Answers for lodge owners

How do AI assistants choose places to stay? From web pages they can read, and Google ranks local results on three things.

From what the companies publish: each assistant searches the web and cites pages it can read [1] [2] [3] [4] [5], and Google ranks local results on relevance, distance and prominence [6].

Facts checked 22 October 2026. Each number in brackets links to its source.

How does ChatGPT choose places to stay?

ChatGPT search uses third-party search providers and content from partners [1]. It shows a website only if the site lets in OpenAI’s search crawler, OAI-SearchBot, and placement is not guaranteed [7] [8].

For local questions it may use your approximate location and third-party business listings [7].

How does Google choose places for AI Overviews and AI Mode?

Google says the normal search rules apply: no additional requirements or special optimisations, and the page must be indexed and able to show with a snippet [9]. No AI text files or special markup are needed .

Google advises keeping your Business Profile up to date and making structured data match what the page shows [9].

How does Google Maps choose which places to show?

Mainly on relevance, distance and prominence [6]. Complete, accurate information and more reviews help, and prominence includes how many websites link to the business . Nobody can pay for a better place .

How does Copilot choose places to stay?

Copilot relies on the same crawling and indexing as Bing search, and nothing guarantees a citation [2]. Bing asks for clear, consistent names and important information visible on the page itself , and calls showing crawlers something different from what people see a manipulative practice .

How do Perplexity and Claude choose their sources?

Perplexity recommends allowing its crawler, PerplexityBot, and cites the original sources in every answer [3]. Anthropic says blocking Claude-SearchBot may reduce a site’s visibility [10], and Claude’s answers that use web search include citations [5].

Do Apple Maps and Siri use your business details?

Yes: Apple says a business’s place card appears in Maps and Siri [11].

What the AI assistant companies say in common

More answers for lodge owners

What we do for a place to stay, for one flat monthly fee: the Playbook.

Sources for this page

  1. OpenAI, Introducing ChatGPT search. Dated 31 October 2024; checked 22 October 2026.
  2. Bing Webmaster Guidelines. No date shown; checked 22 October 2026.
  3. Perplexity, Crawlers and How does Perplexity work. Dated 28 August 2026; checked 22 October 2026.
  4. Microsoft Support, Copilot privacy FAQ. No date shown; checked 22 October 2026.
  5. Anthropic Help, Enable and use web search. No date shown; checked 22 October 2026.
  6. Google Business Profile Help, local ranking. No date shown; checked 22 October 2026.
  7. OpenAI Help, Searching the web with ChatGPT. Dated 20 October 2026; checked 22 October 2026.
  8. OpenAI, Overview of OpenAI crawlers. No date shown; checked 22 October 2026.
  9. Google Search Central, AI features and your website. Dated 10 December 2025; checked 22 October 2026.
  10. Anthropic Help, crawling and blocking. Dated 7 April 2026; checked 22 October 2026.
  11. Apple Business user guide. No date shown; checked 22 October 2026.