Are You Appearing To AI? Why Your Destination Listings Matter More Than Ever

More and more visitors are now asking AI tools where to go and what to book.

“Dog friendly cottage near Aberystwyth”
“Things to do in Mid Wales on a rainy day”
“Where to stay near Bannau Brycheiniog for walking?”

Tools like Gemini and ChatGPT are fast becoming part of normal trip planning. They are not a fad. They are already here, and usage is still growing.

So the question for every business is simple:

Are you appearing to AI? Is your business appearing at all?

Why destination websites still matter

AI tools do not magically “know” about your business. They learn from trusted websites.

For our region, that means sites like:

• VisitMidWales.co.uk
• ShowMeWales.co.uk
• VisitWales.com

These sites are important because:

• Visitors use them to discover places to stay and things to do.
• Search engines trust them, so they often rank well.
• AI tools look at them when deciding which businesses to recommend.
  
  

If your listing is missing, out of date, or very vague, you are far less likely to appear in AI answers when someone asks about Mid Wales.

SEO is changing: it is not just about Google any more

We used to think about SEO (search engine optimisation) as:

“How do I get my website or listing to the top of Google?”

That still matters. But we now have a second layer to think about:

1. Search results
   Your website and listings in the normal list of results.
2. AI overviews and chat answers
   Gemini, ChatGPT and others read trusted sites and then give visitors a short answer such as:
   
   “Here are three family friendly places to stay near Newtown.”
   
   

To be included in that answer, your business needs to be:

• On trusted sites like Visit Mid Wales, Show Me Wales and Visit Wales.
• Clear and up to date.
• Easy for both humans and AI to understand.

What makes an AI friendly listing?You do not need to be technical. Think of it like this:

1. Get the basics right

• Correct name, address and postcode.
• Working phone number, email and website link.
• Current opening times and seasonal dates.
  
  

2. Say clearly what you are and who you are for

For example:

“Family run B&B in Rhayader, 5 minutes from the Elan Valley dams. Perfect for walkers and cyclists. Drying room and bike storage available.”

This helps AI match you to real questions like:

• “walking holidays near Elan Valley”
• “cycle friendly B&B near Rhayader”
  
  

3. Use simple, structured information
On your listings:

• Short paragraphs.
• Headings like “Rooms and Facilities”, “Food and Drink”, “Good to Know”.
• Bullet points for facilities (parking, dog friendly, Wi-Fi, EV charging, accessibility).

If the information is tidy and clear, AI tools can use it more easily.

Why membership and listings go together

For most independent businesses, time is the biggest problem.

Keeping a website, social media and every platform updated is not realistic when you are changing beds, cooking breakfast or guiding activities.

This is where DMO membership earns its keep:

• Your MWT Cymru membership gives you a strong listing on VisitMidWales.co.uk.
• Your information also feeds into other platforms such as ShowMeWales.co.uk, and can support visibility on VisitWales.com and other partner sites.
• By keeping one good listing up to date, you improve your chances of being found in:
  • traditional search results
  • destination websites
  • AI tools like Gemini and ChatGPT
    
    

You do the work once. It supports you in many places.

Meet Harri – your AI helper who already understands Mid Wales

All of this can sound a bit much when you are flat out running a business. That is exactly why we built Harri, our custom AI assistant for tourism businesses.
Harri:

• Understands our region, our visitors and our tone of voice.
• Knows how destination sites like Visit Mid Wales and Show Me Wales are structured.
• Can turn your rough notes into clear, friendly, AI ready copy.

You do not have to be an expert in AI or SEO. Harri already is.

You can use Harri to:

• Rewrite your Visit Mid Wales listing so it is clearer and more likely to surface in AI answers.
• Suggest headings and bullet points that match what visitors actually search for.
• Create matching text for your own website, social media and emails, so your message is consistent.

Face to face help: sessions across Wales

We know some people prefer to sit with someone and go through it together.
That is why we are also:

• Running in person sessions across Wales for Visit Wales.
• Focusing on practical questions such as:
  • “Is my business appearing in AI tools?”
  • “How do I check my listings?”
  • “What simple changes will make the biggest difference?”
    
    

These sessions are for real businesses, not tech experts.

A quick self check

Ask yourself:

• Am I listed on VisitMidWales.co.uk and ShowMeWales.co.uk?
• Is my information up to date and specific?
• If someone asked Gemini or ChatGPT about my area and type of business, would there be enough clear information online to include me?

If you are not sure, you are not alone. That is exactly what we are here to help with.

Let’s make sure your business is appearing

AI is not replacing good hospitality, local knowledge or word of mouth. It is simply another way visitors decide where to go and what to book.

The businesses that:

• Keep their destination listings up to date,
• Make their content clear and structured, and
• Use tools like Harri to save time,
  
  

will be the ones that keep showing up in front of new visitors.

Want help making your listing AI friendly or checking if you are appearing to AI?
Get in touch with the MWT Cymru team. We can:

• Review your current listings,
• Show you how to use Harri to improve them quickly, and
• Let you know about upcoming sessions in your area.

Pop us a message or give us a ring and we will help you take the next step, in plain English, with practical support.

www.mwtcymru.co.uk 
01654 702653
[email protected]