Updated on October 14, 2026
Travelers no longer just type “hotel Annecy” into Google. They ask ChatGPT: “Which quiet hotel near the lake, with parking and an EV charging station, for a romantic weekend?” The answer comes down to a handful of names. If yours isn't one of them, you're not even in the running. It's not only a question of hospitality or ratings: it's also a question of information that is available and consistent across the web. To help you take back control, Qovoltis is hosting a 45-minute webinar on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at 11:00 AM (Paris time), with a live demonstration and a concrete action plan.
Why does ChatGPT recommend a competing hotel instead of yours?
Because ChatGPT, Gemini and Perplexity don't judge your hotel: they judge what they can read and verify about it. A generative AI breaks the traveler's request down into criteria (neighborhood, budget, parking, breakfast, accessibility, EV charging...), then looks for properties where each criterion is confirmed by reliable sources.
That's the paradox at the heart of the webinar: a lower-rated competitor can get ahead of you. If you're a hotelier, these questions may sound familiar:
- Why does a property rated lower than mine appear in ChatGPT's answers, and not mine?
- What information does AI look for about my hotel, and where?
- What can exclude my property from a recommendation?
- Where should I start to set things right?
These are precisely the questions the webinar will answer, with a live demonstration.
Do French travelers really use AI to plan their trips?
Yes, and it's growing fast. According to Phocuswright, 40% of French travelers used AI to plan a trip in 2026, compared with 19% in 2025 and 9% in 2024 (L'Echo touristique). And AI is no longer just for inspiration: among French travelers who use it, 92% say it influenced an actual travel decision (Phocuswright, Europe Consumer Travel Report 2026). Usage is higher among younger people: according to a YouGov survey for Evaneos conducted in March 2026, 37% of 18-34 year-olds have already asked an AI about a trip (L'Echo touristique).
The same survey shows that 74% of French people feel the need to check what AI tells them. In other words, being mentioned by ChatGPT isn't enough: most French people then want to check what they were told.
Key figures to remember:
Why pay attention to this now?
Because habits are changing very fast. The share of travelers in France who use AI to plan their trips has more than doubled every year: 9% in 2024, 19% in 2025, 40% in 2026. And when AI is used, it weighs on the final choice: 92% of French travelers who use it say it influenced an actual travel decision.
These new habits are being formed right now. Taking an interest today gives you time to understand how these recommendations work and to explore this new channel before it becomes the norm, so you can stand out rather than play catch-up with your competitors.
What does this have to do with EV charging?
An EV charging station is a precise criterion, easy for a traveler to ask for (“hotel with EV charging near Bordeaux”) and easy for an AI to verify... provided the information is published everywhere.
And the gap is already visible on booking platforms: on Booking.com in France, only 9,636 properties out of 319,034, or about 3% of listings, remain visible when the “EV charging station” filter is applied (Qovoltis analysis of Booking.com, August 2026). And the demand is there: according to a YouGov survey for Monta published in 2023, 41% of electric vehicle owners are inclined to choose accommodation that offers charging (Automobile Propre).
A hotel that has charging stations but doesn't state it clearly (website, Google Business Profile, Booking) is therefore missing out on some of these recommendations. For an AI, equipment that exists on site but not online doesn't exist. The webinar details the criteria that can exclude a property from recommendations.
To learn more on this topic, read our complete guide to EV charging stations for hotels and our article on third-party investment to equip your hotel at no cost.
What will you learn during the webinar?
In 45 minutes, the webinar follows a simple logic: observe, understand, fix.
A live demonstration of traveler queries
The speakers will test, live, requests as travelers phrase them in ChatGPT. You'll see which properties come up, and above all why some are left out.
The criteria that exclude a hotel from recommendations
Missing information, inconsistencies between the website and booking platforms, incomplete Google Business Profiles: you'll learn to identify what, in your online presence, leads an AI to rule you out.
A 5-lever action plan
You'll leave with five concrete actions you can apply the very next week.
Who is hosting the webinar?
- Axel de Saint Vincent, Growth Marketer at Qovoltis. He drives Qovoltis's visibility among hoteliers, including in the answers of generative AI engines.
- Marc Merzoug, digital visibility expert and former CEO of MM Création.
How do I register for the webinar?
Registration takes place on the Contrast platform, which hosts the webinar:
- Go to the webinar registration page.
- Fill in your details and confirm.
- On Tuesday, October 20 at 11:00 AM (Paris time), join the session from the webinar page, on a computer, tablet or mobile.
The webinar is designed for hotel directors and owners, marketing managers and revenue managers, as well as hotel groups who want to understand how generative AI is changing the booking journey.
FAQ
When is the webinar “Why is a competing hotel recommended by ChatGPT instead of yours?” taking place?
The webinar takes place on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, from 11:00 to 11:45 AM (Paris time). It is held online, in French.
Is the webinar free?
Yes, registration is free. Simply fill in the form on the registration page hosted by Contrast.
Why doesn't ChatGPT recommend my hotel?
ChatGPT doesn't visit your property: it cross-checks the information published on your website, your Google Business Profile, booking platforms and reviews. If this information is incomplete or inconsistent, the AI may recommend a better-documented property, even a lower-rated one.
Will there be a replay of the webinar?
Yes, a replay will be available after the webinar. Attending live, however, lets you follow the demonstration in real time.
Who is this webinar for?
Hotel directors and owners, marketing managers and revenue managers, and hotel groups who want to appear in the recommendations of ChatGPT and other generative AI tools.
Key takeaways
- 40% of French travelers used AI to plan a trip in 2026, more than double the 2025 figure.
- An AI assesses the consistency and accuracy of the information published about a hotel, not just its rating.
- The webinar on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 (11:00 to 11:45 AM, Paris time) shows live how AIs choose and provides a 5-lever action plan.
Further reading
- Booking.com and EV charging stations: how to appear in the filter and why you should do it
- EV Charging Stations for Hotels: The Complete Guide by Qovoltis
- Third-party investment and hotel charging stations: the business model explained
- EV charging stations for Logis Hôtel: the differentiating advantage for independent hoteliers
- Qovoltis's offer for hotels
Sources and references
- Phocuswright, 2024-2026 data on travelers' use of AI, via L'Echo touristique : « Voyageurs et intelligence artificielle : les chiffres clés de 2026 »
- Phocuswright, « AI isn't just for research anymore: what European travelers are actually doing with it », Europe Consumer Travel Report 2026
- YouGov survey for Evaneos, March 2026, via L'Echo touristique, April 23, 2026
- YouGov survey for Monta (2023), via Automobile Propre, June 30, 2023
- Qovoltis analysis of Booking.com results in France (August 2026)
- Webinar registration page (Contrast)
Information verified at the time of publication. The figures cited come from third-party studies and may change.
