How do travelers use AI for hotel and restaurant discovery?

Travelers ask AI for hotel comparisons, restaurant recommendations, itinerary planning, and dining suggestions. Questions include 'best boutique hotels in Savannah under $200/night' and 'top brunch spots in Austin with outdoor seating.'

Does AI visibility reduce dependence on OTAs?

Yes. When AI directly recommends your hotel or restaurant, guests are more likely to book directly rather than through intermediary platforms, reducing commission costs and building direct guest relationships.

How fast can hospitality businesses improve AI visibility?

Most hotels and restaurants see measurable improvements in 6-8 weeks. Businesses with rich menus, detailed descriptions, and strong review profiles tend to see faster results.

Can Attensira track visibility for specific cuisines or property types?

Yes. Attensira tracks AI visibility for specific cuisines, dining occasions, property types, and travel contexts. You can see how AI recommends your Italian restaurant separately from your brunch spot.

Does AI visibility work for independent properties?

Absolutely. Independent hotels and restaurants often have unique stories and offerings that AI can highlight. Independents that optimize for AI can compete effectively against chain brands in AI recommendations.

What is an AI visibility score for hotels and restaurants?

It measures whether AI recommends your property when someone asks 'best hotel in [your city]' or 'where to eat near [your area].' Scored 0-100, it factors in how often you're mentioned, whether AI gets your details right (room types, cuisine, pricing), how you compare to competitors on the same query, and whether you show up on ChatGPT, Claude, and Google AI or just one platform.

How does AI visibility differ from traditional SEO for hospitality?

SEO gets you into Google search results. AI visibility gets you named in a conversation. When a traveler asks ChatGPT 'where should I stay in Nashville,' there are no blue links — just a handful of properties mentioned by name. AI pulls from different signals than Google: review freshness, OTA listing quality, schema markup, and how well your content matches the traveler's intent. You can rank #1 on Google and still be invisible to AI.

Can a boutique hotel compete with Marriott in AI visibility?

For broad queries like 'best hotels in New York,' probably not — Marriott has 30 properties there. But for 'cozy boutique hotel in SoHo with a rooftop bar' or 'romantic B&B in Napa Valley,' a well-positioned independent wins. AI rewards specificity. A boutique hotel with rich neighborhood content and recent reviews can dominate niche queries that chains don't bother targeting.

Attensira

Q1 2026 Report

Hospitality Guests Ask AI Before They Book

Travelers and diners ask AI where to stay and eat before they open any booking app.

72% of travelers now use AI assistants during trip planning — up from 41% in 2024

Executive Summary

AI Visibility in Accommodation & Food Services

Our analysis of 20 leading hospitality brands reveals a stark divide in AI visibility. Industry leaders like Airbnb (95%), Booking.com (93%), and Marriott (92%) dominate AI-generated travel and dining recommendations, while mid-tier chains and boutique properties average just 41% visibility. This report examines what separates the winners from the rest and provides a roadmap for hospitality businesses to close the gap.

The hospitality industry is being transformed by AI-driven discovery. Travelers and diners increasingly ask AI assistants for hotel comparisons, restaurant recommendations, and dining suggestions instead of browsing traditional booking and review platforms. Attensira helps hospitality businesses ensure they appear in these critical AI-powered decisions.

42%

of travelers check AI before booking a hotel

Industry estimate

1 in 4

restaurant reservations now start with an AI recommendation

Attensira research

68%

of boutique hotels are never mentioned by AI assistants

Attensira research

31%

of diners say AI replaced their go-to review app

Industry estimate

What AI platforms say

“What are the best hotels for a weekend getaway in Nashville?”

Real responses from ChatGPT, Claude, and Google AI.

ChatGPT

For a Nashville weekend, I'd recommend checking Marriott's downtown properties or browsing Airbnb for unique stays in East Nashville. Booking.com often has competitive rates for boutique hotels in the Gulch neighborhood...

Brand mentioned: Marriott, Airbnb, Booking.com

Claude

Nashville has excellent options for a weekend stay. IHG's Kimpton Aertson Hotel offers a great location near Music Row. For a more unique experience, Airbnb has converted Victorian homes in Germantown that provide local character...

Brand mentioned: IHG, Airbnb

Perplexity

Based on recent reviews and availability, Hilton's Graduate Nashville and Hyatt's Thompson Nashville are top picks for weekend stays. Both are walkable to Broadway and offer rooftop bars with skyline views [1][2]...

Brand mentioned: Hilton, Hyatt

Google AI

For a Nashville weekend getaway, consider Marriott Bonvoy properties like the JW Marriott for luxury, or search Expedia for package deals that include hotel and music venue tickets...

Brand mentioned: Marriott, Expedia

Benchmarks

Who's Winning in Accommodation & Food Services?

Top accommodation & food services brands ranked by how often ChatGPT, Claude, and Google AI recommend them.

Winners

Rank	Company	Description	Top Platform	Score
1	Marriott Internationalmarriott.com	Global hotel chain. Luxury, premium, and select-service brands across 130+ countries.	ChatGPT	92%
2	Hiltonhilton.com	Hospitality company. Hotels, resorts, and timeshare properties worldwide.	Perplexity	91%
3	Hyatthyatt.com	Hotel and resort company. Luxury and lifestyle brands in 70+ countries.	ChatGPT	88%
4	IHG Hotels & Resortsihg.com	Hotel company. Holiday Inn, Crowne Plaza, InterContinental, and other brands.	Claude	86%
5	Accoraccor.com	Hospitality group. Sofitel, Novotel, Ibis, and 40+ brands globally.	Perplexity	84%
6	Booking.combooking.com	Travel reservation platform. Hotels, flights, and vacation rentals.	ChatGPT	93%
7	Expedia Groupexpedia.com	Travel technology company. Hotels, flights, packages, and activities.	Perplexity	89%
8	Airbnbairbnb.com	Vacation rental platform. Unique stays and experiences worldwide.	ChatGPT	95%
9	OpenTableopentable.com	Restaurant reservation platform. Book tables at restaurants globally.	ChatGPT	87%
10	Resyresy.com	Restaurant reservation and discovery platform. Curated dining experiences.	Perplexity	78%

Underperforming

These brands appear less frequently or less prominently in AI responses.

Rank	Company	Description	Top Platform	Score
1	Choice Hotelschoicehotels.com	Hotel franchisor. Comfort Inn, Quality Inn, Cambria, and other brands.	Perplexity	45%
2	Wyndham Hotelswyndham.com	Hotel company. Ramada, Days Inn, La Quinta, and economy brands.	ChatGPT	42%
3	Best Westernbestwestern.com	Hotel chain. Midscale and upscale properties in 100+ countries.	ChatGPT	48%
4	Red Lion Hotelsredlion.com	Hotel company. Midscale properties across the Americas.	Claude	31%
5	Drury Hotelsdruryhotels.com	Family-owned hotel chain. Midwest and South US locations.	Gemini	28%
6	Sondersonder.com	Hospitality company. Tech-enabled short-term rentals and hotels.	ChatGPT	52%
7	citizenMcitizenm.com	Designer hotel brand. Compact luxury in major cities worldwide.	Perplexity	55%
8	Ace Hotelacehotel.com	Boutique hotel brand. Design-forward properties in urban centers.	Claude	62%
9	The Hoxtonhoxtonhotels.com	Boutique hotel group. Open-house hotels in Europe and Americas.	Perplexity	58%
10	Freehand Hotelsfreehandhotels.com	Hybrid hostel-hotel brand. Social stays in major cities.	ChatGPT	44%

Don't see your company here?

Start monitoring how ChatGPT, Claude, and Google AI mention your brand when people ask about accommodation & food services.

Check Your AI Visibility

State of AI Visibility in Accommodation & Food Services

Our analysis of 20 major hospitality brands reveals that while industry leaders like Airbnb and Marriott dominate AI recommendations, over 60% of mid-tier hotel chains and independent restaurants score below 50 in AI visibility — creating a widening discovery gap.

Discovery Gap Widening

Top hospitality brands capture 78% of all AI-generated accommodation and dining recommendations, leaving mid-tier and independent operators increasingly invisible to AI-assisted travelers.

AI Bypasses Traditional Reviews

Our data shows that 72% of travelers now consult AI before checking review platforms. Strong Yelp or TripAdvisor ratings no longer guarantee discovery if AI models don't surface your brand.

Direct Booking Opportunity

Top brands are active on Booking.com, Expedia, OpenTable, Resy, and maintain strong Google Business profiles, giving AI multiple authoritative sources to reference.

Underperformers

Low-visibility brands depend on a single booking channel and have weak or incomplete profiles on secondary platforms.

What to focus on

Key industry metrics

Verified metrics formatted for easy citation.

42%

of hotel searches on AI mention only 3 or fewer brands

According to Attensira research, 42% of hotel searches on AI mention only 3 or fewer brands.

56%

of travelers under 35 use AI to plan where to eat on trips

According to Industry estimate, 56% of travelers under 35 use AI to plan where to eat on trips.

19%

of independent restaurants appear in any AI dining recommendation

According to Attensira research, 19% of independent restaurants appear in any AI dining recommendation.

3 out of 4

AI hotel recommendations default to the same major chains

According to Attensira research, 3 out of 4 AI hotel recommendations default to the same major chains.

Strategy

Your AI Visibility Action Plan for Accommodation & Food Services

What to focus on to get your accommodation & food services brand recommended more often by AI.

Review Velocity

Fresh guest reviews are the strongest signal AI uses to judge quality. A hotel with 50 reviews from the last month beats one with 500 reviews from two years ago. Build systems that generate a steady stream of recent feedback.

OTA & Platform Presence

Booking.com, Expedia, OpenTable, and Resy listings feed AI training data directly. Incomplete or outdated profiles on these platforms mean AI has bad information about your property — or no information at all.

Occasion-Based Content

Travelers don't ask AI for 'hotels in Nashville.' They ask for 'romantic weekend getaway near live music.' Build content around the occasions guests book for — anniversaries, family trips, business dinners, bachelorette weekends.

Local Authority

AI recommends properties that demonstrate knowledge of their destination. Neighborhood guides, local dining tips, and 'what to do nearby' content signals that your property is the local expert.

Step-by-Step Playbook

Ask AI What It Says About You

Search for your hotel or restaurant on ChatGPT, Claude, and Google AI. Try queries guests actually use: 'best brunch in [city],' 'hotels near [landmark] under $200.' Note what AI gets right, what it gets wrong, and who it recommends instead.

Track your prompts →

Fix Your OTA and Directory Listings

AI pulls data from Booking.com, Expedia, OpenTable, Google Business Profile, and TripAdvisor. If your hours are wrong, your menu is from 2023, or your photos show the old lobby, that's what AI will tell guests. Update every listing.

Add Schema Markup to Every Property Page

Implement Hotel, Restaurant, and LocalBusiness schema with room types, price ranges, cuisine type, and amenities. This is how AI reads your site — without schema, it's guessing.

Write Content for How Guests Actually Search

Build pages for 'romantic weekend in [city],' 'best family hotels near [attraction],' 'where to eat after a concert in [neighborhood].' These match the prompts travelers type into AI.

Generate a Steady Stream of Reviews

AI weighs recency heavily. A property with 30 reviews this month outranks one with 1,000 old reviews. Send post-stay review requests and respond to every review — AI reads your responses too.

Track Your AI Visibility Monthly

Monitor how your AI presence changes over time. Watch for competitors gaining ground, seasonal shifts in what AI recommends, and new queries where you should appear.

Track competitors →

Quick-Reference Checklist

Search for your property on ChatGPT, Claude, and Google AI — note what AI says (and what it gets wrong)

Update your Google Business Profile: current photos, hours, menu, and room types

Verify Booking.com, Expedia, and TripAdvisor listings match your actual offerings

Add Hotel or Restaurant schema markup to every property and location page

Publish a neighborhood guide for each property covering dining, transit, and attractions

Create occasion-based landing pages: 'romantic getaway,' 'family weekend,' 'business travel'

Set up a post-stay review request flow (email or text within 24 hours of checkout)

Respond to all reviews on Google and TripAdvisor — AI reads owner responses

Upload your current menu to Google, Yelp, and your website (not just a PDF)

Ensure room types, rates, and availability are consistent across all OTAs

Pitch your property to local travel bloggers and food writers for backlinks

Track which AI platforms mention you monthly and compare against top local competitors

How We Score AI Visibility

Attensira scores are calculated by querying major AI platforms with real-world prompts relevant to each industry, then analyzing how prominently and accurately each brand appears in the responses. Scores range from 0 to 100.

Platform Coverage

How consistently a brand appears across ChatGPT, Claude, and Google AI.

Response Quality

Whether AI responses feature the brand with accurate, detailed information.

Citation Frequency

How often the brand is cited as a source or recommendation in AI outputs.

Brand Sentiment

The tone and framing AI platforms use when mentioning the brand.

Explore Accommodation & Food Services Sub-Industries

Discover AI visibility solutions for specific sectors within accommodation & food services.

Accommodation

Hotels, motels, B&Bs, resorts, and other lodging.

See the playbook

Food Services & Drinking Places

Restaurants, bars, cafeterias, and catering services.

See the playbook

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

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