Author Guidelines

Author Responsibilities

At Palash: A Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Service Management, we strive to offer a respectful, efficient, and transparent review and publication process. Authors are expected to uphold the following responsibilities:

  • Timely Communication: Respond promptly to all editorial queries and requests during the review and publication process.

  • Accountability: Take full responsibility for the integrity, accuracy, and originality of your work, including addressing any concerns related to research ethics or data validity.

  • Confidentiality: Treat all correspondence with the journal’s editors and reviewers as confidential until a final editorial decision is made.

Authorship and Ethical Standards

Authors must adhere to our research ethics guidelines, which include:

  • Listing all individuals who have made a significant contribution as co-authors.

  • Excluding individuals who did not contribute or who choose not to be associated; these may be acknowledged.

  • Ensuring any research involving human participants has received necessary ethical approval and clearly stating this in the manuscript, including information about informed consent where applicable.

Use of AI Tools

In line with COPE guidelines:

  • Large Language Models (LLMs) and AI tools cannot be credited as authors as they cannot independently conceptualize research or be accountable.

  • If AI tools are used to generate, modify, or analyze content, authors must disclose the tool’s name, version, and purpose within the manuscript and cite appropriately.

  • Standard spelling and grammar checkers are exempt from disclosure.

  • The editor and publisher may assess AI usage and reject submissions not complying with ethical standards.

Policy on AI Usage and Publishing Ethics

AI Usage Policy

We are committed to responsible and ethical AI use guided by:

  • Responsibility: Authors and peer reviewers are accountable for the accuracy and integrity of their work.

  • Transparency: Any AI use must be clearly disclosed and responsibly managed.

  • Human Oversight: AI should support but not replace human involvement.

What is Not Allowed:

  • Using generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude) to create or write any part of a manuscript for publication.

What is Allowed:

  • AI may be used to edit or improve grammar, language, or structure of original content, with the author maintaining full responsibility for the final output.

Research and Publishing Ethics

Our editorial team follows COPE recommendations to uphold high ethical standards.

Key guidelines include:

  • Originality: Manuscripts must be original and not previously published. If part of the work appeared elsewhere (e.g., preprints), this must be disclosed.

  • Exclusivity: Manuscripts must not be under review by other journals during submission.

  • Plagiarism Check: We use Crossref Similarity Check to verify originality.

  • Conflict of Interest: Authors must declare any potential conflicts at submission.

  • Copyright Assurance: Submission confirms no infringement on existing copyright.

Third-Party Copyright Permissions

If your manuscript includes third-party material (text, images, tables), you must:

  • Obtain written permission prior to submission.

  • Secure non-exclusive reproduction rights for print and electronic formats, worldwide English-language rights, and rights valid for the article’s lifetime.

  • Note: We cannot publish manuscripts with outstanding permission requests.

Publication Fee Policy

Palash supports accessible academic publishing with no fees for authors at any stage:

  • No article processing charges (APCs)

  • No submission, peer review, editorial, or formatting fees

  • No fees for color images, tables, or supplementary materials

All published articles are open access and freely available without cost to authors or readers. Acceptance is based solely on quality and relevance.

Prepare Your Submission

Manuscript Requirements

  • Format: Submit articles in Microsoft Word format.

  • Length: 6,000 to 9,000 words, including abstract, references, tables, figures, and appendices.

  • Title: Provide a concise, descriptive title.

  • Author Details: List all contributing authors with names, institutional emails, affiliations (at research time), and author order.

  • Biographies & Acknowledgements: Include as separate Word files with brief professional bios (max 100 words each).

  • Research Funding: Acknowledge all external funding sources and funder roles in the research process.

Abstract & Keywords

  • Include an unstructured abstract (max 250 words), covering:

    • Purpose

    • Design/methodology/approach

    • Findings

    • Originality

    • Research limitations/implications

    • Practical implications

    • Social implications

  • Provide up to 12 keywords reflecting the main topics of the paper.

Article Classification

Accepted paper types include:

  • Research Paper

  • Practitioner Paper

  • Viewpoint

  • Technical Paper

  • Conceptual Paper

  • Case Study

  • Literature Review

  • General Review

Formatting Guidelines

  • Headings: Use concise headings; first level in bold, sub-headings in medium italics.

  • Notes/Endnotes: Use only if necessary, numbered consecutively in square brackets.

  • Figures: Submit electronic files (.ai, .eps, .jpeg, .bmp, .tif) at high resolution with clear captions and credit lines. Number figures consecutively.

  • Tables: Submit separately with brief titles, clearly labeled positions in the text.

  • References: Format all citations in APA style, ensuring completeness and consistency. Use proper in-text citation styles and format references alphabetically with DOIs where available.

Submit Your Manuscript

  1. Final Check: Ensure manuscript is complete, properly formatted, and free from errors.

  2. Journal Suitability: Confirm fit with journal’s aims and scope.

  3. Ethics & Permissions: Ensure compliance with ethical guidelines and copyright permissions.

  4. Formatting Compliance: Follow all author instructions.

  5. Maintain Anonymity: Remove identifying information for peer review; upload acknowledgments and biographies separately.

  6. Final Preparation: Review final compliance before submission.

Submission Process

  • Submit manuscripts by email to: palashjournal@ihmranchi.in by the corresponding author only.

  • Submission confirmation with manuscript number will be sent via official journal email.

After Submission: Review & Decision

  • Initial Editorial Check: Assess fit, language, and quality. Manuscripts may be declined at this stage.

  • Peer Review: Double-anonymous review by at least two independent experts.

  • Editorial Decision: Accept, request revisions, or decline. First decision aimed within 60 days, with status updates via email.

If Accepted

  • Copyright & Licensing: Receive copyright form to be completed and returned.

  • Proofing & Production: Manuscript undergoes editing; page proofs sent for final review. No major text changes allowed at this stage.

  • Publication: Article published online with DOI, fully citable before assignment to an issue.

Promoting and Sharing Your Work

  • Authors are encouraged to visit the Author Rights page for legal reuse and sharing guidance.

  • For visibility tips, advice on promoting your research is available.

Correcting Published Errors

  • Significant post-publication issues may be addressed via correction notices or rare article withdrawal.

Reviewer Information

Peer Review Process

  • The journal uses double-anonymous peer review, ensuring anonymity for authors and reviewers.

  • Reviewers are selected based on expertise and provide constructive, thoughtful feedback enhancing manuscript quality.

Mission, Vision, and Values

  • Ensure scholarly excellence through a fair, transparent review process.

  • Amplify diverse, informed perspectives from global scholars and professionals.

  • Encourage respectful, critical, and constructive feedback.

Ethical Standards for Reviewers

  • All review materials remain strictly confidential.

  • Reviewers must not disclose or share any part of the process unless authorized.

  • Confidentiality extends to shared reviewer comments at decision stages.