AI is changing the search for holiday homes

The way people search for a holiday home is changing. Where for years it was natural to search through large booking platforms and compare endlessly, we are now seeing a clear shift emerge. AI is changing the search for holiday homes, and with it how and where guests find their ideal stay.

Increasingly, the search no longer begins on a platform, but with inspiration. Travellers use AI tools and smart search functions to discover places that truly suit them. They are guided less by filters, and more by feeling, experience and specific wishes. And this changes the whole dynamic of holiday rentals. Not only where you are visible, but above all how your home is found and positioned.

At By Kiki, we see this development more and more clearly. And for luxury holiday homes in particular, it offers new opportunities to stand out. Not as one of many options, but as a place that is chosen deliberately.

From searching to describing what you're looking for

Where travellers once searched with short keywords, we now see something clearly different emerging. Searching is becoming more personal, more specific and far more detailed. Instead of "holiday home Norway 8 people" people now ask questions as if they were talking to a travel advisor. They describe their ideal stay in detail: from location and atmosphere to facilities and surroundings. They do this not in separate keywords, but in complete wishes and stories, and that is precisely where the change lies. The question is no longer just: where are you visible? But above all: does your holiday home match what someone is truly looking for?

How AI is changing the search for holiday homes and determining what the perfect answer is

When someone asks a question about their holiday, AI doesn't look at a single platform or a single source. The system builds a complete picture, based on everything that can be found online. Think of:

• holiday home websites
• booking platforms
• location data and Google Maps
• guest reviews
• content about the surroundings
• social media

All of this information is combined into one whole. The more consistently and clearly your holiday home comes across within it, the greater the chance that it will be seen as the right match. This also shows how important it is to put the right content online, and that you need to be easy to find in order to "feed" the search engines.

The growing role of experience

What stands out is that AI looks beyond the property itself. When someone is searching for peace, nature or a particular atmosphere, the surroundings are taken into account too. The location, the view, the activities nearby and the overall experience play an increasingly important role. That means visibility is no longer just about the number of bedrooms or facilities, but about the complete picture. The better that story holds together online, the sooner your property will be found. A website of your own, for example, is also becoming increasingly important here, to truly bring out the strengths of your holiday home.

A clear place on the map

A good foundation begins with a clear and consistent online presence. Think, for example, of a well-completed Google Maps listing. Here, guests (and AI) can see right away where your property is located, what the surroundings look like and what others think of it. When this information is accurate everywhere and tells the same story, it builds trust, both with potential guests and in how your property is found online.

Why a website of your own is becoming increasingly important

This is a very important part, and therefore very interesting! AI systems look for context, detail and coherence, and that is exactly where a website of your own makes the difference. On a platform you are part of a larger whole, with limited space to tell your story; on your own website, everything revolves around your property. You can show:

• what makes the place special
• what it feels like to stay there
• what the surroundings add to the experience

For AI, that is valuable information, and for guests it makes the difference between looking and booking. At By Kiki, we therefore strongly believe in this combination: the reach of platforms, combined with a place of your own where your holiday home truly comes to life.

The changing role of platforms

That doesn't mean platforms are disappearing; if anything, the opposite is true. Platforms remain very important for reach, trust and bookings, but they are no longer the only way in. The way guests search is becoming broader, and so it is also important to be visible in more than one way. Not only through a platform, but also through your own story.

Ready for the next step

The way people travel and search is changing, and that is precisely where an opportunity lies.

For holiday homes with character, a strong location and a clear sense of experience, there is more room to stand out. Not as one of many options, but as a place that is chosen deliberately. And that is exactly what we focus on completely with a holiday home.

Let's take a look at your property together

Are you considering renting out your holiday home and would you like to present it in the right way?

At By Kiki, we combine strategy, positioning and guest experience so that your property is not only visible, but truly stands out. Feel free to get in touch, we'd be happy to think along with you!