The 1 Bite Rule: Train ChatGPT to Instantly Hook Hotel Guests and Managers

Imagine trying just one bite of a perfectly crafted dish at your hotel's restaurant.

It’s irresistible.

Once you have a taste, you tell yourself, “Just one more bite.” And then you indulge a little further, telling yourself again, “OK—just one more.” Before you know it, you’ve savored the entire meal and are already planning your next visit.

This is how your readers should feel when engaging with your hotel's communications.

The 1 Bite Rule

One of the core principles we emphasize in effective hotel communication is: you have to get your readers to “take the first bite.”

Once they’re hooked, they’re 10X more likely to stay engaged with the rest of your message—whether it's a newsletter, a blog post, or a promotional email. This means your subject lines, your opening sentence, and your formatting must be optimized for the reader to say, “Alright, just one bite!” But unlike the guilt of indulging in a delicious dish, your readers will feel like they’ve just experienced luxury service by the end of your message.

Do this, and your readers will breeze through your communications—whether they’re potential guests considering a booking or internal team members reading a new policy update—and they'll look forward to reading more from you.

How, exactly, do you accomplish this?

We’ll give you 6 proven single-sentence openers (guaranteed to keep your readers engaged) and show you how to train ChatGPT to generate endless options for your hotel’s communications.

Let’s dive in!

6 Proven Single-Sentence Openers for Hoteliers

When it comes to effective communication in the hotel industry, don't hand out dry, unappealing content—give your readers something as enticing as the signature dish from your restaurant!

To keep readers engaged—whether they’re prospective guests or hotel staff—begin your communication with a compelling single sentence. If the first thing a reader sees is a dense block of text, they'll think, “This looks like a chore. I’d rather scroll through photos of beach resorts on Instagram.” Single-sentence openers feel effortless.

Now, let’s train ChatGPT to write single-sentence openers for your hotel communications!

Here’s what we did:

• We described the 6 proven ways to hook the reader (like we did above).

• Then we provided examples of each method so ChatGPT can understand different styles (as shown above).

• Finally, we instructed ChatGPT to create 3 new examples for any given topic, just like you would do yourself.

Here’s the prompt:

I am going to train you to write effective single-sentence openers.

These are proven ways to "hook" the reader's attention in the very first sentence.

Here are the 6 most proven single-sentence openers:

1. Open with 1 strong, declarative sentence.
2. Open with a thought-provoking question.
3. Open with a controversial opinion.
4. Open with a moment in time.
5. Open with a vulnerable statement.
6. Open with a weird, unique insight.

Now, I'm going to give you examples of each so you can learn how each different kind of single-sentence opener should be written:

1. Open with 1 strong, declarative sentence.
- Becoming successful doesn’t just “happen.”
- The wealthiest people in the world have the simplest investment portfolios.
- Going to the gym isn’t a hobby, it’s a lifestyle.
- The key to effective project management isn’t a tool or platform—it’s your ability to listen.
- You can’t change the world without first changing yourself.
1. Open with a thought-provoking question.
- Did you know the average Millennial has less than $10,000 in their savings account?
- What’s the difference between someone who goes pro versus someone who remains an amateur?
- Is there such a thing as eternal happiness?
- Is artistic talent innate? Or can it be taught?
- If you’ve been thinking about writing online, was your first impulse to start a blog?
1. Open with a controversial opinion.
- It’s impossible to be both rich and happy.
- The U.S. should not be involved in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
- If you drive a Tesla, you don’t actually care about the environment—you just want people to think you do.
- Men and women should not make the same amount of money (women should make more).
- Intelligence isn’t something you’re born with.
1. Open with a moment in time.
- In 1982, David Ogilvy wrote an internal memo to the employees of his advertising agency titled “How to write.”
- At 5:46 AM Pacific Time, September 11th, 2001, America changed forever.
- My fear of cafeteria trays began in 8th grade.
- When I was 17 years old, I became one of the highest-ranked World of Warcraft players in North America.
1. Open with a vulnerable statement.
- By the time I closed the doors of my first company, I’d lost more than $10 million of investor money.
- I’ve never been a very social person.
- For 27 years, I’ve struggled with alcoholism.
- The night before running my first marathon, I called my ex-girlfriend and told her I still loved her.
- For the first 10 years of my career, I was a terrible employee.
- I don’t know anything about investing (nada, zilch).
1. Open with a weird, unique insight.
- Did you know that 85% of the world’s oxygen comes from phytoplankton?
- California is not the largest state in the US—Alaska is.
- The average Millennial has less than $60,000 saved up in retirement by the time they reach age 40.
- Crows are one of the most intelligent animals on planet earth.
- My wife can boil a dozen eggs in 7 minutes or less.

I am going to give you the headline of a piece, and you are going to write single-sentence openers based on that headline using these 6 proven single-sentence openers—with 5 opening sentences inside each category.

As a reminder:

Here are the 6 most proven single-sentence openers:

1. Open with 1 strong, declarative sentence.
2. Open with a thought-provoking question.
3. Open with a controversial opinion.
4. Open with a moment in time.
5. Open with a vulnerable statement.
6. Open with a weird, unique insight.

I will give you the headline, and you will write 3 opening sentences for each of these 6 categories.

Also, as a rule of thumb: please do not use the headline itself in the first sentence.

Do you understand, and are you ready for the headline?

Here are 6 easy ways to craft these openers:

1. Open with 1 strong, declarative sentence

Take a firm stand on something related to hospitality.

Plant your flag. Declare something definitive about your hotel’s service, the travel industry, or guest expectations. No hedging—make it clear what you believe.

Examples:

• Exceptional guest service isn’t an option—it’s a necessity.

• Luxury isn’t about price—it’s about the experience.

• Your front desk team is the heartbeat of your hotel.

• Sustainable practices aren’t just trends; they’re the future of hospitality.

• Hospitality is the art of making guests feel at home, no matter how far they’ve traveled.

2. Open with a thought-provoking question

Engage your readers by making them think about something they care deeply about.

Examples:

• What does it take to create a truly unforgettable guest experience?

• How does your hotel stand out in a sea of competition?

• Are your guests leaving with more than just memories?

• What keeps guests coming back to the same hotel year after year?

• Have you ever considered how small details can make a big impact on guest satisfaction?

3. Open with a controversial opinion

Challenge conventional wisdom in the hotel industry with a fresh perspective.

Examples:

• Not every guest wants personalized service.

• Hotels that rely solely on technology are missing the human touch.

• Boutique hotels offer a better experience than large chains.

• Room upgrades shouldn’t always be complimentary.

• The key to guest satisfaction isn’t in the amenities—it’s in the staff.

4. Open with a moment in time

Immerse your readers in a specific date, event, or memory, drawing them into a narrative.

Examples:

• At 3:00 PM, right before check-in, the lobby hums with energy.

• In 1986, the world’s first modern hotel loyalty program was introduced—and it changed the industry forever.

• I’ll never forget the first guest complaint I handled as a front desk manager.

• On a rainy afternoon in 2019, we hosted a couple celebrating their 50th anniversary.

• It was the peak of summer, and every room in our hotel was fully booked.

5. Open with a vulnerable statement

Connect with readers by sharing a personal or emotional experience they can relate to.

Examples:

• The first time I faced a difficult guest, I was completely unprepared.

• I’ve made my fair share of mistakes in the hospitality industry.

• For years, I struggled to balance guest satisfaction with profitability.

• When I first started managing this hotel, I underestimated the power of small gestures.

• I used to think that providing great service meant saying yes to every request.

6. Open with a weird, unique insight

Catch your readers off guard with an unusual fact or statistic about the hotel industry or travel.

Examples:

• Did you know that the average hotel room has 5,000 guests over its lifetime?

• The busiest day for hotel bookings is Tuesday, not Friday.

• 70% of hotel guests are influenced by online reviews before booking a room.

• Hotel housekeeping uses 1.5 million towels a day worldwide.

• Guests are more likely to remember how they were treated at check-in than the design of their room.

By leveraging ChatGPT in this way, you’ll have dozens of options to choose from, ensuring your hotel’s communications are always engaging and effective.

And just like that, you’ve unlocked the power of AI to instantly write attention-grabbing openers that will keep your readers—whether they’re future guests or valued team members—hooked from the very first sentence.

Happy writing!

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