Artificial Intelligence Awareness and Emotional Exhaustion in Hospitality and Tourism Industry: The Mediating Role of Job Stress

Abstract

Drawing upon the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, this study examined the effects of artificial intelligence awareness (AIA) on employee emotional exhaustion (EE), investigating job stress (JS) as a potential mediating mechanism. Employing a partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach, the study analyzed data collected from 433 full-time employees working within 76 category-A travel agencies and 18 five-star hotels situated in Greater Cairo, Egypt. The results demonstrate a positive relationship between AIA and both job stress and emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, job stress positively impacts employees' emotional exhaustion and is found to play a mediating role in the relationship between AIA and emotional exhaustion. These findings contribute valuable insights to our understanding of the interplay between AIA, job stress, and emotional exhaustion within the Egyptian hospitality and tourism industry.