This study examines the effects of perceived paternal leadership on the internship task performance of tourism vocational high school students interning in five-star hotel enterprises in Istanbul. Additionally, it investigates the moderating role of gender in the relationship between paternal leadership perception and personality traits on students' task performance.

The study sample consists of students studying in tourism vocational high schools in Istanbul and interning at five-star hotel enterprises, along with the managers directly responsible for these students during their internships. For this purpose, data were collected from 446 intern students and 207 hotel managers who interacted directly with these students. Independent sample t-tests, regression analysis, correlation analysis, and moderator variable analysis were employed to analyze the data. As part of robustness checks, the paternal leadership and task performance data obtained from students were also validated by collecting data from the managers.

The study findings revealed that perceptions of paternal leadership varied between male and female students. Furthermore, among the Big Five personality traits, agreeableness and extraversion were found to positively influence perceptions of paternal leadership. The moderating role of gender in the relationship between intern students' perceptions of paternal leadership and their task performance was also examined, and the results were found to be significant for male students.

The findings of this study provide various contributions to managers, academics, and educators aiming to enhance the experiences of interns in the tourism sector. Managers can develop leadership practices that improve interns' task performance, leading to notable increases in workplace commitment, motivation, and job performance. Furthermore, these practices can contribute to building a more qualified workforce in the long term. Therefore, this research contributes to achieving positive outcomes at both individual and institutional levels.