What Google’s AI Overview Means for Hotel Marketers (and How to Prepare)

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If you’re still thinking SEO is about ranking #1 on Google, you’re already behind.

In 2025, Google’s AI Overviews are rewriting how guests find and book hotels — and most hotel marketers don’t even realise it’s happening.

This isn’t some algorithm tweak. It’s a complete rethinking of how results are shown.

And if your hotel content isn’t showing up in Google’s AI summaries?

You’re invisible.

This guide breaks down exactly what AI Overviews are, how they’re impacting hotel discovery, and what smart marketers (and CMOs) can do now to stay ahead.

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What Is Google’s AI Overview?

Think of it like this:

When someone types “best pet-friendly hotels in Sydney with free parking,” Google no longer just shows 10 blue links.

Instead, it gives them a summarised answer — written by AI — pulled from multiple sources, complete with links and citations.

This AI-generated response is called the AI Overview.

It often sits above organic listings and below ads — taking the top spot.

If your hotel (or your content) isn’t part of that answer?

You’re not in the conversation.

How AI Overviews Are Already Impacting Hotel Marketing

Here’s what hotel marketers are noticing:

• Fewer clicks to websites, even when ranking high
• OTA listings getting featured more often than direct hotel sites
• Content without clear structure or schema being ignored
• Long-form SEO blogs not showing up in AI Overviews at all
• FAQs, bullet points, and direct Q&A format more likely to get quoted

This changes everything about how you:

• Write hotel content
• Optimise landing pages
• Answer guest questions
• Design your booking funnel

Why This Is a Big Deal for Hotel CMOs

Hotel marketers used to play the “rank and convert” game.

Now, it’s “get featured or disappear.”

Here’s what AI Overviews impact directly:

Old SEO GameNew AI GameRank #1 for keywordsBe cited by AI-generated summariesOptimise for bots and backlinksOptimise for clarity, structure, and semanticsLong articles = better rankingShort, structured answers = AI picksKeywords in title matter mostQuestions and answers = new search currency

If your hotel’s marketing team doesn’t adapt now, you risk being overtaken by:

• OTA content
• Travel blogs with structured summaries
• Competitors with AEO (Answer Engine Optimization) strategies

How to Get Featured in Google’s AI Overview (AEO Basics)

Here’s what your hotel content must do to show up:

1. Answer Questions Directly

Structure content using real questions:
“What’s the best time to stay at a hotel in Sydney?” → Follow with a clear, 2-sentence answer.

2. Use Schema Markup

Apply FAQ schema and HowTo schema to blog posts and service pages.

Google’s AI prioritises structured, machine-readable content.

3. Prioritise Bullet Points & Tables

AI loves scannable formats. Examples:

• ✅ Free WiFi
• ✅ Pet-Friendly Rooms
• ✅ Parking Included

Or:

FeatureAvailable?Rooftop BarYes24/7 Check-inYesVegan BreakfastYes

4. Optimise for Long-Tail Queries

Instead of just targeting “Sydney hotels,” go after:

• “Hotels in Sydney with Tesla charging”
• “Family hotels near Taronga Zoo with free breakfast”
• “Best boutique hotels in Surry Hills for couples”

These queries trigger AI Overviews more frequently than broad terms.

5. Add Internal Q&A Sections to Key Pages

Turn your FAQs into featured snippet-ready sections.

Place them halfway down your hotel homepage or booking pages.

What We’re Seeing From Brands Who Get It

Hotels using these strategies are:

• Getting cited in AI Overviews more than once per keyword
• Outranking OTAs for niche searches (yes, really)
• Seeing more branded queries like “Hotel X near Darling Harbour” — which means guests remember them

And they’re doing this without increasing ad spend.

How Hoook.io Builds AI-Optimised Content That Wins

At Hoook.io, we specialise in building hotel marketing engines that get cited by AI — not just indexed by Google.

We create:

✅ AEO-ready content with structured summaries
✅ Long-tail keyword coverage tailored to your property type
✅ Answer-first content designed for AI summarisation
✅ Direct booking funnels that align with how guests now search and decide

If your hotel’s name isn’t in the AI Overview today…

We’ll change that.

TL;DR

• Google’s AI Overview is now the top spot in hotel search
• If your content isn’t structured right, you’re invisible
• SEO is no longer enough — you need AEO (Answer Engine Optimization)
• Hoook.io builds hotel content designed to get cited, clicked, and booked

Want to see how we get your hotel into Google’s AI Overviews in under 90 days?
Book a demo at https://hoook.io to see how our customers are getting up to 100% traffic growth and up to 20% revenue increase.

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