Analysis of Contemporary Leadership Styles in the Croatian Gastronomy Sector

The gastronomy sector is continuously evolving in response to changes in both supply and demand. Gastronomic establishments strive to adapt their services to the needs of individuals, families, business professionals and tourists. Their success largely depends on effective human resource management, making leadership an important factor in organizational performance. Contemporary leadership approaches emphasize employee motivation, collaboration, flexibility and ethical behavior, which contribute to service quality and organizational competitiveness. The aim of this study was to examine which contemporary leadership styles are most commonly applied among managers in the Croatian gastronomy sector and to identify differences in their application across selected regions. The research was conducted on a sample of 50 managers and owners of gastronomic establishments from Dalmatia, Istria and Zagreb using a structured questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistical methods. The findings indicate that transformational leadership was the most frequently reported leadership style among the surveyed managers, particularly in tourism-oriented regions such as Dalmatia and Istria. Interactive leadership showed stronger presence among managers in Zagreb, while servant leadership was more evident in Istria. Charismatic and transactional leadership were more frequently observed among respondents from Dalmatia. The results suggest that regional characteristics, tourism intensity and organizational conditions may influence the selection and application of leadership styles in Croatian gastronomy.