Mindfulness, climate, and retention: integrating SEM and machine learning in Vietnam’s luxury hotels

This study integrates Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with machine learning to examine how mindfulness and knowledge sharing affect employee retention in Vietnam’s luxury hotels. Using data from 400 employees and grounded in the Job Demands – Resources model and Organisational Climate Theory, findings show that mindfulness enhances knowledge sharing and fosters an innovative climate, which significantly boosts retention. While knowledge sharing alone doesn’t directly impact retention, its influence is notable when mediated by innovative climate. A Decision Tree model, validated against Random Forest and XGBoost, achieved up to 87% accuracy in predicting retention outcomes. These insights demonstrate how blending SEM and machine learning can inform data-driven HR strategies in hospitality.