GEO, AEO and AI SEO: what's the difference?
Updated By Akkrev
SEO, AEO and GEO overlap, but describe different search outcomes. Compare them with hotel and restaurant examples and a practical measurement plan.
SEO, AEO and GEO overlap; they are not three independent ranking systems. The terms describe different ways a useful page or business can appear in a search experience. For a venue owner, the practical question is whether the right guests find accurate information and can take the next step.
| Term | Common meaning | Hospitality example |
|---|---|---|
| SEO: search engine optimisation | Improve discovery through search | A useful room or menu page appears for a relevant search |
| AEO: answer engine optimisation | Make information easy to use in an answer | An answer correctly explains your parking or dietary options |
| GEO: generative engine optimisation | Improve presence in generated answers and their sources | An AI shortlist recommends the venue and cites an appropriate page |
| AI SEO | A broad term used for SEO work relating to AI search | Improve venue pages, then inspect recommendations and citations |
What should a hotel or restaurant actually do?
Start with accurate venue facts and useful pages guests can read. Check crawl access, publish details that answer real questions and keep the profiles you control consistent. Google treats optimisation for its generative search features as part of SEO, rather than requiring a separate AI markup system.
For example, “parking available” is less useful than a factual explanation of where the spaces are, whether they can be reserved and what they cost. A restaurant’s current text menu helps someone assess a dietary requirement. Neither example guarantees an AI citation; both improve the information a guest can use.
How the measurements differ
Use search reporting for observed impressions and clicks, saved AI samples for recommendations and cited sources, and your own systems for enquiries and bookings. A model mention is not a click. A Google generative-feature impression is not evidence of a booking. Compare the measurements.
Start with a hotel checklist or restaurant checklist. If you want repeatable weekly evidence, Akkrev’s plans describe the included model families, content tools and billing terms.