We are looking for three filmmaking teams to capture vertical first-person POV iPhone content documenting a "stay" at multiple different Hilton hotel properties across Bangkok, Indonesia, and the Netherlands. You will be responsible for all aspects of a stripped down social-first production, but will hand all raw assets off to a campaign director, who will then edit your dynamic, high-energy footage into short, immersive, guided travel videos for YouTube Shorts, Instagram and web channels.

At Hilton, The Stay is everything. It sets the tone for your whole trip and can make or break your entire travel experience. Luckily, Hilton is built to provide the ultimate Stay experience, from well-appointed hotel rooms and communal areas to unique amenities and stand-out Hilton hospitality. As part of an ongoing "Stay Tours" social campaign, Hilton has been shining a spotlight on individual properties from all around the world, with short vertical guided travel videos that shows all that these properties have to offer.

As part of that campaign, we are looking to greenlight three Tongal creators to capture Stay Tours content, which involves first-person POV or "follow-me" style vertical videos. These videos will take the viewer through an actual "Stay experience" at three different properties across Bangkok, three across Indonesia (Bali and Jakarta), and five in the Netherlands. 

If greenlit, you'll capture vertical first-person POV content on an iPhone at each property for your location, giving viewers a guided tour of all of the hallmarks of "the Stay," as if from the vantage point of a traveler documenting their Stay on their phone. You'll capture universal moments, like entering the lobby and using the Digital Key in the Hilton Honors App to unlock and enter the guest room, as well as revealing amenities, which will be unique to each specific property. Once you've captured your footage, a campaign director will then take your immersive, guided content, and turn it into a dynamic, engaging vertical video up to :60 long that'll be relatable and exciting for viewers and travelers worldwide. You won't be responsible for any post-production. 

As the project title suggests, this is the first wave of Stay Tours content for 2025, as well as part of an extremely successful ongoing content series for Hilton. We've linked to some best-in-class videos from seasons past in the Background to give you a strong sense of how to approach production, and what we're looking to see. There's a range of properties within each location, each with its own identity and unique features and amenities. The actual properties and guides on what to prioritize filming for each will be provided to you if you're selected for production. Please see the locations and property brand types in the Background section to inform your pitching selection.

Ultimately, all of the content created for Stay Tours needs to feel like it's part of the same campaign, so it's crucial that you can execute within the existing style shown in these videos along with these crucial stylistic updates. Tongal and the campaign director will lay these out in more detail for you in pre-production. Within this framework, each video needs to be crafted specifically to reflect A) each property's unique highlights, style, and/or amenities; and B) the appropriate "traveler" persona for that stay. The persona should inform how you achieve the above as you work with amenities like in-house bars and restaurants; but it also shapes how you might approach an especially great view from the guest room, a spa experience, or more unique equipment in a hotel's fitness center. 

Since these should be shot like true first-person POV videos, we should really only see hands (holding the camera, opening the door, picking up a drink, etc.), so you can reuse the same talent across multiple videos, but we do want to see diversity on screen, which means you'll probably need more than one set of hands. It's not mandatory, but we'd love to see casting options in your pitch. Hilton will provide a room at each property for filming, although you should NOT assume that you can stay in this room overnight, and each property's available dates for filming will be arranged with the greenlit filmmakers. You should expect to spend a day or two scouting the locations, and one to one and a half shoot days per property. 

We're providing a budget of $4,000 per property, so depending on the location you're greenlit for, you can expect a production budget between $12,000 and $20,000. While being local to the location you pitch against is definitely helpful, we know some of these cities and countries might require travel, and within that, some of the locations will require a couple of hours of local travel for both the scouts and shoots. Additional travel budget beyond that local travel will be provided where required, but any travel budget will need to be approved by Tongal and Hilton during pre-production.

Note: Greenlit creators should plan to be available for a kickoff call with Tongal and our campaign director in the morning (PST) on April 25 and individual calls with Hilton and your individual property teams from April 25–29. These calls may be scheduled outside of normal business hours to accommodate international property teams' availabilities.

For any questions or other project updates, check out the Project Forum.

DELIVERABLES: Each filmmaker will deliver a hard drive containing the following content for four to six properties:

• Per property, vertical iPhone footage capturing an immersive Stay experience (9x16) 
• Per property, three vertical iPhone still images as thumbnail options (9x16)

TIMELINE: HERE.

EXPOSURE: We anticipate content will be used on the platforms listed below, but if casting talent, please be sure your talent reviews the required Talent Release, as it is not limited to these platforms. You should also review the platform best practices page.

• Hilton's various official YouTube Shorts, Instagram, and web channels

TARGET AUDIENCE: Broadly, the global Instagram and YouTube Shorts audiences: Millennials, especially younger millennials, and Gen Z. 

TONE: Authentic, clever, energetic, humorous, creative, timely. 

EXECUTIONAL MANDATORIES: 

• Your pitch MUST make clear which location you are pitching on, using the dropdown menu, and you MUST make clear whether you can work as a local at that location in your pitch. We encourage you to pitch on multiple locations if you can work as a local from more than one location, but please upload individual pitches for each location you pitch against.
• Your visuals must be engaging and designed to hook and hold audience attention.
• Videos must show the Hilton hotel room and other property highlights and amenities that are unique to a specific type of Stay; these examples may not apply to your properties, but for illustrative purposes: 
  • Family at an All-Inclusive resort: lighthearted and fun, and shows a mix of adult, family, and kid-specific activities 
  • Solo wellness retreat: tranquil and peaceful, with amenities built for relaxation and restoration
  • Where possible, highlight the "little extras" that make The Stay even better, e.g. special in-room welcomes, team members going above and beyond for your Stay, etc.
• While you can repeat talent across videos, diversity is key to Hilton, and we'll want that to show up on screen through the first-person POV. Talent should also be in sync with the type of property and available amenities, as noted above. At most, talent's arms and legs will be featured (no face) so please be sure to avoid visible tattoos. 
• The Hilton properties will provide a room for your shoot, but it is not necessary to spend the night at any of the properties; filming should require only one day or less per property.
• You must visually emphasize the beauty of Hilton properties, from the hotel rooms to the communal areas (e.g. lobbies, restaurants, bars, outdoor spaces, etc.).
• Greenlit filmmakers will be provided with brand Do's and Don'ts that will need to be followed during pre-production and production.
• Do not show drinking of alcoholic beverages on camera. 
• You must use Hilton's location and talent releases for this project, and Hilton's artwork release for any featured artwork in your content. Blank forms and further instructions will be provided to the greenlit filmmaker.
  
  

By participating in this project, creators acknowledge that the Sponsor is under no obligation to greenlight a submission. Though most projects on our platform do move forward, we will notify you in the event the Sponsor decides not to fund any submissions via the project forum. Regardless of the result, all submissions will be reviewed and evaluated by the Sponsor and the project team.

DESTINATIONS & PROPERTIES:

While the final list of properties per location is subject to change, the current breakdown is as follows:

• Bangkok: Three Properties
  • Full-Service, Lifestyle, and Focused Properties
• Indonesia: Three Properties
  • Full-Service and Focused Properties
• The Netherlands: Five Properties
  • Full-Service, Lifestyle, and Focused Properties

HILTON BRANDS: 

While the Campaign Director will prepare you for each property brand you will be capturing, here are key highlights for each brand and best-in-class links from previous Stay Tours shoots. 

Full-Service Brands:

Hilton sample video: Hilton Shanghai Songjiang Guangfulin

DoubleTree sample video: DoubleTree by Hilton Phoenix Chandler

• Hilton Hotels & Resorts
  • These properties feature branded amenities that signal quality and care
  • Exceptional dining opportunities 
  • Spaces to recharge and reconnect 
  • Elements that make travel easier
• DoubleTree by Hilton
  • Simple human touches and acts of kindness that make every stay a delight
  • Every stay starts with a warm chocolate chip cookie
  • Contemporary amenities and design
  • Unique F&B 
  • State-of-the-art fitness, meeting, and event spaces

Lifestyle Brands:

Curio sample video: Al Seef Heritage Hotel Dubai, Curio Collection by Hilton

Tapestry sample video: The Barnes San Francisco, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

• Curio Collection by Hilton
  • Authentically cool, culturally relevant
  • Distinctive, sophisticated architecture and design touches with a grand sense of arrival
  • Locally-inspired design and artwork that connects to each property's individual story 
  • One-of-a-kind experiences tied to the location
  • Multiple F&B outlets per property; at least one must be a well-known 'destination' restaurant
  • Multiple bars per property with signature cocktails
• Tapestry Collection by Hilton
  • Each property is entirely unique with an individual personality, from the architecture and design to the F&B
  • F&B is locally-inspired
  • Tapestry properties are targeted for the traveler who seeks an exploration-worthy destination
• Canopy by Hilton
  • Inviting, high-end design
  • Lots of inspiration from the neighborhood in the F&B offerings and hotel-specific experiences like evening tastings or design elements like canopies over beds
• Motto by Hilton
  • Attainable access to prime locations
  • Local hot spot: these properties encourage guests and locals to connect in on-site restaurants and bars
  • Flexible room configurations for groups

Focused Service Brands:

Tru sample video: Tru by Hilton Gilbert

Hampton by Hilton sample video: Hampton by Hilton Dublin City Centre

• Hilton Garden Inn
  • Recognized, trusted brand where guests can relax and refresh
  • Elevated yet approachable on-property experiences
• Tru
  • Large lobbies with local murals, lobby games, and casual, authentic service for a spirited environment
  • Value without compromise: breakfast, premium bath amenities, brand names in the on-site Market 
  • Rooms are designed for function: luggage storage, rolling desks, etc.
• Spark
  • Friendly, reliable, quality stay that maximizes the travel experience 
  • Unexpected touches to make every guest feel valued 
• Hampton by Hilton
  • Reliable, consistent, trustworthy stay experiences 
  • Core amenities guests rely on for consistent, high-quality stays:
    • Free hot breakfast (including the Hampton Waffle)
    • "Sleep happy" premium sleep experience
    • Well-lit bathrooms and spacious, functional rooms
  • Warm, friendly, personal service

In order to be considered, include the below materials in your submission. For examples of effective pitches, check out this gallery. All Pitches remain private, even after a Pitch is selected, and Tongal strives to have Pitch selections made by the end of the Evaluation period, but additional time may be required by the Sponsor, depending on any number of factors.

• TEXT (REQUIRED): Up to 500 characters synopsizing how you plan to approach and produce the content listed in the Deliverables.
  
  
• TREATMENT (REQUIRED): A more detailed and specific description of how you propose to execute all of the content listed out in the Deliverables. Explain what we can expect to see, and how you'll make it. If it's helpful, we've provided a treatment template HERE.
  
  
• LOCATION (REQUIRED): Using the dropdown, please specify which location you are pitching on. If you are able to work as a local across multiple locations, you are encouraged to submit individual pitches for each location. Certain locations are split across different property types; please specify which property type(s) you are pitching against.
  
  
• LINKS (REQUIRED): To your previous video work. Please specify your role (producer, director, editor, artist, etc.) but do not include links to your showreel. Please link to individual videos.
  
  
• PITCH VIDEO (Optional): This is your opportunity to be face-to-face with the Sponsor and show what you're capable of. Consider a video in which you tell the Sponsor what they can expect, or consider test videos, proof-of-concept edits, animatics, etc. For examples of effective Pitch videos, check out this gallery.

The most compelling pitch will be greenlit by the Sponsor, and the responsible creator will then receive an email from Tongal producers detailing next steps. All submitters will also receive an automated email notification that a selection has been announced. To ensure you’re receiving project updates, review your email settings to check that you haven’t unsubscribed.

Creators who’ve been selected will receive funding upon completing the Winner Affidavit and the IP Assignment. Payment of the pitch funds is subject to a payment schedule determined by Tongal, typically included with the project timeline.

PRE-PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS: Prior to the commencement of actual production, creators MUST receive final approval from the Sponsor on the elements below. There may be multiple rounds of feedback until an element is approved.

If you begin production before you have received final approval, you may need to reshoot or reanimate at your own expense. 

• TREATMENT Describe in detail how you plan to execute the content, and how you plan to bring it to life visually. Feel free to use concept art, references, style frames, or mock-ups. If relevant, share additional information about your team, and your process.
• CASTING: Tongal advocates for inclusivity in on-screen representation and diversity in casting. Please submit three to four options per role, with at least one of those options being a person of color. It is preferable to share multimedia content (i.e. video & audio clips) to help the Sponsor gauge the talent's performance, rather than headshots or resumes.

For convenience, we've provided some helpful templates that you can consider using for pre-production materials, and they can all be accessed here.

BUILDING YOUR TEAM: Looking for help? Post crew and production opportunities connected to Tongal projects on Backlot. Backlot includes search tools to help you find collaborators and crew by role, skill set, location, and more, for productions of any size and type. Tongal also supports inclusivity in all productions, and strongly encourages you to hire diverse talent for your team. To find additional options for staff & crew in your area, check out these resources and partners.

REVISION REQUIREMENTS & RESOURCES: Once Content has been submitted and the initial Production Phase completed, greenlit creators will enter into Revisions. Creators will perform reasonable edits on their videos according to the Sponsor's feedback. Check out our Filmmaker Resource Portal to access helpful post-production resources like Text-Safe Guides for different platforms, Project File Organization Tutorial, Export Presets, and Captioning services.

MUSIC: If you use music from a library for your content, you MUST use one of Tongal's music providers: Jingle Punks and Universal Production Music. Music from these providers is available to registered Tongal members at no charge solely for their incorporation into submissions to this project, and will not require a Music Release Form. To learn more, click on any of the providers' names above.

If you choose to use original music, you must fill out and submit our Music Release Form. Please ensure your composer reviews and signs this form BEFORE beginning their work.

ASSET DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS & RESOURCES: You must also provide all RAW and project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec in order to submit final payment. You are responsible for any costs associated with the hard drive and shipping. Tongal also reserves the right to request all raw files associated with the project.

To ensure a smoother delivery, please review the Export Presets, Specifications, and Project File Organization Tutorial in our Filmmaker Resource Portal.

1. In addition to the standard Tongal W-9, Winner Affidavit, and IP Assignment, greenlit Video creators MUST also provide Talent, Location, Music (or other) Releases for all assets appearing in their Videos, as well as a photograph/headshot OR copy of a photo ID for all On-camera Talent releases. You must also provide all project files, editing sequences and a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec to claim your earnings. Tongal also reserves the right to request all raw files associated with the project.
   
   
2. Unless provided otherwise, all work must be your own original creation and free of any copyrighted material. You shall provide detailed information of your work regarding the source, the creator and background information as requested by Tongal.
   
   
3. In the event you utilize any third-party materials, such as music provided by a third-party music provider not provided by Tongal, you must obtain full written license and consent from the owner of such third-party materials and provide such license and consent forms to Tongal.
   
   
4. The Sponsor will be entitled to reasonable revisions on the finished Videos without providing additional compensation. Remember it's easier to re-edit than re-shoot so try to get as much coverage as possible.
   
   
5. Preferred format for upload to the Tongal website is HD 720p and formatted for the aspect ratios listed in the Deliverables (e.g. 16x9). Acceptable file formats are .mov, .avi, .mp4, .wmv. Acceptable codecs are H.264 (MP4), MPEG-4, H.263, MPGV, WMV, DivX. Should your submission be greenlit, you will also be required to provide a 1080p .mov master file, using a ProRes, Animation, or Uncompressed Codec.
   
   
6. BY SUBMITTING A VIDEO ENTRY, YOUR SUBMISSION IMMEDIATELY BECOMES THE SOLE PROPERTY OF TONGAL OR ITS ASSIGNEES - SEE OFFICIAL RULES FOR MORE DETAILS ABOUT OWNERSHIP OF ENTRIES. YOU MAY NOT PUBLICLY SHARE OR PUBLISH YOUR SUBMISSION IN ANY MANNER AND YOU MAY NOT POST OR UPLOAD YOUR SUBMISSION TO ANY WEBSITE OR VIDEO HOSTING SITE (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, FACEBOOK, YOUTUBE OR VIMEO), WITHOUT THE PRIOR EXPRESS WRITTEN CONSENT OF TONGAL. FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THIS REQUIREMENT MAY RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF YOUR ENTRY IN THE PROJECT.
   
   
7. You may not contact any employees or members of the Sponsor's organization, their affiliates, or any of their partners. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disqualification of your entry in the project.
   
   
8. In addition to the judging criteria stated in the OFFICIAL RULES, Pitches will also be evaluated on that member's ability to execute the final Video based on their prior work and experience as a creator.
   
   
9. Videos must be in the English language or subtitled.
   
   
10. Submissions must not portray Sponsor in a negative way, the determination of which will solely reside with Sponsor, nor can Submissions contain any profanity, offensive language, nudity or otherwise objectionable material, the determination of which is solely at the discretion of Sponsor.
    
    
11. You must be at least thirteen (13) years or older to enter.
    
    
12. The Sponsor reserves the right to repost the contest.
    
    
13. See OFFICIAL RULES for additional contest information, terms and conditions. If there is any conflict or inconsistency between these requirements and the Official Rules, the terms and conditions of these requirements shall prevail.