{
  "schema_version": "1.0",
  "record_type": "research_findings",
  "language": "en",
  "source": {
    "title": "Which Hotels Do AI Engines Recommend? A Study of 10 Destinations",
    "publisher": "Americas Great Resorts",
    "url": "https://www.americasgreatresorts.net/ai-hotel-recommendations-research/"
  },
  "study_scope": {
    "collection_date": "2026-09-27",
    "destinations": 10,
    "questions": 100,
    "questions_per_destination": 10,
    "shared_intents": [
      "general hotel discovery",
      "luxury",
      "couples",
      "families",
      "boutique hotels",
      "spas",
      "dining",
      "service"
    ],
    "local_questions_per_destination": 2,
    "engines": [
      "ChatGPT",
      "Google AI Mode",
      "Gemini",
      "Copilot"
    ],
    "repetitions_per_question_engine": 3,
    "substantive_answers": 1177,
    "featured_hotel_appearances": 6110,
    "complete_question_engine_groups": 379,
    "appearance_rule": "Count an identifiable featured hotel at most once per answer. Normalize clear name variants, confirmed rebrands and accommodation collections within the same hotel. Credit identifiable joint recommendations individually and assign clearly identified hotel spas to their parent properties. Exclude ambiguous brand references and names appearing only in citations, ancillary metadata or incidental prose.",
    "hotel_set_match_definition": "Identical hotel membership, irrespective of order or wording."
  },
  "findings": [
    {
      "id": "september-2026#destination-leaders",
      "kind": "finding",
      "topic": "destination-leadership",
      "claim": "The observed leaders varied by destination. The Peninsula Chicago appeared in 96 of 118 Chicago answers and Halekulani in 91 of 118 Honolulu answers.",
      "evidence": {
        "exhibit_id": "destination-top-three",
        "property_examples": [
          {
            "destination": "Chicago",
            "property": "The Peninsula Chicago",
            "appearances": 96,
            "assessed_answers": 118
          },
          {
            "destination": "Honolulu / Waikīkī",
            "property": "Halekulani",
            "appearances": 91,
            "assessed_answers": 118
          }
        ]
      },
      "source_location": "The hotels that appeared most often in each destination",
      "limitation": "Small observed margins may not persist. Counts are specific to each destination."
    },
    {
      "id": "september-2026#engine-leaders",
      "kind": "finding",
      "topic": "engine-variation",
      "claim": "Nine of ten destinations had differing leaders across engines. Halekulani led all four in Honolulu.",
      "evidence": {
        "destinations_with_differing_engine_leaders": 9,
        "total_destinations": 10,
        "unanimous_destination": "Honolulu / Waikīkī",
        "property": "Halekulani",
        "exhibit_id": "engine-leaders"
      },
      "source_location": "Different AI engines produce different hotel leaders",
      "limitation": "Agreement on the leader does not establish agreement on the rest of the list."
    },
    {
      "id": "september-2026#orlando-intent",
      "kind": "finding",
      "topic": "traveler-intent",
      "claim": "Orlando's most featured hotel varied with the travel question.",
      "evidence": {
        "assessed_answers_per_intent": 12,
        "exhibit_id": "orlando-intents",
        "examples": [
          {
            "intent": "Families",
            "property": "JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes",
            "appearances": 10,
            "assessed_answers": 12
          },
          {
            "intent": "Boutique",
            "property": "The Delaney Hotel",
            "appearances": 12,
            "assessed_answers": 12
          },
          {
            "intent": "Disney World",
            "property": "Waldorf Astoria Orlando",
            "appearances": 12,
            "assessed_answers": 12
          }
        ]
      },
      "source_location": "How travel intent changes hotel recommendations: an Orlando example",
      "limitation": "Appearances do not independently verify hotel amenities or suitability."
    },
    {
      "id": "september-2026#same-day-variation",
      "kind": "finding",
      "topic": "hotel-set-repeatability",
      "claim": "Hotel membership changed at least once in 363 of 379 groups with three assessed answers.",
      "evidence": {
        "eligible_groups": 379,
        "same_set_all_three": 16,
        "changed_at_least_once": 363,
        "exhibit_id": "same-day-repeatability"
      },
      "source_location": "Repeating the same question often changed the hotel list",
      "limitation": "A single added or removed property changes the set. This was a same-day comparison."
    }
  ],
  "exhibits": {
    "destination-top-three": {
      "title": "Three most frequently featured hotels by destination",
      "rows": [
        {
          "destination": "New York City",
          "property": "Mandarin Oriental, New York",
          "appearances": 50,
          "assessed_answers": 120
        },
        {
          "destination": "New York City",
          "property": "The Peninsula New York",
          "appearances": 36,
          "assessed_answers": 120
        },
        {
          "destination": "New York City",
          "property": "Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park",
          "appearances": 35,
          "assessed_answers": 120
        },
        {
          "destination": "Miami area",
          "property": "The Setai, Miami Beach",
          "appearances": 51,
          "assessed_answers": 117
        },
        {
          "destination": "Miami area",
          "property": "Faena Miami Beach",
          "appearances": 49,
          "assessed_answers": 117
        },
        {
          "destination": "Miami area",
          "property": "Four Seasons Hotel Miami",
          "appearances": 45,
          "assessed_answers": 117
        },
        {
          "destination": "Las Vegas",
          "property": "Wynn Las Vegas",
          "appearances": 67,
          "assessed_answers": 116
        },
        {
          "destination": "Las Vegas",
          "property": "Bellagio Hotel & Casino",
          "appearances": 66,
          "assessed_answers": 116
        },
        {
          "destination": "Las Vegas",
          "property": "Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas",
          "appearances": 59,
          "assessed_answers": 116
        },
        {
          "destination": "Chicago",
          "property": "The Peninsula Chicago",
          "appearances": 96,
          "assessed_answers": 118
        },
        {
          "destination": "Chicago",
          "property": "The Langham, Chicago",
          "appearances": 67,
          "assessed_answers": 118
        },
        {
          "destination": "Chicago",
          "property": "Four Seasons Hotel Chicago",
          "appearances": 66,
          "assessed_answers": 118
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Angeles area",
          "property": "Hotel Bel-Air",
          "appearances": 54,
          "assessed_answers": 116
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Angeles area",
          "property": "The Beverly Hills Hotel",
          "appearances": 52,
          "assessed_answers": 116
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Angeles area",
          "property": "Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills",
          "appearances": 49,
          "assessed_answers": 116
        },
        {
          "destination": "Orlando area",
          "property": "Four Seasons Orlando",
          "appearances": 77,
          "assessed_answers": 120
        },
        {
          "destination": "Orlando area",
          "property": "Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes",
          "appearances": 75,
          "assessed_answers": 120
        },
        {
          "destination": "Orlando area",
          "property": "Waldorf Astoria Orlando",
          "appearances": 60,
          "assessed_answers": 120
        },
        {
          "destination": "Cancún / Costa Mujeres",
          "property": "Excellence Playa Mujeres",
          "appearances": 64,
          "assessed_answers": 116
        },
        {
          "destination": "Cancún / Costa Mujeres",
          "property": "Atelier Playa Mujeres",
          "appearances": 54,
          "assessed_answers": 116
        },
        {
          "destination": "Cancún / Costa Mujeres",
          "property": "Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun",
          "appearances": 50,
          "assessed_answers": 116
        },
        {
          "destination": "Punta Cana",
          "property": "Tortuga Bay",
          "appearances": 56,
          "assessed_answers": 117
        },
        {
          "destination": "Punta Cana",
          "property": "Eden Roc Cap Cana",
          "appearances": 53,
          "assessed_answers": 117
        },
        {
          "destination": "Punta Cana",
          "property": "Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa",
          "appearances": 49,
          "assessed_answers": 117
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Cabos",
          "property": "Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal",
          "appearances": 72,
          "assessed_answers": 119
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Cabos",
          "property": "One&Only Palmilla",
          "appearances": 64,
          "assessed_answers": 119
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Cabos",
          "property": "Montage Los Cabos",
          "appearances": 61,
          "assessed_answers": 119
        },
        {
          "destination": "Honolulu / Waikīkī",
          "property": "Halekulani",
          "appearances": 91,
          "assessed_answers": 118
        },
        {
          "destination": "Honolulu / Waikīkī",
          "property": "The Kahala",
          "appearances": 73,
          "assessed_answers": 118
        },
        {
          "destination": "Honolulu / Waikīkī",
          "property": "The Royal Hawaiian",
          "appearances": 73,
          "assessed_answers": 118
        }
      ]
    },
    "engine-leaders": {
      "title": "Leading hotels by destination and engine, including ties",
      "rows": [
        {
          "destination": "New York City",
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "property": "Mandarin Oriental, New York",
          "appearances": 18,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "New York City",
          "engine": "Google AI Mode",
          "property": "The Greenwich Hotel",
          "appearances": 19,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "New York City",
          "engine": "Gemini",
          "property": "Mandarin Oriental, New York",
          "appearances": 14,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "New York City",
          "engine": "Copilot",
          "property": "Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park",
          "appearances": 15,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Miami area",
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "property": "The Setai, Miami Beach",
          "appearances": 20,
          "assessed_answers": 29
        },
        {
          "destination": "Miami area",
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "property": "Faena Miami Beach",
          "appearances": 20,
          "assessed_answers": 29
        },
        {
          "destination": "Miami area",
          "engine": "Google AI Mode",
          "property": "Four Seasons Hotel at The Surf Club",
          "appearances": 14,
          "assessed_answers": 28
        },
        {
          "destination": "Miami area",
          "engine": "Gemini",
          "property": "The Setai, Miami Beach",
          "appearances": 15,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Miami area",
          "engine": "Copilot",
          "property": "Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Miami",
          "appearances": 21,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Las Vegas",
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "property": "Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas",
          "appearances": 27,
          "assessed_answers": 28
        },
        {
          "destination": "Las Vegas",
          "engine": "Google AI Mode",
          "property": "Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas",
          "appearances": 22,
          "assessed_answers": 28
        },
        {
          "destination": "Las Vegas",
          "engine": "Gemini",
          "property": "Bellagio Hotel & Casino",
          "appearances": 21,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Las Vegas",
          "engine": "Copilot",
          "property": "Bellagio Hotel & Casino",
          "appearances": 24,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Chicago",
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "property": "The Langham, Chicago",
          "appearances": 28,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Chicago",
          "engine": "Google AI Mode",
          "property": "The Peninsula Chicago",
          "appearances": 21,
          "assessed_answers": 28
        },
        {
          "destination": "Chicago",
          "engine": "Gemini",
          "property": "The Peninsula Chicago",
          "appearances": 25,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Chicago",
          "engine": "Copilot",
          "property": "The Peninsula Chicago",
          "appearances": 25,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Angeles area",
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "property": "Hotel Bel-Air",
          "appearances": 21,
          "assessed_answers": 28
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Angeles area",
          "engine": "Google AI Mode",
          "property": "The Beverly Hills Hotel",
          "appearances": 14,
          "assessed_answers": 29
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Angeles area",
          "engine": "Gemini",
          "property": "The London West Hollywood",
          "appearances": 11,
          "assessed_answers": 29
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Angeles area",
          "engine": "Copilot",
          "property": "Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills",
          "appearances": 20,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Orlando area",
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "property": "Four Seasons Orlando",
          "appearances": 27,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Orlando area",
          "engine": "Google AI Mode",
          "property": "Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes",
          "appearances": 18,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Orlando area",
          "engine": "Gemini",
          "property": "JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes",
          "appearances": 19,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Orlando area",
          "engine": "Copilot",
          "property": "Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes",
          "appearances": 20,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Cancún / Costa Mujeres",
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "property": "Atelier Playa Mujeres",
          "appearances": 20,
          "assessed_answers": 29
        },
        {
          "destination": "Cancún / Costa Mujeres",
          "engine": "Google AI Mode",
          "property": "Atelier Playa Mujeres",
          "appearances": 20,
          "assessed_answers": 28
        },
        {
          "destination": "Cancún / Costa Mujeres",
          "engine": "Gemini",
          "property": "Excellence Playa Mujeres",
          "appearances": 21,
          "assessed_answers": 29
        },
        {
          "destination": "Cancún / Costa Mujeres",
          "engine": "Copilot",
          "property": "Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun",
          "appearances": 18,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Punta Cana",
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "property": "Tortuga Bay",
          "appearances": 17,
          "assessed_answers": 28
        },
        {
          "destination": "Punta Cana",
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "property": "Secrets Cap Cana Resort & Spa",
          "appearances": 17,
          "assessed_answers": 28
        },
        {
          "destination": "Punta Cana",
          "engine": "Google AI Mode",
          "property": "Tortuga Bay",
          "appearances": 17,
          "assessed_answers": 29
        },
        {
          "destination": "Punta Cana",
          "engine": "Gemini",
          "property": "Eden Roc Cap Cana",
          "appearances": 14,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Punta Cana",
          "engine": "Copilot",
          "property": "Eden Roc Cap Cana",
          "appearances": 18,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Cabos",
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "property": "Montage Los Cabos",
          "appearances": 28,
          "assessed_answers": 29
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Cabos",
          "engine": "Google AI Mode",
          "property": "Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal",
          "appearances": 20,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Cabos",
          "engine": "Gemini",
          "property": "Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal",
          "appearances": 15,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Cabos",
          "engine": "Gemini",
          "property": "Nobu Hotel Los Cabos",
          "appearances": 15,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Los Cabos",
          "engine": "Copilot",
          "property": "One&Only Palmilla",
          "appearances": 18,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Honolulu / Waikīkī",
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "property": "Halekulani",
          "appearances": 27,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Honolulu / Waikīkī",
          "engine": "Google AI Mode",
          "property": "Halekulani",
          "appearances": 26,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        },
        {
          "destination": "Honolulu / Waikīkī",
          "engine": "Gemini",
          "property": "Halekulani",
          "appearances": 15,
          "assessed_answers": 28
        },
        {
          "destination": "Honolulu / Waikīkī",
          "engine": "Copilot",
          "property": "Halekulani",
          "appearances": 23,
          "assessed_answers": 30
        }
      ]
    },
    "orlando-intents": {
      "title": "Orlando leaders by travel intent",
      "rows": [
        {
          "intent": "General discovery",
          "property": "Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes",
          "appearances": 9,
          "assessed_answers": 12
        },
        {
          "intent": "Luxury discovery",
          "property": "Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes",
          "appearances": 12,
          "assessed_answers": 12
        },
        {
          "intent": "Couples",
          "property": "Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes",
          "appearances": 11,
          "assessed_answers": 12
        },
        {
          "intent": "Families",
          "property": "JW Marriott Orlando, Grande Lakes",
          "appearances": 10,
          "assessed_answers": 12
        },
        {
          "intent": "Boutique",
          "property": "The Delaney Hotel",
          "appearances": 12,
          "assessed_answers": 12
        },
        {
          "intent": "Spa",
          "property": "Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes",
          "appearances": 12,
          "assessed_answers": 12
        },
        {
          "intent": "Dining",
          "property": "Four Seasons Orlando",
          "appearances": 11,
          "assessed_answers": 12
        },
        {
          "intent": "Service",
          "property": "Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes",
          "appearances": 11,
          "assessed_answers": 12
        },
        {
          "intent": "Disney World",
          "property": "Waldorf Astoria Orlando",
          "appearances": 12,
          "assessed_answers": 12
        },
        {
          "intent": "Water parks",
          "property": "Four Seasons Orlando",
          "appearances": 10,
          "assessed_answers": 12
        }
      ]
    },
    "same-day-repeatability": {
      "title": "Hotel-set repeatability by engine",
      "rows": [
        {
          "engine": "ChatGPT",
          "eligible_groups": 91,
          "same_set_all_three": 3,
          "changed_at_least_once": 88
        },
        {
          "engine": "Google AI Mode",
          "eligible_groups": 91,
          "same_set_all_three": 2,
          "changed_at_least_once": 89
        },
        {
          "engine": "Gemini",
          "eligible_groups": 97,
          "same_set_all_three": 3,
          "changed_at_least_once": 94
        },
        {
          "engine": "Copilot",
          "eligible_groups": 100,
          "same_set_all_three": 8,
          "changed_at_least_once": 92
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "interpretation_limits": [
    "Observed frequencies apply to the tested upscale prompts and answers. They do not measure booking performance, market share, hotel quality, or a traveler's future probability of seeing a hotel.",
    "Model versions, personalization and internal retrieval were not uniformly controlled.",
    "Nearby properties can appear in destination results. Results do not certify geography or endorse a hotel.",
    "Visible citations do not establish why a property was recommended. This study did not measure link-destination frequencies."
  ],
  "related_research": [
    {
      "title": "Does AI Recommend the Same Hotels Five Weeks Later?",
      "relationship": "Follow-up using the same question matrix",
      "url": "https://www.americasgreatresorts.net/ai-hotel-recommendations-five-weeks-later/"
    },
    {
      "title": "The AGR Luxury Hotel AI Visibility Index",
      "relationship": "Separate study with different questions, platforms and counting rules",
      "pool_with_this_study": false
    }
  ]
}