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The Role of Front-Desk Services on Guest Loyalty in 3-Star Hotels in Kampala: A Case Study of Sky Hotel International, Kampala, Uganda

Mirembe Cissy, Ssenyondo Primo


Abstract

This study examined the role of front-desk services in guest loyalty in 3-star hotels in Kampala, with reference to Sky Hotel International. The front desk is the primary point of contact between a hotel and its guests, and its services are widely regarded as decisive for guest satisfaction and loyalty, yet their contribution has been under-examined in the Ugandan hospitality sector. The study investigated how check-in/check-out efficiency, staff responsiveness, complaint handling, and personalized service relate to guest loyalty. A cross-sectional survey design with a mixed-methods approach was adopted, and data were collected from 170 respondents comprising hotel guests, front-desk staff, and hotel management using structured questionnaires and interviews. Descriptive statistics, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation, and structural (path) analysis were used. Factor analysis confirmed the construct validity of the front-desk service dimensions, which loaded onto coherent factors and explained 68.9% of the variance. The results revealed a strong positive and significant relationship between front-desk services and guest loyalty (r = 0.68, p < 0.01), with the dimensions jointly explaining 66.0% of the variance in guest loyalty (R² = 0.660). Staff responsiveness (β = 0.33) and personalised service (β = 0.29) emerged as the strongest path predictors. The study concludes that front- desk services significantly enhance guest loyalty and recommends strengthening staff responsiveness, personalised service, and complaint handling.

Keywords

front-desk services guest loyalty staff responsiveness personalised service hotels Kampala
Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research

Cite This Article

Mirembe Cissy & Ssenyondo Primo (2026). The Role of Front-Desk Services on Guest Loyalty in 3-Star Hotels in Kampala: A Case Study of Sky Hotel International, Kampala, Uganda. Metropolitan Journal of Academic and Applied Research, 5(8). https://journals.miu.ac.ug/pages/article.php?article_id=754

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