AI and the Economy Are Rewriting the Rules of U.S. Hospitality
U.S. hospitality is undergoing a profound reset. Artificial intelligence is transforming how guests discover, compare, and choose venues. Inflation is reshaping spending habits and expectations. And digital trust – built through reviews and ratings – now drives both discovery and loyalty, making reputation management more essential than ever.
This exclusive U.S. consumer survey reveals how these forces are rewriting the rules of engagement and outlines what venue operators must do to stay discoverable, competitive, and in demand in 2026 and beyond.
What the Numbers Reveal
- One in five diners use AI tools like ChatGPT to discover and evaluate restaurants and bars – closing in fast on Bing, Yelp, and social media.
- 61% of millennials use AI for personalized recommendations within the venue, versus just 4% of diners over 65.
- 55% trust AI-generated review summaries to decide what’s worth visiting, showing growing confidence in how AI interprets crowd sentiment.
- Price (51%) is now the top factor in choosing a restaurant, above food quality (48%) and service (45%).
- Nearly 40% look at online menus before visiting, showing the importance of digital visibility.
- 41% of diners ignore reviews more than a month old, making ongoing feedback vital to stay relevant.
