This study focused on ‘high-end’ front-line hospitality (HFLH). In doing so, it called on two theoretical frameworks to help inform the understanding of the HFLH employment relationship. From this, it examined voice mechanisms and skill learning systems as potential antecedents to work engagement and employee retention. This involved the use of mixed methods across two market economies (Ireland and Sweden). Work in the HFLH service offering comes with particularly alienating characteristics, including considerable discretion and emotional demands, which are often exacerbated in this ‘high-end’ service offering. Labour Process (LP) analysis is used as the main theoretical framework to inform the micro-processes of the HFLH employment relationship. In addition to this, the comparative political economy framework, Varieties of Capitalism (VoC), is used to capture different macroprocesses that shape this LP. The results of SEM analysis of questionnaires across Ireland and Sweden (n=272) suggested a negative relationship between collective voice mechanisms and work engagement. Individual voice mechanisms were strongly related to work engagement, while both individual and collective voice mechanisms were positively related to employee retention. The findings suggested no significant relationship between different skill learning systems on work engagement or employee retention. However, both HFLH employees studying for a different occupation and those perceiving their future within the HFLH were found to be more engaged. Differences between formal and informal individual voice were also found across both countries. Semi-structured interviews with HFLH employees, managers, Trade Unions, Employer Associations and skill institutions explored these findings further. This research provided important theoretical contributions in the form of ‘connective tissue’ between the LP perspective and VoC. In conducting this research across two market economies, it provided important sectoral insights into this atypical and alienating, yet economically important, sector: HFLH, and its particularly distinctive LP. Finally, it considered new voice mechanisms and skill learning systems within HFLH and discussed policy implications.