Is AI Recommending Your Restaurant?

More people are asking ChatGPT, Gemini and other AI tools where to eat. Here's how to make sure your venue is part of the conversation.

Remember when the goal was to rank on the first page of Google?

That's still important, but it's no longer the whole story.

Today, people are increasingly asking AI assistants questions like:

• Where's the best brunch in Auckland?
• Find me a dog-friendly café in Queenstown.
• Which restaurants near me cater for gluten-free diets?
• What's a good family-friendly restaurant in Melbourne?

Instead of scrolling through pages of search results, they're expecting AI to recommend a handful of venues that best match what they need.

So here's the question:

Would AI recommend your business?

How AI decides which restaurants to recommend

AI doesn't visit your restaurant. It learns about your business by pulling together information from your website, Google Business Profile, review sites, online directories and other public sources.

If that information is clear, consistent and up to date, AI is much more likely to understand your venue and recommend it when it's relevant.

If it's vague, outdated or inconsistent, AI may choose a competitor instead.

Think of it like this:

Can AI...

• Find your business?

• Understand what you offer?

• Trust the information it finds?

• Recommend you to the right customer?

Those four questions form the foundation of Tourism New Zealand's AI Discoverability framework, and they're just as relevant for hospitality businesses.

Start with one clear description

If there was only one thing you could improve today, make it this.

Write one simple, accurate description of your business that becomes the "source of truth" everywhere else.

Include:

• Your business name
• Your location
• What you serve
• Who it's for
• What makes you different

For example:

Don't do this:

❌ An unforgettable dining experience.

or

❌ The best café in town.

Instead, try something like:

Vincent Van Dough is a Dutch-inspired bakery in the heart of Queenstown, serving artisan breads, traditional Dutch treats like stroopwafels and boterkoek, handcrafted pastries, specialty coffee and seasonal brunch, with vegetarian and gluten-free options available.

See the difference?

Specific information helps both customers and AI understand exactly what you offer.

Replace marketing fluff with useful facts

Hospitality websites often rely on phrases like:

• Award-winning
• World-class
• Unforgettable
• Sustainable
• Authentic

The problem?

Those words don't tell customers (or AI) very much.

Instead, be specific.

Rather than saying:

We serve incredible seafood.

Try:

We source fresh seafood from local suppliers and change our menu daily based on seasonal availability.

Rather than saying:

Family friendly.

Say:

High chairs are available, kids' meals are offered daily, and outdoor seating provides space for prams.

The more specific your information, the easier it is for AI to recommend your venue to the right people.

Answer the questions customers ask every day

Think about the phone calls and emails your team receives.

How often do people ask:

• Do you take bookings?
• Are you dog friendly?
• Do you cater for gluten-free or vegan diets?
• Is there parking?
• Can you accommodate large groups?
• Are you open on public holidays? And is there a surcharge for this?

If customers ask these questions regularly, they should already be answered on your website.

Better still, create a Frequently Asked Questions section.

Not only does this help customers, it also gives AI more useful information to work with.

Keep your information consistent

Imagine your Google Business Profile says you're open until 9pm.

Facebook says 8pm.

Your website says 10pm.

Which one should AI believe?

Consistency builds confidence.

Take half an hour to check that your:

• Opening hours
• Phone number
• Website
• Address
• Menu links
• Booking links

are consistent across every platform where your business appears.

Reviews are more valuable than ever

Customer reviews aren't just social proof anymore. They also help AI understand what your business is known for.

If reviewers consistently mention:

• fantastic coffee
• friendly staff
• generous portions
• great gluten-free options
• beautiful lake views

those themes reinforce how your business is described online.

Reviews can also reveal gaps.

If customers repeatedly ask the same question in reviews, it's probably information that's missing from your website.

Let AI help, but always check its work

One of the best uses of AI is improving your own content. It can help you:

• Rewrite website copy
• Draft FAQs
• Simplify menus
• Brainstorm blog ideas
• Improve readability
• Identify missing information

But it shouldn't be your source of truth.

Always check facts, opening hours, menu details, pricing and policies before publishing anything AI creates.

Think of AI as a helpful assistant, not your marketing manager.

A quick AI discoverability checklist

Spend 30 minutes this week checking:

☐ Is your Google Business Profile complete?

☐ Does your homepage clearly explain what you offer?

☐ Are your opening hours consistent everywhere?

☐ Do you mention dietary options?

☐ Are your menus current?

☐ Do you answer your most common customer questions?

☐ Are your booking links working?

☐ Would someone who'd never visited your venue understand exactly what makes you different?

The bottom line

Search is changing. People aren't just typing into Google anymore. They're asking AI for recommendations, comparisons and personalised suggestions.

The good news is you don't need to become an AI expert to keep up.

By making your business information clear, accurate and consistent, you're making it easier for both customers and AI to understand exactly what you offer.

And if AI can understand your business, it's much more likely to recommend it.