specific focus on the mediation role of emotional skills.  Data were collected from 367 employees through a survey questionnaire, and the research hypotheses were examined using a consistent Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling algorithm and bootstrapping method.The findings indicate that employee retention strategies are positively related to innovation, task and adaptive performance.Additionally, emotional skills mediated the relationship between employee retention strategies and innovation, task and adaptive performance.The results highlight the critical importance of developing retention strategies and emotional skills to help employees improve performance.

KEYWORDS – Emotional skills, Employee Retention Strategies, Employee Performance, Hospitality Industry