Enhancing hospitality skills with VR: adapting to learning styles

Abstract

This study examines the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) training in improving hospitality skills, as well as the effects of various learning styles, as measured by the Kolb Learning Style Inventory, on VR education. As the hotel business advances, creative training approaches that combine theory and practice are critical. VR provides immersive, engaging experiences that potentially revolutionise traditional learning methods. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, which included quantitative surveys, qualitative interviews and focus groups. Participants comprised Hotel Management School Leeuwarden students and Roast Leeuwarden restaurant staff. The survey assessed involvement, comprehension and satisfaction, whereas interviews offered more information about their experiences. The findings revealed that divergent learners, who prefer observation and reflection, were more engaged with VR instruction, whereas hands-on learners benefited but needed more coaching. Prior VR exposure greatly enhanced training outcomes, emphasising the necessity of introducing users to the technology. These findings highlight the importance of personalised VR training to accommodate diverse learning styles and promote its adoption into hospitality education. Future research should focus on long-term knowledge retention and greater customisation of VR apps to satisfy the different educational objectives of hospitality training.