--- title: "How to Get Your Hotel Recommended by AI — 36% of Korean Travelers Already Ask ChatGPT" description: "How to Get Your Hotel Recommended by AI — 36% of Korean Travelers Already Ask ChatGPT..." published: 2026-05-28T00:00:00+00:00 author: "ONDA 편집팀" category: "Weekly ON" image: "https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/6a17be0facea3cfe4df1fa1f_6a17bdf18c3a0d8f46919bf9_cover.png" canonical: https://onda.me/en/blog?slug=weeklyon-vol-168 locale: en --- # How to Get Your Hotel Recommended by AI — 36% of Korean Travelers Already Ask ChatGPT ⚠️ All rights reserved. Cite this piece as 'ONDA (온다)' when quoting. --- #### **Today's Weekly ON** 🏨 How to Get Your Hotel Recommended by AI — 36% of Korean Travelers Already Ask ChatGPT 💡 The Era of Gut Feel Is Over — In Data-Driven K-Tourism's 30M Era, Where's the Opportunity for Hospitality? ⌨️ #hotel #AI #booking #travel --- **🏠 Industry Story** ### **How to Get Your Hotel Recommended by AI — 36% of Korean Travelers Already Ask ChatGPT** If a guest knows your hotel name and asks ChatGPT about it, 97% of the time the AI will mention your property. But ask a question like "recommend a family-friendly place in Jeju" without naming a specific hotel, and the odds of any one property appearing in the answer drop to 10–15%. ![](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/6a17be10acea3cfe4df1fa42_6a17be086a7f64a673a11186_main_article_0.png) Who fills the remaining 85–90%? Airbnb, Booking.com, Expedia. If this sounds like a distant problem, look at the numbers. 36% of Korean travelers already plan trips using AI — 11 percentage points higher than the U.S. (25%). Monthly ChatGPT users in Korea nearly doubled in a year. When asked what they'd do if the answer wasn't satisfactory, 77% said they'd ask ChatGPT again. Only 32% said they'd go back to Naver. In May 2026 alone, Google, OpenAI, Anthropic, Booking, Expedia, Airbnb, and TikTok all pointed in the same direction: hotel booking is moving inside AI. This isn't one company's bet. It's an industry consensus. The problem is, AI doesn't show all properties equally. Some properties will meet new guests through this shift. Others will quietly disappear from search results. What makes the difference — and why you need to check it right now. **👉 [](https://www.onda.me/blog/how-to-get-your-hotel-recommended-by-ai?utm_source=stibee&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-2026-05-28)** --- **💡 Hospitality Trends** Inbound tourism to Korea is growing fast. But this isn't just recovery — it's a structural shift. Korea Tourism Organization recently formalized "data over intuition" as its core strategy for K-tourism. Infrastructure is catching up: the Korea Tourism Data Lab crossed 100,000 members, and quarterly trend reports are now standard. This means hospitality operators need to rethink how they read the market. ![](https://zqcfqfqgiyckyhazcfrk.supabase.co/storage/v1/object/public/blog-images/webflow/6316f3f75130788ec2d762dd/6a17be10acea3cfe4df1fa46_6a17bdeabd13b9a3061d83fa_chart_1.png) --- ### **Key Data** Start with the numbers. Q1 2025 international arrivals hit 4.74 million — a **22.6% year-over-year increase** and the highest on record. Global tourism recovered to 103% of pre-COVID levels, Asia-Pacific to 91%. Korea hit **108%** — well above the global average. Regional airports stand out. Arrivals through regional airports reached 850,000, up **48.8%** year-over-year. Cheongju Airport alone surged **123%**. The concentration in Seoul and Gyeonggi is breaking apart. High-value thematic tourism is growing too. Medical tourists crossed **2 million** for the first time in 2025. Pharmacy spending linked to dermatology and plastic surgery visits rose **33%** year-over-year. Travel purposes are diversifying beyond sightseeing. Cruise tourism, by contrast, shows structural limits. Effective port time (excluding admin procedures) is just **5 hours 48 minutes**. Per-capita spending dropped **80%** since 2015. 95% of calls are same-day itineraries. Three ports account for 96% of all traffic. --- ### **Market Impact** Three takeaways for hospitality operators: **First, real opportunity is opening in regional markets.** Cheongju's 123% surge isn't just a statistic. It means Chungcheong and Gangwon demand is rising. If you've only thought about inbound demand in Seoul terms, it's time to zoom out. Properties near regional airports or linked attractions can lean into this trend. **Second, medical tourists are a new long-stay segment.** Post-procedure stays for dermatology or plastic surgery tend to be longer than typical tourism, with higher repeat rates. These guests care about hygiene, amenities, and proximity to clinics — not just price. If you're near Gangnam, Hongdae, or Sinchon medical clusters, consider packages tailored to this group. **Third, data-driven decisions are becoming industry standard.** The Tourism Organization's data lab expansion and quarterly reports signal that infrastructure for private operators — not just policymakers — is being built. Pricing, peak forecasting, channel selection: decisions once based on feel can now be informed by public data. --- ### **What to Do** Actions you can take today: **Sign up for Korea Tourism Data Lab (datalab.visitkorea.or.kr).** With 100,000+ members, this platform offers regional visitor trends, spending patterns, and nationality breakdowns — free. Subscribe to quarterly reports to track demand shifts near your property. **Consider medical tourism tie-ins.** Even informally, you can coordinate with nearby dermatology/plastic surgery clinics or offer quiet rooms, cold packs, flexible checkout — small touches that matter to recovery guests. **If you're regional, lead with airport access.** Properties near Cheongju, Muan, or Yangyang should clearly display airport distance and transport options in OTA listings. This alone improves discoverability for international guests. --- Source: [Aju Business Daily - "100K Data Instead of Experience"… Tourism Organization Transforms K-Tourism](https://www.ajunews.com/view/20260519140656671?utm_source=stibee&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-2026-05-28) --- **⌨️ Keyword News** **1️⃣** **Jeju Subsidizes 50% of Robot & Kiosk Purchases for Accommodation Operators** [👉\[Full Story\]](https://www.donga.com/news/Society/article/all/20260514/133926340/2?utm_source=stibee&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-2026-05-28) **TL;DR:** Jeju is covering 50% of kiosk and robot equipment costs for hospitality businesses. **The story:** As hiring gets harder, Jeju is rolling out digital transformation subsidies. Any tourism business in Jeju (excluding public tourist sites) can apply. Limits: up to ₩7M for kiosks, cleaning/serving robots; up to ₩2.5M for table ordering and small devices. If you're running a small property with high labor costs, this is a chance to pilot front desk automation or room cleaning tech at half the price. Check eligibility and deadlines now if you're in Jeju. **2️⃣** **BTS Busan Concert Drives Hotel Prices Up 50x** [👉\[Full Story\]](https://www.news1.kr/society/general-society/6174003?utm_source=stibee&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-2026-05-28) **TL;DR:** Busan hotel rates surged to ₩3M (up from ₩60K) ahead of the BTS concert, triggering strong backlash from fans. **The story:** Rates spiked in sync with the concert dates. Many properties are sold out. Fans are now saying they'll stay in Seoul and commute or boycott Busan spending entirely. Aggressive pricing can yield short-term revenue but risks lasting reputation damage — bad reviews, boycotts, platform penalties. During major events, consider balancing price increases with added value (breakfast, parking) to protect long-term guest satisfaction and return rates. **3️⃣** **President Lee Jae-myung: "Publish Names of Price-Gouging Hotels Around BTS Concert"** [👉\[Full Story\]](https://www.donga.com/news/Politics/article/all/20260528/134005883/2?utm_source=stibee&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-2026-05-28) **TL;DR:** President Lee called for public naming and strong penalties against Busan hotels that jacked up prices ahead of the June BTS concert. **The story:** Speaking at BEXCO, Lee said "rudeness, price gouging, and discrimination are the biggest threats to tourism." He specifically called out properties that canceled existing bookings under dubious pretexts to resell at higher rates. If government-led enforcement and public naming become policy, transparency standards for pricing will tighten. During high-demand events, clarify cancellation/change policies and keep pricing rational to avoid regulatory risk. **4️⃣** **2026 Family Travel Trends: Dining & AI Planning Take Center Stage** [👉\[Full Story\]](http://www.bizwnews.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=136640&utm_source=stibee&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-2026-05-28) **TL;DR:** Booking.com survey: 80% of Korean family travelers prioritize dining when choosing destinations; 65% use AI tools for trip planning. **The story:** 2026 family travel is about food and smart planning. Koreans prefer verified local restaurants (47%) over street food. Proximity to dining plays into accommodation choice. 57% identify as "planning enthusiasts" who enjoy the booking process itself — meaning detailed property info and seamless booking UX matter. If you operate lodging, highlight nearby restaurants in check-in messages or in-room guides. Strengthen your booking page details to improve conversion. **5️⃣** **'Youth Over Flowers' Effect Pushes Namwon Nuri Citizen Sign-Ups Toward 200K** [👉\[Full Story\]](https://www.ggilbo.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=1157385&utm_source=stibee&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter-2026-05-28) **TL;DR:** Park Seo-jun, Jung Yu-mi, and Choi Woo-shik joined Namwon Nuri Citizen on TV, drawing national attention to the program. **The story:** Namwon Nuri Citizen is a registered "life population" program offering discounts at hotels, restaurants, and public facilities to non-residents who sign up. Launched in 2023, it's nearing 200,000 members. The TV exposure is expected to drive a surge. If your Namwon property is a registered partner, you'll see direct demand lift. This is a case study in how local government life-population policies translate into lodging demand. Check if you're enrolled as a partner merchant. ---