Do you have a paper based on your PhD?

Submit it to the JHTM to qualify for the JHTM Best PhD Paper awards!

Rationale and benefits

The Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management (JHTM) seeks to support and celebrate excellence in doctoral research by sponsoring the JHTM Best PhD Paper Awards (the Awards). These annual Awards aim to recognise and reward excellent research conducted during the doctoral studies of students (including but not limited to doctoral thesis/dissertation).

Together with CAUTHE, the JHTM is proud to support doctoral researchers or recent graduates in their efforts to start their academic career. Doctoral researchers are usually faced with increased stress to quickly publish their research in a top ranked journal in order to meet PhD study requirements and/or for securing a first job. However, in achieving this, researchers have to face the current reality and challenges of long waiting times related to peer-review processes and publication timelines. The Awards aim to support doctoral researchers or recent graduates to overcome the first hurdles in their academic career by recognising their efforts to contribute to knowledge appreciated by an international audience. The annual JHTM Best PhD Papers Awards also aim to help early career researchers and/or PhD students to publish their research in a top ranked journal during the first steps of their career.

The JHTM now has a SSCI impact factor of 8.3, it is one of the top ranked journals in tourism, hospitality and leisure (Q1) and it is an A rating journal in the ABDC list.

The JHTM Best PhD Papers Awards include several financial and promotional benefits as well as professional development opportunities for the winners to recognise their outstanding research work, but also to reward them for selecting JHTM for their research submission.

Eligibility and process

Current doctoral students or recent graduates (who have completed a PhD within the past year) are invited to submit a manuscript to the JHTM to apply for the Awards. Manuscripts should be based on research undertaken during a doctoral study; the research topic does not have to relate to the doctoral dissertation of the applicant. The JHTM will expedite the review process of these papers to ensure timely peer-review and fast publication of the paper, should a paper acceptance be achieved. Papers published within the year will be ranked by the editorial team and board of the JHTM in order to determine the winners of two annual awards:

1. a best PhD paper award; and
2. a highly recommended PhD paper

Papers will be assessed based on both quantitative and qualitative criteria, such as: number of paper downloads; number of citations; contribution to knowledge; and practical implications.

PRIZES

Award winning papers will receive cash prizes, a certificate and opportunities of public recognition (e.g. award presentation at the CAUTHE conference, social media and other promotion). 

Best PhD Paper Award

• 500 AUD
• Certificate
• CAUTHE Associate membership for one year (valued at 110 AUD)
• Presentation of the award at the CAUTHE 2025 conference
• Eligibility to register and attend CAUTHE 2025 conference at the student registration rate
• Publicity

Highly recommended PhD paper

• 300 AUD
• Certificate
• Presentation of the award at the CAUTHE 2025 conference
• Eligibility to register and attend CAUTHE 2025 conference with a student registration rate
• Publicity

How to participate in the 2024 JHTM best PhD paper awards

To participate in the 2024 JHTM Best PhD Paper Awards, please follow the following guidelines:

• submit your manuscript to the JHTM, as you would normally submit it to the journal (submission instructions are provided at https://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-hospitality-and-tourism-management). Submission should take place until the 31 July 2024, in order to allow for sufficient time to peer-review and hopefully ensure a quick (pre)-publication date of the paper within 2024.
• e-mail the editor-in-chief of JHTM (Prof Marianna Sigala) to register your interest to participate in the awards by providing:
  • evidence of your current doctoral student (or recent graduate) status: a university letter confirming that you are still a PhD student or a university letter confirming the date of your PhD completion or submission date
  • the number of your submitted manuscript obtained from the online submission platform

See 2023 JHTM Best PhD Award Winners |  2022 JHTM Best PhD Award Winners

If you have any inquiries, please do not hesitate to contact the Editor-In-Chief JHTM, Professor Marianna Sigala.