Curator Specification

Authority extension for A2A Agent Cards.

Namespace URI: https://agenticbooking.org/curator/v1

1. Overview

Curator defines how regional authorities, brand groups, and editorial curators express their collections, stories, and verification capabilities to AI agents.

{
  "agentCard": {
    "name": "Visit Norfolk",
    "endpoint": "https://visitnorfolk.co.uk/api/agent",
    "skills": ["recommend", "answer", "narrate", "verify"]
  },
  "curator": {
    "schemaVersion": "0.2.0",
    "type": "curator:dmo",
    "identity": {...},
    "coverage": {...},
    "stories": {...},
    "verification": {...},
    "actions": {...},
    "transparency": {...}
  }
}

1.1 Curator Types

2. Coverage

Defines what the Curator knows about:

{
  "coverage": {
    "totalVenues": 847,
    "certified": 612,
    "withStories": 234,
    "categories": ["stay", "eat", "drink", "experience"],
    "bounds": {
      "type": "geographic",
      "regions": ["Norfolk"],
      "country": "GB"
    },
    "lastUpdated": "2026-01-15",
    "narrativeDensity": 0.38
  }
}

2.1 Narrative Density

narrativeDensity = withStories / certified

A Curator with 612 certified venues and 234 stories (density: 0.38) demonstrates deeper engagement than one with 1000 certified and 12 stories (density: 0.012).

3. Stories

Stories are the Curator's primary value creation—narratives that reveal place through people.

{
  "story": {
    "id": "white-lion-interview-2026",
    "type": "venue-interview",
    "created": "2026-01-20T00:00:00Z",

    "about": {
      "venueId": "white-lion-blakeney",
      "venueName": "The White Lion",
      "venueEndpoint": "https://whitelionblakeney.co.uk/.well-known/agent.json"
    },

    "content": {
      "headline": "Where the sailors drink",
      "summary": "Third-generation publican on keeping the quayside spirit alive.",
      "quotes": [{
        "text": "The harbour's been here longer than the building. We're just caretakers.",
        "attribution": "James Morton",
        "role": "Publican"
      }],
      "localContext": "Blakeney was a working port before it was a tourist destination.",
      "insiderTip": "The crab comes off the boat at 6am. Be at breakfast by 8 if you want it."
    },

    "editorialWeight": {
      "depth": "comprehensive",
      "confidence": "high",
      "basis": "ongoing-relationship"
    }
  }
}

3.1 Story Types

3.2 Editorial Weight

4. Verification

Split into procedural certification and editorial badges:

{
  "verification": {
    "certificationLevels": [
      { "level": "listed", "description": "Appears in catalog", "procedural": true },
      { "level": "verified", "description": "Story captured, details documented", "procedural": true },
      { "level": "recommended", "description": "Actively recommended", "procedural": true }
    ],
    "editorialBadges": [
      { "badge": "featured", "description": "Editor's choice", "editorial": true },
      { "badge": "hidden-gem", "description": "Lesser-known discovery", "editorial": true }
    ],
    "canCertify": ["venue:hotel", "venue:restaurant", "venue:bar"],
    "certificationCriteria": "https://visitnorfolk.co.uk/criteria"
  }
}

4.1 Certification on Venue

When a Curator certifies a venue, it appears as evidence:

{
  "evidence": {
    "dmoCertified": {
      "claim": "Certified by Visit Norfolk",
      "confidence": 0.95,
      "sources": [{
        "type": "curator_certification",
        "curatorId": "visit-norfolk",
        "certificationLevel": "verified",
        "editorialBadges": ["hidden-gem"],
        "certifiedAt": "2026-01-20T00:00:00Z"
      }]
    }
  }
}

5. Actions

What agents can ask the Curator to do:

{
  "actions": {
    "capabilities": ["recommend", "answer", "getStory", "listVenues", "verify"],
    "endpoint": "https://visitnorfolk.co.uk/api/agent",
    "protocol": "jsonrpc"
  }
}

6. Transparency

Required for Portfolio Curators, recommended for all:

{
  "transparency": {
    "economicRelationship": "none | partner | owner",
    "disclosureStatement": "All listed properties are independently operated",
    "rankingDisclosure": {
      "primaryFactors": ["editorial-judgment", "certification-level", "narrative-density"],
      "methodology": "https://visitnorfolk.co.uk/ranking"
    }
  }
}

Portfolio Curators with economicRelationship: owner MUST disclose this prominently.

7. Trust Hierarchy

When multiple Curators conflict, agents apply this hierarchy:

8. Transport Bindings

A2A Agent Card

https://{domain}/.well-known/agent.json

MCP

{
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "recommend",
    "arguments": {
      "intent": "dog-friendly coastal weekend",
      "region": "Norfolk",
      "party": { "adults": 2, "dogs": 1 }
    }
  }
}

Related Specifications

• Bookable Spec — Base pattern
• Venue Spec — What venues say about themselves
• Identity Spec — DIDs and verification