Flywheel news | April 2026 hotel digital marketing news

1. Organic social media best practices for 2026: How brands can win with consistency, quality, and authentic engagement

As organic social continues to evolve, one thing remains true. Hotels that show up consistently and authentically build stronger communities, deeper loyalty, and more meaningful long-term customer relationships. Whether you are building awareness, nurturing current audiences, or carving out your presence in niche communities, a strategic approach will elevate your digital ecosystem. Read more on tactic tips to improve your organic presence.

2. YouTube testing new search experience, Ask YouTube

Google announced that a new feature is being tested for YouTube premium members 18+ in the US who are opted in called “Ask YouTube.” This new feature likes users diving deeper into topics of interest in a more interactive way. Based on questions like “help me plan a 3-day road trip from San Francisco to Santa Barbara” will pull up structured itineraries in states of a list of videos, bringing together a mix of videos, shorts, and informative text. Why does this matter? AI search continues to creep into every facet of search across Google, and showcases just another way your property could be seen on this social channel. Read more.

3. AEO vs GEO for hotels and resorts: What’s the difference?

AI is reshaping how travelers discover hotels and resorts. Traditional search rankings still matter, but AI-powered answer engines and generative platforms are changing how visibility works. For hospitality marketing leaders focused on increasing direct bookings, understanding the difference between AEO and GEO is no longer optional. It is foundational. We’ve put together a comprehensive guide on how answer engine optimization and generative engine optimization differ and can be applied together in tandem. Learn more.

4. [Ebook] Designing emails for Dark Mode

Dark mode is no longer a niche preference on your browser; it’s more commonly a default experience for a growing share of users, especially on mobile. In fact, around 40% of email opens now happen in dark mode. This means if you aren’t incorporating design choices aimed to function in dark mark, you are serving a large chunk of your database a poor user experience from the moment they click open. Learn more about how to design emails for dark mode and what to look out for here.

5. From chaos to clarity: The new era of hospitality data transparency

Hotels have never had more data at their disposal. PMS reports, CRS exports, Google Ads dashboards, OTA extranets, the list goes on. But more data hasn’t meant more clarity. Instead, it’s created chaos. The solution? GCommerce Solutions’ Roll-Up APIs are purpose-built for the complexity of hospitality data. The result? A single, real-time source of truth. Read more here.

6. LinkedIn is rewriting the rules of visibility

LinkedIn is shifting from a purely social platform to a key source for AI-driven discovery. As tools like ChatGPT increasingly cite LinkedIn content, experts in the field like AJ Wilcox have seen AI referrals generate 30–40% of leads, making optimization for both humans and AI essential. Short-form posts still drive immediate engagement but tend to fade away within days, while long-form content (like newsletter articles) remains accessible to AI indefinitely. AJ notes that marketers should prioritize clear, audience-focused writing and create verifiable, trustworthy content. Meanwhile, LinkedIn’s evolving ad tools and reduced tolerance for automation signal a broader shift toward authentic, high-quality engagement. Read more here.

Flywheel news | March 2026 hotel digital marketing news | GCommerce

1. How to rank your hotel higher on Google

Getting your property to the top of the search engine results page (SERP) can increase traffic to your website and net more direct bookings. However, to get your property to the top of relevant searches, you need to implement strategies that show Google that your site has exactly what its users want: helpful, reliable, quality, people-first content. With a tried and true three-pronged approach from GCommerce, your property can maintain a people-first approach to improve search engine ranking. Read more here.

2. What Meta’s latest attribution changes mean for your reporting

Meta recently quietly released an update on how ad performance is measured within the platform by changing their attribution models and adding in incremental attribution. The reasoning behind this update was to provide a more clear picture on which conversions actually happened because of your ad, compared to which ads contributed to a conversion. In turn, users could see a decline in traditional ROAS for data after April 1, 2025. The update also changes how clicks are measured and removes actions such as likes, shares, and photo clicks. While this hasn’t been rolled out to all accounts yet, GCommerce will continue to research the updates fully and make strategic recommendations based on the new attribution findings. Read more here.

3. The importance of guest sentiment and reviews in driving local SEO success for hotels in the age of AI

Customer reviews and star ratings have long been critical for local businesses, including hotels, shaping visibility in search results and influencing potential customers’ choices. While traditional search remains important, AI-powered tools such as Google AI Mode, Gemini, Perplexity, and ChatGPT are changing how reviews influence decision-making. Reviews are no longer just something that appears on the listing; they are analyzed, summarized, and highlighted which plays a direct role in user perception. To learn more about integrating review management into your marketing strategy, read more here.

4. Automated traffic now exceeds human activity across the web

A recent report states that automated traffic grew 23.5% YOY, compared to just 3.1% for human traffic, and AI appears to be the main driver behind that, according to HUMAN Security. Why is this important? Each year search behaviors continue to be shaped more and more by non-human queries as AI agents can now participate in discovery, comparison, and transactions with nearly 2% of those agents completing checkout flows. This means that optimization needs to include which machines can access, interpret, and act on your content. Read more.

5. The role of color psychology in hospitality marketing

First impressions in hospitality are formed within seconds, often before guests are consciously aware. From a digital advertisement to the hotel lobby, people start evaluating their surroundings almost immediately. Color plays a major role in this process, serving as a powerful tool for shaping guest expectations and experiences. Understanding how color psychology works can be applied to your marketing campaigns and across your digital channels, leading the user to perform certain actions or a feel a certain way. Overall, it reinforces your brand and the specific feelings you want your user to associate with your hotel. Learn more here.

Flywheel news | February 2026 hotel digital marketing news | GCommerce

1. ChatGPT ads spotted and they are quite aggressive

Some of the first ads have been spotted by U.S. users in ChatGPT, but the already look much different than the company originally envisioned. So far the ads are appearing after the very first prompt and not after lengthy conversions as many originally predicted. Instead, when a users asked “What’s the best way to book a weekend away?”, sponsored placements appeared immediately. This is important because it means OpenAI is treating these single prompts, not conversations, as viable inventory and a signal for advertisers on where to place budget. GCommerce will continue to monitor the emergence of ads on ChatGPT and direct recommendations from these findings. Read more.

2. How to write AI Search optimized content for hotels

Getting your hotel’s content and brand included in generative AI answer engines for relevant prompts comes down to ensuring it’s crawlable, well-structured, answers questions concisely and directly, and is contextually rich. But how does your hotel produce or revise its content to ensure it’s best structured for visibility in AI search engines? Check out our guide for how to write content that is well optimized for AI search engines without ignoring the importance of traditional SEO, an essential part of brand success and bookings. Read more.

3. The real risk of AI-generated content

The use of AI in every day tasks continues to be on the rise, and one of its biggest uses is with content creation. However, the evidence continues to show that low-quality AI content can tank your online visibility as Google and Bing continue to crack down through advanced detection algorithms. Essentially, using AI as a writing assistant is still fine and great, but publishing raw AI output without introducing a human element can backfire. When it comes to how to use AI content safely, it’s always recommended to focus on quality, never publish what AI gives you without editing and adding a human touch, insert your own insights and context to the content, and view AI as an assistant and not your replacement. Read the full report here.

4. Improving AI search visibility: A practical action guide for your hotel

Like many other marketing channels, the factors that impact AI search visibility fall under a variety of categories and optimizations, requiring a comprehensive multi-channel strategy to achieve success. But don’t let that scare you! While AI search visibility isn’t an exact science, there are plenty of things you can do to improve your hotel’s standings. View our list of the most important actions to take when improving your AI Search visibility here. 

5. Bing Webmaster Tools is rolling out an “AI Performance” report

Recently Bing Webmaster Tools announced that they are implementing a new AI Performance report, something huge that other major tech companies are not doing. Within the dashboard it’s reported that you’ll be able to see average cited pages, key phrases used when AI was used to generate an answer, a timeline of your citations activity, and page level citations. Why does this matter? As SEOs we can finally receive some data on how we show up in Bing’s AI features, and could potentially force other companies to follow suit. GCommerce will stay diligent as this feature rolls out and provide recommendations on best uses moving forward. Read more.

Flywheel news | January 2026 hotel digital marketing news | GCommerce

1. ChatGPT ads come with premium prices–and limited data

A few months ago ChatGPT announced the addition of ads into their interface which certainly caught our attention. While details have been vague ever since, a report released last week showcased that OpenAI’s pricing for ChatGPT ads will come with a hefty price tag. Estimated at about $60 per 1,000 impressions (CPM), this places the cost of advertising on the platform nearly three times higher than a typical CPM on Meta. Despite the cost advertisers will only receive high-level reporting on metrics like impressions or clicks, but no bottom-of-funnel reporting. Bottom line, while GCommerce will remain aware of opportunities to test the ad beta in the coming weeks, it’s also important to consider the tradeoff for awareness when it comes to cost and success visibility. Read more here.

2. Hotel visibility in AI search results: Where to start

Visibility in AI search results is a vital piece of your hotel’s success within the current marketing landscape. But with AEO being a hot topic on everyone’s minds lately, it can be hard to understand how to improve your hotel’s standings. AI models assess a variety of factors when digesting data and generating responses, including your website’s structure, local business listings, your social media engagement, schema, and much more! Learn from the experts some of the top ways to help increase your property’s visibility within AI search results. 

3. How to write AI search optimized content for hotels

Getting your hotel’s content and brand included in generative AI answer engines for relevant prompts comes down to ensuring it’s crawlable, well-structured, answers questions concisely and directly, and is contextually rich. But how does your hotel produce or revise its content to ensure it’s best structured for visibility in AI search engines? Our team has put together this guide on how to write content that is well optimized for AI search engines, but doesn’t ignore the importance of traditional search engine optimization, which is still an essential tool for brand success and bookings. Learn more here.

4. How your hotel can get started with organic Reddit marketing

When most hotel brands think about social media, Reddit is not the first platform that comes to mind. But with more than 70 million daily active users spread across thousands of niche communities, it is one of the most influential spaces online. Unlike Instagram or Facebook, Reddit thrives on honesty and conversation. This is one of the reasons why it’s been shown as one of the top cited sources within AI search visibility. If you are considering adding Reddit to your hotel’s digital marketing strategy, the smartest first step is building an organic presence. Here is how your hotel can get started.

5. [On-demand webinar] How AI is reshaping the inspiration to booking journey for hotels and resorts

AI is reshaping how travelers plan and book with nearly a billion people using tools like ChatGPT in the trip planning process. With this on-demand webinar you will learn why travel behavior feels unpredictable, how AI assistance influences bookings, more about the rise of zero-click search, and how to prepare your property for Answer Engine Optimization. Watch here.

Flywheel news | December 2025 hotel digital marketing news | GCommerce

1. Google Search Console average position dropping back down

A few months ago we shared that the average position sharply increased for many sites when Google made that number 100 change blocking a lot of automated queries. Now it’s being reported that for many sites the number is dropping again, signaling that there may be a workaround for blocking the bots and automated queries. Earlier in December many sites were seeing a drop in their average position while impressions skyrocketed again, and marketer Glenn Gabe speculates some scrapers are now getting through. Armed with this information, GCommerce remains diligent in reviewing Search Console data for all clients and will provide updates as needed. Learn more.

2. 2026 digital marketing trends & predictions for hotels and resorts

As we step into 2026, hospitality marketing is entering a new era shaped by connected data, transparent pricing, first-party intelligence, and metasearch performance. Travelers now expect immediate answers, consistent rates across channels, and personalized experiences rooted in real intent. While that may seem like a lot to keep track of, we’ve outlined a 2026 forecast of trends to showcase how we anticipate marketing to evolve in the New Year. Learn more.

3. How your property can show up in GEN AI search results

GEN AI search, built using LLMs or large language models, are quickly becoming the new front door for travel discovery. Instead of scrolling through ten pages of links, guests are now asking GEN AI-powered search engines for personal recommendations, trip plans, and the best properties for specific needs. While this shift creates opportunity for hotels and resorts, it can be hard to know where to start. The experts at GCommerce have presented an easy start-guide of how a hotel can strengthen their presence across GEN AI and increase direct bookings. Read more here.

4. Google: Optimization for AI Search is the same as for traditional search

In a recent interview Nick Fox, SVP of Knowledge and Information at Google, stated that optimization for AI search is the same as what you do for web search and traditional SEO. While there has always been a lot of evidence to support this claim, hearing it from a key player at Google solidifies the strategies that many marketers already had in place. The article also dives into some key takeaways on how to better rank for AI in Search (great content = great site) and learnings from the first several months of AI Mode. Read more.

5. The future of travel is Gen-Z: Smart tech, self-care, and social discovery

Skyscanner, a leading global travel booking site, recently released their 2026 travel trends report, highlighting cultural forces and emerging behaviors defining how Gen-Z will travel in the coming year. Key takeaways included that a large majority of the general are planning more trips abroad in 2026 than previous years, 40% of Gen-Z seek beauty treatments and stores while traveling (#BeautyTok), more young people are using travel to meet people, and the use of AI to plan and book trips continues to rise. Learn more.

Flywheel news | November 2025 hotel digital marketing news | GCommerce

1. FAQs: Everything hoteliers need to know about hotel metasearch

Hotel metasearch platforms are an essential tool for hoteliers looking to increase visibility, drive direct bookings, and enhance their digital marketing strategies. To help you navigate this dynamic space, we’ve compiled answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about metasearch and how it can benefit your property. Read more here.

2. The hospitality data platform: What it means and why hotels should care

Every hotel marketer knows the challenge. There’s more data than ever, but it lives everywhere and connects nowhere. The hospitality data platform changes that. It is more than a reporting tool. It is an intelligent infrastructure built to unify the information that drives performance—media, bookings, operations, and market insights—into a single, connected ecosystem. Learn more about the importance of hospitality data platforms here.

3. [Ebook] Mastering Meta Audience Segmentation for better ROAS

Meta’s audience tools offer a wide range of targeting possibilities, but knowing which segments actually improve performance can feel unclear. Based on a large sample size of clients, we analyzed how different audience types behave and the best ways to use them for campaign success. Find out more here.

4. Google Ads in AI Mode results in the wild

Back in May Google shared that ads were being tested in AI Mode, and now more and more users are reportedly seeing them in their own AI Mode results showing that the testing is being accelerated. Why is this important? Ads in AI Mode could reshape visibility, click-through rates, and the general search experience while proving that AI Mode is slowly becoming a viable ad channel. GCommerce will continue to monitor and advise as this new ad expansion continues to gain prominence. Learn more.

5. Google extends AI travel planning and agentic booking in search

Google recently announced three AI-powered updates to Search that will change the game with trip planning and booking travel. Launching are Canvas for travel planning, expanded flight deals globally, and new agentic booking capabilities to connect users directly with reservation partners. Why does this matter? Google handling every phase of trip planning within its own interfaces removes the need for users to visit multiple publisher sites and booking platforms for researching and comparing options, something that could impact direct bookings. However, Google stated, “We’re committed to partnering with travel companies of every size so you have all the best.” This provides hope for the future success of direct bookings. GCommerce will remain on top of any new changes and measure their impact in the coming months. Learn more here.

6. Seeing the whole picture: Why channel-level matters for hotel marketing

Every hotel marketer faces the same dilemma: where should we put the next dollar? Paid search, metasearch, social, display, retargeting, video — the options are endless. The problem is that channels are usually measured in isolation. Paid search may look strong on clicks, metasearch may boast high ROAS, and display may drive awareness. But without seeing all channels together, decisions are made in the dark. Read more about why channel-level data matters for decision making.