Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 4, No. 3, 2012 253 Copyright © 2012 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd. An investigation of the relationship between job satisfaction and organisational empowerment as perceived by front-line managers in 5-star hotels Basheer A. Al-alak* College of Graduate Studies (COGS), Universiti Tenaga Nasional (UNITEN), 43000 Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia E-mail: Basheer@uniten.edu.my E-mail: alalak_2003@yahoo.com *Corresponding author Ghaleb A. El-Refae Al Ain University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 64141, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates Fax: +971 3 761 1198 E-mail: president@aau.ac.ae E-mail: ghalebelrefae@yahoo.com Abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between job satisfaction (JS) and organisational empowerment as perceived by front-line managers in 5-star hotels in Jordan. The results showed that, where there was a moderate level of organisational empowerment, a higher level of JS was found. There appeared to be a significant relationship between JS and organisational empowerment. Variables, such as resources, informal power and opportunity, were significant predictors of JS. It was recommended that hotel management should initiate and encourage regular meetings and activities for front-line managers. That will enable them to exchange views, information and feelings in such a manner as to serve their interest and those of their establishments. Keywords: JS; job satisfaction; organisational empowerment; front-line hotel managers; 5-star and luxury hotels; hospitality and tourism. Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Al-alak, B.A. and El-Refae, G.A. (2012) ‘An investigation of the relationship between job satisfaction and organisational empowerment as perceived by front-line managers in 5-star hotels’, Int. J. Economics and Business Research, Vol. 4, No. 3, pp.253–265. Biographical notes: Basheer A. Al-alak is a Professor of Marketing. He earned his PhD, MSc and BSc from UK Universities. He has over 30 years of marketing and related working experience. He has already published over 28 papers in international journals.