Why Responding to Google Reviews Matters for AI Search: A Guide for Tourism Operators

Replying to reviews isn’t just about good manners any more.

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It can actually help your business appear more often (and more favorably) in AI-powered travel recommendations, including tools like ChatGPT, Bing Chat, and Google Gemini.

In this article, we’ll show you why review responses matter, how AI tools use them, how to write replies that work for both your guests and the algorithms, and how Yonder users are getting a head start.

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How AI Uses Google Review Responses

Let’s start with what AI does when someone types a question like:

“What are the best eco-tours near Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica?”

If the AI has access to real-time data (as Bing Chat, ChatGPT with browsing, and Google Gemini do), it often pulls information from:

• Google Business Profiles
• Google Reviews and responses
• Public travel blogs and articles
• Business websites

So when you respond to reviews, you're not just talking to the guest; you're writing content that AI can read, summarise, and share.
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How Review Replies Help AI Understand Your Business

1. They Add Valuable Keywords To Your Business Profile

Most customers leave short reviews like “Awesome trip!”.

A helpful response might be:

“Thanks, Mia! We're so glad you loved the sunset kayaking tour through the mangroves, it’s one of our favorite experiences too!”

Now the AI sees key phrases like, sunset kayaking, mangroves, and tour. This gives the AI better context about what you offer and develops it's understanding of your offering.

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2. They Clarify What the Guest Experienced On Specific Tours

If the original review is vague or off-topic, your reply can guide the AI (and future travellers) toward the right interpretation.

If a customer leaves a review such as “Loved it!”. You might take this opportunity to respond and say “Thanks, Alex! We’re thrilled you enjoyed the private waterfall hike. It’s always a great choice for couples looking for a peaceful, scenic adventure.”

Now AI knows:

• This was a private tour
• It involved a waterfall hike
• It’s good for couples

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3. They Highlight Your Customer Service

AI assistants are trained to recognise signals of trust, helpfulness, and care. Responding to reviews shows you’re active, you care about guest feedback, and that you go above and beyond.

This might result in AI-generated text like:

“This tour company is highly rated for both its quality experiences and attentive customer service.”

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How to Write AI-Friendly Review Responses

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Writing AI-friendly replies doesn’t mean sounding robotic; it means being clear, specific, and helpful.

1. Mention the tour or activity:

“Glad you enjoyed our bioluminescence night kayak tour!”‍

2. Use relevant keywords:

“This is one of the best spots on the Nicoya Peninsula to see glowing plankton.”‍

3. Be specific about features:

“We love hearing that our bilingual guides helped make your volcano hike so memorable.”

4. Add location or category info:

“Thanks for exploring Tortuguero with us! It’s truly a special place for wildlife lovers!”

_DON’T:

• Use short replies like “Thanks!” or “Appreciate it!”
• Repeat the same generic response over and over
• Stuff keywords awkwardly just to try to rank - make it sounds genuine

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Bonus: Other Benefits of Responding to Reviews

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Aside from the AI search rankings, responding to reviews has a host of other benefits. You'll boosts trust with potential guests, and encourages more reviews from current customers, since people see you're engaged.

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Next Steps for Tourism Operators

Want to start writing better replies today? Yonder centralises your customer reviews and offers a quick, easy tool to craft the perfect reply in your brand voice, every time. With Yonder, you don't have to overthink review responses! Configure your brand voice and let Yonder AI suggest a personal response to each review, ensuring your brand and customer satisfaction are always protected.

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Meet the team and find out more here.