VRS639 - Optimizing for AI: What Short-Term Rental Brands Need to Know About GEO and the Future of Search with Neely Khan

**SPEAKER_1** (0:01)
You're listening to the Vacation Rental Success Podcast, and with over 1.6 million downloads, this is the place to be for all your short-term rental knowledge as part of the Vacation Rental Formula Business School. If you're a regular listener, you know Heather and the VRF B-School team are now specializing in coaching and consultancy for short-term rental property management, and now with a laser focus on incorporating AI into your daily operations. If you're thinking AI sounds exciting, but have no idea where to start, then you'll want to hear this. We're running a brand new series of free webinars designed specifically for short-term rental operators who want to get ahead of the curve without drowning in the tech overwhelm. Inside these sessions, we'll break down what AI actually looks like in a real property management business, from automating guest messages to leveling up your systems, marketing and team operations. If you've ever wished someone on your team could take the lead on all this, well, that's exactly what the AI Ambassador Program is built for. The webinars will walk you through how it works, what you will be implementing, and why early adopters like you will be ahead of the industry curve. So pull out your Notes app because you're going to want in on this. Visit the link in the description of this episode for more information or visit the show notes. Stay tuned as we'll talk more about this in the mid-episode break. So without further delay, here's your host, Heather Bayer.

**Heather Bayer** (1:25)
This is the Vacation Rental Success Podcast, keeping you up to date with news, views, information and resources on this rapidly changing short-term rental business. I'm your host, Heather Bayer, and with 25 years of experience in this industry, I'm making sure you know what's hot, what's not, what's new, and what will help make your business a success.
Well, hello and welcome to another episode of the Vacation Rental Success Podcast. This is your host, Heather Bayer. And as ever, I am super delighted to be back with you once again. There's some people who've been on this show numerous times over the years, and thinking Matt Landau, David Angotti, Andrew McConnell, Brooke Fouts. Yep, there's been quite a few. But usually I have around a year between inviting them on for another episode to make sure that enough time has gone past so that we've got some new content to share with you. But it's only been five months since Neely Khan was last on the show. But in that time, the world of AI, the world of content and storytelling has shifted so dramatically, I knew we needed to bring her back. If you follow Neely on LinkedIn, you know she's been talking a lot recently about something called GEO, also known as AEO, which is Generative Engine Optimization or ANSR Engine Optimization. So Neely has come back to talk about this. It's about AI-driven search. And it isn't just AEO or GEO, isn't just a new acronym, it's a new reality for all of us. So Neely is the founder of Artwork Creative, a story branding agency. And it's doing incredible work in hospitality, helping brands like Tara Home Consulting and Abode Luxury Rentals, not only tell their stories beautifully, but what's so important to make sure that those stories show up in the age of AI. So in this episode, we're diving to use an AI expression. We're diving deep into how Neely and her team are helping these short-term rental brands evolve. We're going to talk about what makes content AI smart and emotionally resonant. And also, Neely has been journeying across Europe over the last few months. So I want to ask what she's learned from a packed few months of speaking and attending events across Europe, including Scale Manchester, VRWS in Rome, and the Women's European Leadership Summit. So take some time, grab a coffee, put your walking boots on or whatever, and join me for this wonderful conversation.
So, I am super delighted that I'm here today, once again, with Neely Khan from Artwork Creative. Neely, it's always such a pleasure to talk to you, and in fact, just as an insider for those who are listening, we scheduled our recording for nine o'clock this morning. It's now 20 past nine, and we had to drag ourselves off our social chit chat and back to the matter at hand. Welcome. Thank you so much for coming back. Within five months, which is a first for this podcast.

**Neely Khan** (5:08)
Oh, is it? I'm so honored. Thank you for welcoming me back. It's always a pleasure. It's just so easy to have a conversation with you. I love it. Thank you.