This study examines the impact of both transformational leadership (TFL) and transactional leadership (TCL) on employee intention to stay (ITS) in deluxe hotels. It also examines the mediating role of organisational commitment (OC) in the relationship between leadership styles, i.e. TFL and TCL, and ITS. A pre-tested questionnaire survey was self-administered to front-line employees in deluxe hotels in Egypt, where these leadership styles were prominent. The key findings showed that TFL has more positive impact on OC and ITS than TCL. Affective commitment (AC) and normative commitment (NC) were found to partially mediate the relationship between both leadership styles and ITS. Employees exhibit higher ITS when they perceive proper leadership practices, especially TFL. Hotel executives should place more emphasis and investments on TFL to effectively achieve OC and positively influence ITS which is critical for the hotel industry that often suffers from high employee turnover.