By skyforbes 
Date: November 8, 2025 Conducted by: Terekhin Digital Crew
This study examines how leading Large Language Models (LLMs), exemplified by ChatGPT, generate recommendations for users seeking hostels in Tbilisi.
The findings indicate that search engine optimization (SEO) is no longer the sole factor for success. A new customer acquisition channel is emerging: AI Visibility. This new metric is directly dependent on how authoritative and relevant an AI perceives an entity’s “data sources” and “trust signals.”
The research identified clear leaders in different segments (e.g., Fabrica in the ‘best overall’ category and 10 of Pushkinin the ‘budget’ category) and demonstrated that these rankings are not arbitrary.
They are the direct result of a strong presence in two key areas:
- Structured data sources (like Yandex Maps).
- Key travel blogs (such as Wander-Lush, The Broke Backpacker, and Budget Your Trip).
Hostels that ignore their reputation within these “trust signals” risk becoming invisible to the growing audience segment that uses AI for travel planning.
1. Introduction: The New Decision-Making Standard
The travel planning landscape has fundamentally shifted. Users are increasingly bypassing traditional Google Search, turning instead to conversational AI assistants like ChatGPT and Gemini.
This represents a critical distinction in the user’s journey:
- Google provides 10 blue links, forcing the user to conduct their own research and make the final decision.
- ChatGPT provides a single, authoritative answer.
When a user asks, “Recommend a good hostel,” and the AI names Fabrica (in 60% of its responses) and Envoy (30%), it means all other hostels lose 9 out of 10 potential clients at that very moment. They simply never enter the user’s consideration set.
The purpose of this study is to identify not just who is winning this new race, but why. We expose the specific sources that shape these “no-alternative” recommendations and provide a roadmap for the hostels currently left off the list to fix their AI Visibility and stop losing customers daily.
2. Research Methodology
To ensure objective and statistically significant results, we applied the following approach:
- AI Model: We used ChatGPT (GPT-5) as the reference model for this analysis.
2. Prompt Engineering: We modeled four of the most common user query scenarios, segmenting them by user intent:
- General Reputation: “Recommend a good hostel in Tbilisi?”
- Top-Rated (Broad): “Recommend the 5 best hostels in Tbilisi?”
- Best in Niche (Budget): “Recommend the most budget-friendly hostel in Tbilisi?”
- Top-Rated (Niche): “Recommend 5 budget hostels in Tbilisi?”
3. Data Collection: Each of the four prompts was run 10–12 independent times (totaling over 40 tests). This methodology allowed us to account for AI response variability and establish a statistically reliable dataset.
4. Analysis: Using our proprietary platform, we tracked not only which hostels were recommended but also:
- The frequency of their mention.
- Their position in the generated list.
- The sources the AI referenced or based its selection on.
3. Key Research Findings
3.1. Prompt: “Recommend a good hostel in Tbilisi?” (General Reputation)
This query reveals which hostel the AI considers the “default choice.”
- 1st Place: Fabrica — 60% (mentioned in 6/10 responses)
- 2nd Place: Envoy Hostel — 30% (3/10 mentions)
- 3rd Place: Green House Hostel — 10% (1/10 mentions)
Takeaway: If you are not Fabrica or Envoy, you are fighting for only 1 out of every 10 customers. In the AI’s view, 90% of this market is already captured by two leaders. Fabrica dominates because the AI perceives it as a “cultural hub,” a status reinforced by its strong source references.
3.2. Prompt: “Recommend the 5 best hostels in Tbilisi?” (Premium Reputation)
Here, the AI generates a ranked list. Consistency in ranking placement is the critical factor.
- 1st Place: Fabrica — Secured the #1 spot in 90% of responses.
- 2nd Place: Envoy Hostel — Secured the #2 spot in 90% of responses.
- 3rd Place: Gallery Hostel — Secured the #3 spot in 70% of responses.
- 4th-5th Places: High competition and fragmentation observed between Elia Boutique Hostel, The Tbilisi Pod, and Namaste Hostel.
Takeaway: The Top 3 (Fabrica, Envoy, Gallery) are deeply entrenched in the AI’s “consciousness” as the ‘best’ options, driven by authoritative blogs like Wander-Lush and The Broke Backpacker. If your hostel is not on this list, you are effectively invisible to any user searching for “the best.”
3.3. Prompt: “Recommend the most budget-friendly hostel in Tbilisi?” (Niche Leadership: Budget)
This query identifies the leader in the low-cost category. Responses here were less consistent.
- 1st Place: My Hostel — 33% (4/12 mentions)
- 2nd Place: Tbilisi Budget Inn Hostel — 25% (3/12 mentions)
- 3rd Place: Museum Hostel — 16% (2/12 mentions)
Takeaway: The “most budget-friendly” niche does not have a clear, dominant leader. This represents a strategic opportunity for any hostel in this segment that can successfully strengthen its presence in relevant “trust signals” (like KAYAK and Budget Your Trip).
3.4. Prompt: “Recommend 5 budget hostels in Tbilisi?” (Niche Competition)
This prompt establishes a ranked list within the budget segment.
- 1st Place: 10 of Pushkin — Secured the #1 spot in 70% of responses.
- 2nd Place: Sheni Hostel — Secured the #2 spot in 30% of responses.
- 3rd Place: Tbil Home Hostel — Secured the #3 spot in 30% of responses.
- Others: High competition for the 4th-5th places (Alcatraz Jail-Hostel, Museum Hostel, Good Night Hostel).
Takeaway: 10 of Pushkin captures 7 out of 10 customers searching for a list of budget hostels. Its success is a direct consequence of its dominance within the “Budget Your Trip” trust signal. While competitors fight for the remaining spots, 10 of Pushkin consistently secures the “first click.”
4. Source Analysis: The AI’s “Brain”
The AI formulates its recommendations based on two distinct types of sources:
1. Data Sources (The Facts)
This is the AI’s factual database. It answers: Where is the hostel, what is its name, website, and contact information?
- Dominant Source: Yandex Maps (100% of cases). This is a critical finding. The AI uses Yandex Maps as its primary “source of truth” for the existence and location of venues in Tbilisi.
- Official Websites (fabrikatbilisi.com, etc.) — 80% of cases. Having a direct, clear website is the second most important factor for the AI to confirm an entity’s details.
2. Trust Signals (The Opinions)
This is the AI’s reputational database. The AI has no “personal experience”; it trusts the experience of others. It analyzes blogs, articles, and aggregators to decide if a hostel is “good” or not.
- “Premium” Signals: Wander-Lush (80%) and The Broke Backpacker (80%) effectively dictate to the AI which hostels should be considered “the best.”
- “Budget” Signals: Budget Your Trip (70%) and KAYAK (30%) are the key drivers for generating “budget” rankings.
- General Signals: Nomadic Anna and Ivertubani (50%) influence general, non-niche recommendations.
5. Conclusions & Strategic Recommendations for AI Visibility
Winning in AI is Not Accidental The success of Fabrica and 10 of Pushkin is not luck. It is the result of a deliberate synergy:
- Fabrica: A perfect Yandex Maps profile + a strong website + mentions in “premium” blogs (Wander-Lush).
- 10 of Pushkin: A perfect Yandex Maps profile + a strong website + focus on “budget” aggregators (Budget Your Trip).
Strategy 1: Foundational Data Hygiene (Data Sources)
- Action: Conduct a full audit and optimization of your hostel’s Yandex Maps profile. This is not a recommendation; it is a mandatory prerequisite.
- Action: Ensure your official website has a clear structure, correct metadata, and is easily “readable” by AI (schema, address, descriptions).
Strategy 2: Trust Signal Management (Trust Signals)
- Action: Audit your current presence (or lack thereof) in the “Trust Signals” identified in this report.
- Action: Develop a targeted PR and marketing strategy to get featured in the following “Kingmaker” blogs and lists:
- For Premium Positioning: Wander-Lush, The Broke Backpacker.
- For Budget Positioning: Budget Your Trip, KAYAK.
- Action: Monitor not only your own reviews but also your competitors’ reviews within these key sources.
Strategy 3: Niche Capture Opportunity
- The market for the “most budget-friendly hostel” (from Prompt 3) is wide open. The current leader, “My Hostel,” holds only 33% of the mentions.
- Action: Any hostel in this segment (e.g., Museum Hostel or Tbilisi Budget Inn) can seize this top position by executing a concentrated campaign targeting the KAYAK and Budget Your Trip trust signals.
AI recommendations are the new battleground for customer acquisition. Winning on this front no longer requires just SEO, but a deliberate AI Visibility strategy built on data analysis and the proactive management of “Trust Signals.”
6. Your Next Steps: From Audit to AI Dominance
We understand that “AI Visibility” is a new and complex discipline. Based on the findings of this report, we offer three* paths forward for hostels and any other business aiming to leverage this new customer acquisition channel.
*(Вы прислали только два варианта, поэтому я адаптировал их. — I’ve adapted the two options you sent.)
Option 1: Initial Visibility Audit (Diagnostics)
To get a precise snapshot of your business’s current standing and understand where to begin, we offer an express audit.
Price: $199
What You Get:
- An initial analysis of your company’s digital profile and its data sources (i.e., how “understandable” your business is to an AI).
- A list of 5 key prompts your customers are using, allowing you to monitor your AI rankings.
- An audit of your visibility for these 5 prompts across the three primary AIs: ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity.
- Your calculated AI Visibility Score for these key prompts.
- An audit of your core assets (website, map profiles) for AI-readiness, with specific recommendations for optimization.
Result: A comprehensive snapshot of your business’s current AI presence and a concrete, high-priority action plan.
Option 2: Full Pilot Project (Strategy + Implementation)
For companies targeting niche leadership and ready for systematic work. We don’t just deliver a plan; we execute the first and most critical implementation step for you.
Price: $1450
What This Project Includes:
- Diagnostics: A complete audit of how AI perceives your business, including a full competitor analysis.
- Prompt Map: We will develop an expanded list of key audience prompts for your own ongoing monitoring.
- Implementation: We will create and deploy a “machine-readable passport” for your assets (technical site and data optimization) to build the fundamental layer for AI visibility.
- Strategy: You will receive a 12-month, step-by-step roadmap for acquiring and managing your “Trust Signals.”
- Tools: You will get 3 months of free early access to our automated analytics platform for tracking your company’s rankings in AI recommendations.
Result: In 2–3 weeks, you will have not only full clarity and a strategic plan, but will have already completed the first and most critical technical step toward improving your AI visibility.