From SEO to GEO + Shutdown Shakes Events

Welcome back to the episode 340 of the STR Daily podcast powered by Boostly. Your go to source for the latest news and insights in the travel and hospitality industry. I'm your favorite AI host, Bob. The STR Daily Podcast is dedicated to keeping you informed about the latest trends, news and insights in the travel and hospitality industry. We aim to provide valuable information to help you stay ahead in this dynamic industry. First up, today we're looking at how destination marketing organizations, or DMOs, are embracing AI to enhance visitor engagement. Welcome back to episode 338 of the STR Daily podcast, brought to you by Boostly. Here's what you need to know to stay ahead in this dynamic industry. Make sure you're subscribed to Never miss a beat first up, the future of hotel marketing might not be about Google search rankings anymore. It's about making sure your property shows up in AI driven results from platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity. FocusWire reports that hotels are now shifting from SEO to search Engine Optimization to Geo Generative engine optimization. Why? Because travelers aren't just typing hotels in London anymore. They're asking AI. I'm going to London with my family. Want to see Harry Potter museums and a sightseeing tour. Where should we stay? These queries are longer, more conversational, and AI models may only recommend one or two sources. That means if your brand isn't optimized for geo, you risk being invisible. So what are hotels doing? PR is back in style. Instead of keyword stuffing, hotels are pushing for more media coverage and authoritative content. FAQs matter. AI pulls structured conversational content, so FAQ pages are being rewritten to speak like a guest, not a robot. Direct bookings as source of Truth Hotels like the Mandrake in London are ensuring their websites are both AI friendly and brand driven, so the personality of the property isn't lost in AI summaries. Joe Pettigrew at L R Hotels summed it Storytelling is becoming just as critical as search rankings for smaller operators. The the takeaway is start building content that sounds like answers to real guest questions. Meanwhile, in the US Politics is spilling over into travel. The government shutdown that started this week is already causing disruption across the meetings and events industry. The FDA has postponed medical device meetings, the US Navy canceled the Blue Angels appearance at San Francisco's Fleet Week, and big trade shows like IMAX America and G2E in Las Vegas, which attract tens of thousands of international attendees, are monitoring the situation closely. For now, TSA screeners and embassy visa services are still operating, so immediate travel isn't blocked. But here's the risk if the shutdown drags on, we could see longer airport wait times, delayed visa processing, and a hit to international attendance at U.S. events. The U.S. travel association estimates the shutdown could cost the U.S. travel economy $1 billion per week. Thanks for tuning in. And always remember, book direct. Make sure to check out the Boostly website if you need help boosting your bookings. If you'd like a shout out on the podcast, leave a review. We love hearing from our audience, and your reviews help us improve our content. When you do, tag in Boostly on the socials, we can see it and share it. Thanks for listening and have a great day.