FORMAT 1: THOUGHT LEADERSHIP ARTICLE

Showcase your unique perspective and expertise by exploring a key issue or opportunity shaping the hospitality industry. This format allows you to present new ideas, provoke discussion, and demonstrate forward-thinking strategies that can help readers lead the way in their own organizations.

1. Purpose and Vision: Our aim is to create articles that provide readers with a unique perspective on the immediate future. All pieces should strive to highlight the implications of today's trends and events and project their potential impacts on the future.

2. Topic Selection: Writers should focus on subjects that are ripe for forward-looking examination. They should provide ample opportunities for educated speculation about future developments.

3. Fact-Based Speculation: Predictions and projections should be grounded in facts and informed by credible data. Sensationalism and baseless speculation will not be accepted. Where possible, articles should leverage expert opinions, scientific research, statistical trends, or historical patterns.

4. Clarity of Timescale: Clearly identify the time frame being considered for the future outlook. The focus should generally be on the immediate future (up to five years ahead), but may also include a longer-term view if relevant to the topic.

5. Inclusive Future Vision: Articles should strive to consider multiple perspectives about the future, acknowledging the uncertainty and diverse possible outcomes. Avoid the presentation of a singular, deterministic future.

6. Imaginative Thinking: While articles should be rooted in fact, we also encourage creativity and visionary thinking. Writers are encouraged to explore new ideas, connect disparate dots, and challenge conventional wisdom.

7. Actionable Insights: The forward-looking perspective should aim to provide readers with insights that could inform their decisions. This could range from understanding policy changes, business strategies, and technological adoption to lifestyle choices.

8. Sample: Click here for a sample article

FORMAT 2: DO’S AND DONT’S ARTICLE

Provide clear, concise advice by highlighting the best practices to follow—and common mistakes to avoid within a specific tech application area. This format is perfect for offering practical tips and guiding readers toward success in a quick, easy-to-digest manner.

1. Clear Theme Definition: The introduction paragraph should clearly define the theme of your article. It should set the tone for the article and explain why this theme is relevant and essential for the hospitality industry.

2. Consistency in Structure: Each article should follow a consistent structure: an introduction, a list of 10 do's, a list of 10 don'ts, followed by a conclusion. This uniformity helps in maintaining reader engagement and understanding.

3. Balanced Do's and Don'ts: Ensure that the do's and don'ts are balanced in terms of content and depth. Each point should be clearly articulated, providing actionable and practical advice. If you can’t provide a full list of 10 items, that’s perfectly fine—quality and relevance are far more critical than quantity.

4. Relevance to the Theme: Each of the do's and don'ts should directly relate to the theme. Avoid including generic or off-topic advice.

5. Practicality and Feasibility: The advice given in the do's and don'ts should be practical and feasible for a broad range of hospitality businesses, from small independent establishments to large chains.

6. Concise and Impactful Conclusion: The conclusion should succinctly summarize the key takeaways and reinforce the importance of the theme. It should leave the reader with a clear understanding of how to implement the do's and avoid the don'ts in the context of the theme.

7. Sample: Click here for a sample article

FORMAT 3: TOP-10 TRENDS

Spotlight the most impactful developments and innovations currently shaping the hospitality landscape within a specific area of the author's expertise. This format allows you to deliver a highly targeted overview of emerging trends and innovations, giving readers an essential roadmap for what’s ahead.

1. Clear Theme Definition: The introduction paragraph should clearly define the theme/topic of your article. It should set the tone for the article and explain why this theme is relevant and important for the hospitality industry.

2. Consistency in Structure: Each article should follow a consistent structure: an introduction, a list of 10 trends followed by a conclusion. This uniformity helps in maintaining reader engagement and understanding. If you can’t provide a full list of 10 items, that’s perfectly fine—quality and relevance are far more important than quantity.

3. Relevance to the Theme: Each of the documented trends and innovations should directly relate to the theme/topic. Avoid including generic or off-topic advice.

4. Concise and Impactful Conclusion: The conclusion should succinctly summarize the key takeaways and reinforce the importance of the theme. It should leave the reader with a clear understanding of how to implement the do's and avoid the don'ts in the context of the theme.

5. Sample: Click here for a sample article

DEADLINE

• We will be accepting contributions until 23 May 2025

GENERAL

• Article Length: Your contributed article should not exceed 800 words.

• Title Length: Your article title should not be longer than 85 characters.

• Before You Start Writing: Before writing your contribution, please let us know the selected topic/theme, author details, and expected article delivery date.

• No generative AI: We ask authors to avoid using generative AI tools. These often produce generic content that fails to reflect the depth of their knowledge and expertise.

• Focus On The Future: Our readers want to know where we are heading. Nobody has a crystal ball, but how do YOU think things will develop in your specific area of interest and expertise? Can you explain why you are expecting changes? What factors will be influential in shaping the future?

• Be Personal, Informal, Conversational: We appreciate working with you as an author because we believe your perspective and insights are valuable. Our readers will feel the same way. The best articles in The HOTEL Yearbook tend to have an informal feel. So please break the journalistic taboo against saying "I" and feel free to express your ideas by freely saying "I think that...".

• No Infomercials: Please note that articles may not refer to the author's companies or products by name or make product comparisons. The objective of The HOTEL Yearbook is to position its authors as opinion and thought leaders rather than promoters of specific commercial activity.

• Style and Language: Use a language that is engaging, accessible, and avoids excessive jargon. Keep in mind that the aim is to enlighten, not to confuse.

• Footnotes & References: The HOTEL Yearbook is NOT an academic journal, so please do NOT include footnotes or bibliographies! However, you may include hyperlinks to external sources in the body text of your article.

• Exclusivity: The author guarantees exclusive publication of the article for Hospitality Net, with the understanding that it may also be shared on the author's company website or social media channels after publication.

DELIVERABLES

Upon completion of your article, you can upload your article to HYB's content platform. Please make sure to prepare:

• The contributed article in plain text or WORD format

• Author's name, title, LinkedIn URL, and email address

• A hi-res version of the author's headshot

• A one-paragraph author bio (max 100 words)

• A hi-res version of your organization logo

• A current version of your organization's boilerplate

• Custom images and graphics can be uploaded as well

• The article title should not be longer than 85 characters

• We will be accepting contributions until 23 May 2025

• You can submit your article via this link.

HYB LIASON

In case of any questions, please feel free to contact Jill Dassen at [email protected].