Google for hotels: free booking links and Hotel Ads advertising

What travellers see on Google

When travellers look for a place to stay on Google or Google Maps, they land on the property’s listing: photos, reviews, address, and a price panel comparing offers from several booking sites.

Your own website can appear in that panel, labelled “Official site”. Travellers then see your price next to the platforms’ prices, and one click takes them straight to your booking engine.

The direct connection to Google: free

Google shows the rates of connected properties for free: these are the free booking links. There is no cost per click and no commission paid to Google.

• Your rates and availability appear in the price panel, labelled “Official site”.
• The “Book” button on your Google listing opens your booking engine.
• Guests book with you directly, with no intermediary.

With Reservit, this connection is included: your rates are sent to Google with no fees and no cost per booking.

Google Hotel Ads: advertising, to go further

Google Hotel Ads is Google’s advertising program for accommodation. It is paid: depending on the model you choose, you pay by commission, per booking or per click, within the budget you set.

In return, your offer can appear in the ad placements, higher and more often than through the free links alone.

When to use it

• To fill quiet periods, on specific dates.
• When booking platforms hold the top spots for your destination.
• To promote a direct offer, such as a package or a shorter minimum stay.

Hotel Ads is a case-by-case decision: the free connection is often enough to start with, and advertising comes on top.

What matters, either way

• Accurate prices: the rate shown on Google must match your booking engine. A gap disappoints the guest, and Google can remove a price that does not match.
• Up-to-date availability: a date sold elsewhere must close everywhere at the same time.
• A well-kept Google listing: recent photos, accurate details, replies to reviews.
• A booking engine that is easy on a phone: most of these clicks come from mobile.

How Reservit handles it

Reservit sends your rates and availability to Google automatically, from the same calendar as your other channels. The price shown on Google stays the price of your booking engine, and every booking lands directly in your software.

• The direct connection to Google is included with Reservit.
• Google Hotel Ads is available as an option, if you want to invest in advertising.
• The software takes no commission on your bookings.

In summary

• Appearing in Google’s price panel is free: that is the direct connection, included with Reservit.
• Google Hotel Ads is paid: it is advertising, for when you want more visibility.
• Either way, what makes the difference is accurate prices and up-to-date availability.