{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BlogPosting","headline":"Yelp in ChatGPT: Hotel Data Study 2026 — First Documentation of the Integration","description":"603 ChatGPT captures reveal OpenAI began integrating Yelp as a hotel data source on January 22, 2026. 33% of queries that show entity cards surface Yelp.","datePublished":"2026-02-08","dateModified":"2026-02-09","url":"https://nicolassitter.com/research/yelp-chatgpt-hotels-study-2026","category":"research","keywords":["ChatGPT Yelp hotels","Yelp ChatGPT integration","ChatGPT hotel data sources"],"articleSection":"Research","wordCount":3600,"readTime":"14 min","articleBody":"Nicolas Sitter ResearchFirst Public Documentation\n\n# ChatGPT Now Pulls Hotel Data from Yelp — Only in 5 Cities\n\nWe detected the exact date OpenAI turned this on: **January 22, 2026**. Yelp appears in 33% of hotel queries — but your destination determines everything.\n\nLast updated: February 9, 2026•Tracking ongoing\n\n[What This Means for Hotels](#implications)[Read Methodology](#methodology)\n\n33%\n\nQueries with Yelp\n\n5\n\nCities Covered\n\n603\n\nCaptures Analyzed\n\nJan 22\n\nRollout Date\n\n## TL;DR\n\nAnalysis of 603 ChatGPT captures across 14 destinations reveals that OpenAI began integrating Yelp as a hotel data source on **January 22, 2026**. Yelp appears in 33% of queries that show entity cards, but only for US cities (Las Vegas 40%, LA 38%, San Francisco 33%, NYC 29%) and Berlin (30%). It always supplements Google Places, never replaces it — only 0.2% of captures showed Yelp without Google. **For hotels outside these 5 cities, Yelp optimization has zero impact on ChatGPT visibility.**\n\n## Executive Summary\n\nThis is the **first public documentation** of ChatGPT's Yelp integration for hotels. We detected when OpenAI flipped the switch, mapped the geographic rollout, and identified the A/B testing pattern. Yelp is a **secondary data source** that supplements Google Places — it never replaces it.\n\n### Destination-Dependent\n\nYelp only appears for US cities (Las Vegas, LA, SF, NYC) + Berlin. Zero coverage for European resorts, Dubai, or Mediterranean destinations.\n\n### Your Location Doesn't Matter\n\nWhether you search from the US, UK, or Germany, Yelp presence is consistent — it's the _destination_ that matters, not where you're searching from.\n\n### Supplementation Only\n\nYelp is **always** a supplement to Google Places, never a replacement. In 33% of responses, ChatGPT combines both sources. Only 0.2% showed Yelp alone.\n\n#### Related Research\n\nCompare with [Google AI Mode Study](/research/google-ai-mode-hotel-study-2026) — Google keeps 79% of hotel clicks within its ecosystem, while ChatGPT pulls from multiple sources.\n\nSee also [AI Hotel Landscape 2026](/research/ai-hotel-landscape-2026) for the full breakdown of data sources across ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity & Grok.\n\n## Our Dataset: 14 Destinations\n\nWe track ChatGPT hotel responses across 14 destinations using standardized prompts. These cities were chosen to represent a mix of US urban markets, European capitals, luxury resorts, and Mediterranean destinations.\n\n### US Cities\n\n-   • Las Vegas — Casino/entertainment hub\n-   • Los Angeles — Major US gateway\n-   • San Francisco — Tech hub, tourism\n-   • New York — Largest US market\n\n### European Cities\n\n-   • Berlin — German capital\n-   • Rome — Mediterranean capital\n-   • Barcelona — Spanish coast\n-   • Istanbul — East-West gateway\n-   • Amsterdam — Northern Europe\n\n### Luxury/Resort\n\n-   • Saint-Tropez — French Riviera\n-   • Megeve — French Alps ski\n-   • Courchevel — French Alps ski\n-   • Saint Barth — Caribbean luxury\n\n### Middle East\n\n-   • Dubai — Luxury hub, business travel\n\n**Why these cities?** This selection lets us compare Yelp presence across markets where Yelp is strong (US), moderately present (Germany), and absent (France, Spain, Middle East). The results reveal that Yelp integration is destination-dependent.\n\n## The Rollout Timeline\n\nWe detected the exact date: **January 22, 2026**. Here's how it unfolded.\n\nJan 22, 2026\n\nYelp entities first appear— US proxy only\n\n**119** entities12.6% Yelp\n\nJan 25, 2026\n\nFull attributes schema deployed— All 30+ attributes\n\n**65** entities17.6% Yelp\n\nFeb 5, 2026\n\nDE & GB proxies start— Peak volume\n\n**319** entities12% Yelp\n\nFeb 6, 2026\n\nNormal operations\n\n**55** entities9% Yelp\n\nFeb 7, 2026\n\nContinued tracking\n\n**42** entities11.9% Yelp\n\nFeb 8, 2026\n\nAnalysis published— This report\n\n**66** entities11% Yelp\n\nYelp Integration Timeline (Jan-Feb 2026)\n\nDate\n\nEvent\n\nEntities\n\nYelp %\n\nNotes\n\nJan 22, 2026\n\nYelp entities first appear\n\n119\n\n12.6%\n\nUS proxy only\n\nJan 25, 2026\n\nFull attributes schema deployed\n\n65\n\n17.6%\n\nAll 30+ attributes\n\nFeb 5, 2026\n\nDE & GB proxies start\n\n319\n\n12%\n\nPeak volume\n\nFeb 6, 2026\n\nNormal operations\n\n55\n\n9%\n\n—\n\nFeb 7, 2026\n\nContinued tracking\n\n42\n\n11.9%\n\n—\n\nFeb 8, 2026\n\nAnalysis published\n\n66\n\n11%\n\nThis report\n\n**A/B Testing Detected:** Yelp appearance is not continuous — gaps between Jan 23-24 and Jan 26-Feb 4 suggest OpenAI is experimenting with provider mix. We're tracking this ongoing.\n\n## Yelp Presence by Destination City\n\nThe critical finding: Yelp presence is **entirely destination-dependent**, not proxy-dependent. Yelp only appears for US cities + Berlin.\n\n### Cities with Yelp Coverage\n\nLas Vegas\n\n40.2%\n\nLos Angeles\n\n38.2%\n\nSan Francisco\n\n32.6%\n\nBerlin\n\n30.4%\n\nNew York\n\n28.5%\n\nAmsterdam\n\n0.9%\n\n### Yelp Active (Optimize Here)\n\n-   • Las Vegas (40.2%)\n-   • Los Angeles (38.2%)\n-   • San Francisco (32.6%)\n-   • Berlin (30.4%)\n-   • New York (28.5%)\n\n### Zero Yelp (Don't Waste Time)\n\n-   • European resorts: Saint-Tropez, Megeve, Courchevel\n-   • Mediterranean: Rome, Barcelona, Istanbul\n-   • Middle East: Dubai\n-   • Caribbean: Saint Barth\n\n**Key Insight:** ChatGPT only sources Yelp data for destinations where Yelp has strong market presence (US cities, Germany). European luxury/resort destinations rely entirely on Google Places.\n\nYelp Presence by Destination\n\nCity\n\nYelp Share\n\nData Source\n\nLas Vegas\n\n40.2%\n\nGoogle + Yelp\n\nLos Angeles\n\n38.2%\n\nGoogle + Yelp\n\nSan Francisco\n\n32.6%\n\nGoogle + Yelp\n\nBerlin\n\n30.4%\n\nGoogle + Yelp\n\nNew York\n\n28.5%\n\nGoogle + Yelp\n\nAmsterdam\n\n0.9%\n\nGoogle + Yelp\n\n## Your Location Doesn't Matter — The Destination Does\n\nWe tested from US, UK, and German proxies. The result: your location has **no effect**on Yelp visibility. Only the destination matters.\n\nYelp Presence by Proxy Location\n\nDestination\n\nUS Proxy\n\nGB Proxy\n\nDE Proxy\n\nLas Vegas\n\n44.9%\n\n36.4%\n\n31.7%\n\nLos Angeles\n\n35.2%\n\n42.9%\n\n38.9%\n\nSan Francisco\n\n35.8%\n\n26.2%\n\n32.3%\n\nBerlin\n\n30%\n\n31.5%\n\n30.3%\n\nNew York\n\n27.5%\n\n29.7%\n\n29.9%\n\n**Counterintuitive finding:** For the same destination, Yelp percentage varies by only ±5-10% between proxies — well within normal sampling variance. A user in London searching for Las Vegas hotels sees the same Yelp data as a user in New York.\n\n## Yelp by Prompt Type\n\nDoes the type of hotel query affect Yelp presence? Somewhat — but it's mostly driven by which destinations each prompt type targets.\n\nOther\n\n39.3%\n\nBoutique/Design\n\n37.5%\n\nAffordable\n\n35.2%\n\nFamily\n\n33.9%\n\nRomantic\n\n31.7%\n\nLuxury/5-star\n\n29%\n\nBeachfront\n\n9.7%\n\nSki/Mountain\n\n0%\n\n**Why the variation?** \"Beachfront\" and \"Ski/Mountain\" prompts have low Yelp rates because they target destinations (Saint-Tropez, Megeve, Courchevel) where Yelp has no coverage. It's about the _city_, not the prompt.\n\nPrompt Type\n\nTotal Captures\n\nWith Yelp\n\nYelp %\n\nOther\n\n145\n\n57\n\n39.3%\n\nBoutique/Design\n\n120\n\n45\n\n37.5%\n\nAffordable\n\n54\n\n19\n\n35.2%\n\nFamily\n\n62\n\n21\n\n33.9%\n\nRomantic\n\n60\n\n19\n\n31.7%\n\nLuxury/5-star\n\n124\n\n36\n\n29%\n\nBeachfront\n\n31\n\n3\n\n9.7%\n\nSki/Mountain\n\n7\n\n0\n\n0%\n\n## Yelp vs Google: Supplementation, Not Replacement\n\nHow often does Yelp appear alongside Google? Almost always — Yelp rarely appears alone.\n\n62.7%\n\nGoogle only\n\n33%\n\nBoth (Yelp + Google)\n\n0.2%\n\nYelp only\n\n4.1%\n\nNeither\n\n**Google remains the foundation:** Yelp is **always** a supplement to Google Places, never a replacement. Only 1 capture (0.2%) showed Yelp without Google. If you want to rank in ChatGPT hotel results, Google Business Profile is still the foundation.\n\n## What Data Does Yelp Provide?\n\nWhen Yelp entities appear, they include rich business metadata — but not all fields are populated.\n\n### High Fill Rate (82%+)\n\n-   • business\\_url\n-   • about\\_this\\_biz\\_bio\n-   • about\\_this\\_biz\\_specialties\n-   • about\\_this\\_biz\\_history\n-   • year\\_established\n-   • wi\\_fi\n-   • dogs\\_allowed\n\n### Lower Fill Rate\n\n-   • Payment methods (64%)\n-   • Restaurant attributes (6.5%)\n-   • menu\\_url (0.2%)\n\n**Always null:** yelp\\_menu\\_url, is\\_claimed, popularity\\_score, online\\_reservation\n\nYelp Attribute Fill Rates\n\nAttribute\n\nFill Rate\n\nCategory\n\nbusiness\\_url\n\n82.1%\n\nBusiness Info\n\nabout\\_this\\_biz\\_bio\n\n82.1%\n\nBusiness Info\n\nabout\\_this\\_biz\\_specialties\n\n82.1%\n\nBusiness Info\n\nabout\\_this\\_biz\\_history\n\n82.1%\n\nBusiness Info\n\nabout\\_this\\_biz\\_year\\_established\n\n82.1%\n\nBusiness Info\n\nwi\\_fi\n\n82.1%\n\nAmenities\n\ndogs\\_allowed\n\n81.1%\n\nAmenities\n\nbusiness\\_accepts\\_credit\\_cards\n\n64%\n\nPayment\n\n## What This Means for Hotels\n\nActionable recommendations based on our analysis. Your strategy depends on your location.\n\n### US City Hotels + Berlin\n\nIf your hotel is in Las Vegas, LA, San Francisco, NYC, or Berlin — **Yelp matters**. These cities see 28-40% Yelp coverage in ChatGPT results.\n\nAction: Optimize Yelp Profile\n\nFollow the checklist below to maximize your Yelp visibility in ChatGPT.\n\n### European/Luxury/Other Hotels\n\nSaint-Tropez, Megeve, Courchevel, Rome, Barcelona, Dubai? **Focus entirely on Google.** Yelp has zero presence for these destinations.\n\nAction: Skip Yelp\n\nDon't waste time optimizing Yelp. Focus on [Google Business Profile](/research/google-ai-mode-hotel-study-2026) and your website content.\n\n### Yelp Profile Optimization Checklist (For Covered Cities)\n\nBased on our analysis of which Yelp attributes appear in ChatGPT, prioritize these fields:\n\nComplete your \"About This Business\" section (82% fill rate)\n\nFill out: Bio, Specialties, History, Year Established. These appear in 82% of Yelp entities.\n\nSet your Wi-Fi policy (82% fill rate)\n\nConfirm Wi-Fi availability — this amenity is surfaced in recommendations.\n\nSet your pet policy (81% fill rate)\n\nIndicate whether dogs are allowed — important for pet-friendly travelers.\n\nConfirm payment methods (64% fill rate)\n\nCredit cards, Apple Pay, Android Pay — update if your options have changed.\n\n?\n\nDon't worry about \"claiming\" your profile\n\nThe `is_claimed` field is always null in current data — it doesn't appear to affect visibility.\n\n### Google First, Always\n\nYelp supplements Google but never replaces it. Your Google Business Profile is still the foundation for ChatGPT visibility — Yelp is a bonus layer for covered cities.\n\n### Watch for Changes\n\nYelp integration appears to be in A/B testing — presence is sporadic. OpenAI may expand coverage to more cities or pull back entirely. We're tracking this ongoing.\n\n**For SEO/AIO Practitioners:** Your optimization strategy should be destination-based. US cities = optimize both Google + Yelp. European resorts = Google only. Dubai/Middle East = Google only. Don't waste resources on Yelp for destinations where it has zero impact.\n\nFAQ\n\n## Frequently Asked Questions\n\nCommon questions about Yelp and ChatGPT hotel recommendations.\n\n## Methodology\n\nHow we collected and analyzed this data.\n\n### Data Collection\n\n-   • GPT-5-2 model with web search\n-   • 603 captures analyzed\n-   • 140 standardized prompts x 4 proxies\n-   • Jan 22 - Feb 8, 2026\n\n### Entity Detection\n\n-   • Provider field = \"yelp\"\n-   • Image URL contains yelpcdn.com\n-   • 22-char alphanumeric ID format\n\n### Limitations\n\n-   • ES proxy not yet active\n-   • DE/GB only have 1 day of data\n-   • Sampling variance in sporadic captures\n\n#### This is a Living Document\n\nWe're continuing to track ChatGPT's Yelp integration as it evolves. OpenAI may expand coverage to more cities or adjust the provider mix. Check back for updates — this page will be updated as we detect changes.\n\nLast updated: February 9, 2026\n\n## Continue Reading\n\nExplore more Nicolas Sitter research on AI hotel search.\n\n[AI Hotel Landscape 2026](/research/ai-hotel-landscape-2026)\n\n[Anatomy of ChatGPT Search](/research/anatomy-chatgpt-hotel-search-2026)[AI Direct Links Study](/research/ai-hotel-direct-links-study-2026)[All Research](/research)","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Nicolas Sitter","url":"https://nicolassitter.com/about","sameAs":["https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolassitternolleau/","https://github.com/Nicositter88","https://hotelrank.ai"]},"publisher":{"@type":"Person","name":"Nicolas Sitter","url":"https://nicolassitter.com"},"image":"https://nicolassitter.com/api/og/yelp-chatgpt-hotels-study-2026","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://nicolassitter.com/research/yelp-chatgpt-hotels-study-2026"},"tags":["Yelp","ChatGPT","Hotel Search","Data Sources"],"sameAs":["https://hotelrank.ai/research/yelp-chatgpt-hotels-study-2026"],"alternateFormat":{"html":"https://nicolassitter.com/research/yelp-chatgpt-hotels-study-2026","json":"https://nicolassitter.com/api/post/yelp-chatgpt-hotels-study-2026","rss":"https://nicolassitter.com/rss.xml"},"datasets":[{"name":"summary","contentUrl":"https://nicolassitter.com/data/yelp-chatgpt-hotels-study-2026/summary.csv","encodingFormat":"text/csv"}]}