Article
Emotional Intelligence and Academic Performance among Hotel Management Students: Evidence from the Doaba Region of Punjab
The hospitality industry requires professionals who possess not only technical expertise but also strong emotional and interpersonal competencies. Emotional intelligence (EI) has emerged as an important predictor of academic and professional success, particularly in service-oriented disciplines such as hotel management. This study examines the relationship between emotional intelligence and academic performance among undergraduate hotel management students in the Doaba region of Punjab, with self-regulation examined as a mediating variable. A quantitative research design was adopted using a structured questionnaire administered to 250 students enrolled in hotel management institutions across Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, and SBS Nagar districts. A total of 232 valid responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, reliability testing, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The findings revealed a significant positive relationship between emotional intelligence and academic performance. Emotional intelligence also significantly influenced self-regulation, which partially mediated the relationship between EI and academic achievement. The study highlights the importance of integrating emotional intelligence training into hospitality education to improve academic outcomes and industry readiness.