SEO vs AIO vs AEO vs GEO — What Hospitality Brands Need to Know

Intro:
The way people find and choose hospitality experiences is changing fast. Traditional SEO is no longer the only game in town. With the rise of AI, search has become smarter, more conversational, and more personalised.

If you’re running a restaurant, hotel, or hospitality venue, here’s what you need to know about SEO, AIO, AEO, and GEO—and why you need all four to stay competitive in 2025 and beyond.

📈 SEO – Search Engine Optimisation

Focus: Google rankings
Goal: Rank for high-intent keywords like “best hotels in Notting Hill” or “romantic restaurants in Soho”
Tactics:

  • Keyword-rich content

  • Meta tags & on-page optimisation

  • Technical performance (speed, mobile, etc.)

  • Backlinks

Why it matters for hospitality:
Most bookings and reservations still start with a Google search.

🧠 AIO – Artificial Intelligence Optimisation

Focus: AI understanding your brand
Goal: Help AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity accurately recommend you
Tactics:

  • Consistent brand info across the web

  • Structured data (schema)

  • Context-rich, human-friendly content

  • Third-party validation (reviews, press)

Why it matters:
AI is shaping the future of discovery—and it pulls from everything, not just your website.

❓ AEO – Answer Engine Optimisation

Focus: Providing direct answers
Goal: Show up as the top answer in Google, voice assistants, and AI tools
Tactics:

  • FAQs and question-based content

  • Featured snippet optimisation

  • Natural, clear answers

  • Schema for FAQs, how-tos, etc.

Why it matters:
Guests are asking questions, not typing keywords. AEO helps your brand be the answer.

🤖 GEO – Generative Engine Optimisation

Focus: AI-curated recommendations
Goal: Be included in results from ChatGPT, Google SGE, Perplexity, and other generative tools
Tactics:

  • Strong brand positioning

  • Topical authority via blogs, features, reviews

  • Structured, descriptive content

  • Presence in third-party guides and directories

Why it matters:
GEO helps your business show up in full AI-generated plans, itineraries, and recommendation lists.

So, What Should Hospitality Brands Do?

OptimisationVisibility inMust-have forSEOGoogle SearchTraffic & bookingsAIOAI tools & assistantsTrust & accuracyAEOVoice search, featured answersDirect visibilityGEOAI-curated listsRecommendations & discovery

The best strategy? Use all four. Together, they ensure your brand is:

  • Findable in search

  • Recommended by AI

  • Trusted by machines

  • Booked by people

Need help getting your brand future-ready?
We’re Snack London—a digital marketing agency built for hospitality.
Get in touch and let’s make sure your venue shows up everywhere it should.