Is Google about to change how your guests find you?

Based on insights from Rental Scale Up

With the launch of its new AI Mode, Google LLC is taking a decisive step toward merging search, discovery and trip-planning into a single, self-contained experience. Unlike traditional search results, AI Mode allows travelers to ask open-ended questions, refine them conversationally, and receive itineraries complete with maps, accommodation options and price comparisons — all without leaving Google.

For short-term rental managers, that could mean a fundamental shift in how visibility and bookings are won.

What exactly is Google’s AI Mode?

AI Mode sits right inside the familiar Google search interface. It appears as a new button in the search bar or a glowing “Dive deeper in AI mode” link below the AI Overview. Click it, and you’re taken to a conversational environment that looks and feels like a blend of Google Search, Maps and ChatGPT.

The difference is in how it structures and connects information. As opposed to merely summarizing web content, AI Mode assistant curates, categorizes and cross-links dynamically, turning one search query into a full-fledged trip plan. For example, when asked, “Where should I go on the east coast for a long weekend in December?” it doesn’t just list destinations — it organizes options into three “moods:” Christmas experiences, winter wonderlands and sunny escapes — and cites its sources on the right-hand side (including major travel publishers and smaller blogs). That detail alone is telling: AI Mode rewards structured, high-quality content over brand size. For property managers with well-optimized, information-rich websites, this opens the door to visibility far beyond traditional search rankings.

From inspiration to planning — without leaving Google

When queries become more specific, e.g., “We are a group of 10 including four kids aged 2 to 8,” AI Mode refines its suggestions even further. It proposes destinations for mild climates, and even offers tips for large groups such as:

“Research accommodation: renting a large apartment or connected set of apartments is often easier and more cost-effective than booking multiple hotel rooms.”

That advice may sound obvious, but it’s significant. Google isn’t promoting hotels by default — it’s contextual — and in family or group scenarios, it naturally surfaces short-term rentals.This suggests that Google’s AI Mode could level the playing field between professional property managers and large hotel chains, at least in discovery.

Google Maps is the backbone of AI Mode

Every time a user clicks on a destination, attraction or accommodation, the Google Maps card slides in automatically — complete with photos, reviews, price-comparisons and website links. If your business’s Google listing isn’t cleanly synced or regularly updated, it may simply not appear. That makes optimization of your Google Maps listing more critical than ever — not just in Maps or Search, but now in AI Mode itself.

Price comparisons and paid placements — a glimpse of what’s coming

When looking for accommodations, AI Mode pulls live price data from multiple sites including OTAs (e.g., booking.com, Agoda, Expedia) and — notably — the property’s own official website. There’s a catch: sometimes the first listings are sponsored. Even if you have your own site, it may appear below OTA partners unless you’re also running ads. This is already how Google Hotel Ads works, and the same model will soon expand into “AI Mode Ads,” which Google has confirmed are in testing. For professional short-term rental managers, that presents both opportunity and competition. You’ll be able to run ads for your direct listings — but you’ll likely be bidding against OTAs that already advertise their properties.

How AI Mode understands “private rentals”

When explicitly asked for “private rentals near Disneyworld”, AI Mode references both Airbnb and Vrbo — but interestingly, it also lists other specialist platforms (e.g., TripAdvisor). Its tone toward each platform matches their brand positioning: Airbnb is framed as “best for variety,” while Vrbo is “best for family-oriented vacation rentals, many managed by professional hosts.” That nuance indicates AI Mode is drawing not only on listing data but also on platform-level reputations — which could influence how each OTA, and its hosts, are represented to users.

Visual search comes to stays

One of AI Mode’s most striking features is the ability to upload an image of a property — and find that exact listing or visually similar ones. In a test, uploading a photo of an Airbnb apartment near Disneyworld led directly to the original listing, with links to other platforms where it appeared. This means visual discoverability is now part of search visibility. High-quality images with clean metadata could help your property surface in image-driven searches.

Key takeaways for short-term rental managers

1. Discovery and planning are merging. Guests can now research, compare and plan trips entirely within Google. OTAs may soon become second stops, not starting points.

2. Your data determines visibility. Your Google Business profile, metadata and listing quality matter more than ever. If Google cannot parse your information, it won’t recommend your property.

3. Paid placement is coming. Sponsored listings and “AI Mode Ads” add a new layer of visibility and competition. Running Google Hotel Ads may soon become essential for direct-booking visibility.

4. Agentic booking is the next frontier. Google is already testing AI-powered restaurant reservations with integrations like OpenTable. It is only a matter of time before the same technology allows users to book stays directly through AI Mode.

5. Visual search could reshape inspiration. Guests might soon find your listing not through keywords, but through images of “places like this.” Strong, consistent visuals become your new SEO.
   

The bigger picture

Google’s AI Mode is still in early rollout — but its direction is clear: travel planning is moving inside the search ecosystem itself. For short-term rental managers, this means visibility will depend less on OTA algorithms and more on how effectively your property — and your data — integrate with Google’s. The brands that adapt early will have the advantage when guests start saying “Let’s check Airbnb,” and instead ask “Let’s ask Google.”