The problem
Guests read the replies on your listing as closely as the reviews. If a B&B gets 30 reviews a month across Booking.com, Google and TripAdvisor and each reply takes 7 minutes to write, that's 210 minutes, 3.5 hours a month.
What the AI does
Paste each review, without the guest's name, into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini and ask for a short, warm reply that thanks them and mentions one specific point they raised. For a complaint, add what happened from your side and what you'll change. Edit it and post it yourself on each platform. Never use an assistant for reviews that mention illness, an allergic reaction or a safety issue: reply personally, record it and take advice if needed. The assistant doesn't know your rooms, breakfast or facilities and must not state them.
A worked example
A 6-room B&B in Whitby gets about 30 reviews a month across three sites. The owner pastes them in on a Monday and posts the edited replies the same morning.
Before
7 minutes per reply: 30 x 7 = 210 minutes, 3.5 hours a month
After
About 3 minutes per reply: 90 minutes, 1.5 hours a month
What it's worth
About 2 hours a month saved (120 minutes), worth around £40 if your time is worth £20 an hour. The free plans of ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini can do this; a paid plan is up to about £20 a month for one person if you hit usage limits.
How to set it up
- Write 5 lines on your tone: warm, specific, short, sign off with your name.
- Paste each review, minus the guest's name, into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini and ask for a reply under 70 words.
- Check every fact against your own knowledge of the stay and delete any promise, such as a discount.
- Set aside anything about illness, allergy or safety and reply yourself.
- Post from your own account on each site, following that site's reply rules.
What goes wrong
- Drafts can promise discounts or upgrades. Read every line before posting.
- Each platform has its own rules on replies. Check them rather than assuming.
- Don't paste guests' names, room numbers or booking details into consumer AI plans.
- Free plans have usage limits; a month of reviews in one sitting may hit them.