The hotel industry has always been about hospitality at scale — creating personal, memorable stays for thousands of guests. But as travel habits change and AI reshapes the way people search, book, and experience hotels, brands that adapt early will come out ahead.
That’s where AIO: AI Optimisation comes in.
Just as SEO transformed how hotels were discovered on Google, AIO is set to define how they appear (and perform) in an AI-first world.
What is AIO (AI Optimisation)?
AIO is the process of optimising your hotel brand for AI-driven search engines, booking platforms, and guest experiences.
SEO ensured your website ranked on Google.
PPC captured demand directly through ads.
AIO ensures your hotel is visible and competitive when travellers ask “What’s the best boutique hotel in Barcelona with a rooftop pool?” to ChatGPT, Perplexity, or AI travel planners.
It’s about ensuring your hotel is at the top of these AI-curated recommendations.
Why AIO Matters for Hotels
AI is the new travel agent
Travellers are increasingly using AI concierges and search platforms to plan trips. If your property isn’t optimised, you won’t even make it onto their shortlist.Hyper-personalisation is expected
AI can tailor experiences at scale — from personalised upsells during booking to curated city guides. AIO ensures your hotel is set up to deliver these personalised touches automatically.Direct bookings at stake
OTAs (Online Travel Agencies) are already experimenting with AI search. Without AIO, your hotel risks being sidelined — losing visibility and direct revenue.Operational efficiency
From predicting cancellations to AI-powered chatbots handling FAQs, AIO helps streamline operations while maintaining brand voice and service standards.Data that drives loyalty
AI can uncover patterns in guest behaviour that would otherwise be missed. This means smarter loyalty offers, better guest segmentation, and more repeat bookings.
Examples of AIO in Action for Hotels
Discovery & Bookings: Ensuring AI-powered platforms recommend your hotel based on unique selling points (location, amenities, design).
AI-Powered Concierge: Training AI assistants to offer real-time, personalised recommendations (restaurants, tours, spa treatments).
Upselling & Cross-Selling: Using AI to suggest room upgrades, late checkouts, or spa bookings at the right moment.
Reputation Management: AI monitoring reviews and guest sentiment, giving management actionable insights instantly.
Guest Experience: Automated but personalised pre-stay emails, on-property communications, and post-stay follow-ups.
How Hotels Can Get Started with AIO
Audit your digital presence
Ensure your website, booking engine, and online listings are structured and AI-friendly.Optimise for conversational search
Think about the natural language questions travellers ask (e.g., “Which hotels in Paris are family-friendly with free breakfast?”).Enhance guest touchpoints
Add AI-powered chatbots, booking flows, and tailored upsell opportunities across your digital channels.Test new platforms early
OTAs, review sites, and AI travel planners are evolving fast. Hotels that experiment with AIO now will secure a competitive advantage.
The Balance: AI + Human Hospitality
The essence of hospitality will always be human. A smile at check-in, a staff member remembering your favourite drink, or a concierge going above and beyond — these are irreplaceable.
But with AIO, hotels can free up staff to focus on these high-value interactions while AI handles the repetitive, scalable tasks. The result? A smoother, more personalised, and more memorable guest experience.
Final Thoughts
For hotel brands, AIO isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a strategic advantage. The way guests discover and interact with hotels is changing, and those who prepare now will capture the bookings, loyalty, and revenue of tomorrow.
At Snack London, we help hotel brands embrace this shift, blending our hospitality expertise with AI-driven optimisation strategies. If you’re ready to explore how AIO can future-proof your hotel brand, let’s talk.