Gaylord National Resort at National Harbor deepfake video

Social media influencers have been identified using generative AI to create travel content that misrepresents real-world properties to drive traffic to affiliate booking links. These videos often present altered visuals of hotels and resorts, leading potential travelers to believe they are viewing accurate depictions of amenities and locations that do not exist as shown.

What happened

In one specific instance, a video promoted the Gaylord National Resort at National Harbor, located outside Washington, D.C. While the resort is a real property, the AI-generated video appeared to combine features from multiple different Gaylord resort locations into a single presentation. Notably, the video included an outdoor lazy river that is not actually located at the Gaylord National property.

This incident is part of a broader trend where creators use AI to generate content that may not match official property listings. While TikTok requires labels for AI-generated content on realistic scenes, these labels do not verify the accuracy of the claims made regarding property features, pricing, or availability. Experts warn that travelers should not rely solely on social media videos when booking trips. Instead, they recommend verifying information by searching for the property independently, comparing video content against official hotel websites, and reviewing recent traveler photos to ensure the advertised experience matches reality.