What is Google Hotel Finder?

Google Hotel Finder, also known as Google Hotel Search or simply Google Hotels, is a metasearch tool that collates information about hotels from across the web, then displays options in response to user queries. It is part of Google Travel, which also offers metasearch engines for flights and things to do.

In its hotel finder Google has created something similar to other travel metasearch tools such as Kayak and Trivago. Google’s popularity means that this tool can form an important source of business for independent hoteliers.

Why it’s important for small properties to use Google Hotel Finder

Metasearch engines like Google Hotel Finder take an overwhelming amount of information and present it to users in a simple, easy to digest way, placing the most relevant and best value hotel options at the top of the list. This makes these tools a popular way for travellers to begin the process of shopping for hotels.

But Google Hotel Finder is perhaps the most important metasearch engine of all for hoteliers. The reason is simple: Google boasts a global search engine market share of over 90%, and when a potential guest ‘googles’ accommodation by typing in “hotel [your city]”, Google Hotels comes up as a rich result. If you don’t show as a result on Google Hotel Finder, you could miss out on a vast amount of business.

On the flipside, if you optimise your presence on Google Hotel Finder, you could get in front of more potential guests than you ever have before.

How does Google Hotels work?

Google is making it easier for travellers to find the information they’re looking for, right from the moment they search for it. As a metasearch engine, Google Hotels collates hotel information from across the internet, then serves it up to users in an easy to navigate format. 

Users begin by keying in a location and dates. Google has added filters like price, rating, and hotel class within organic search listings. This means that travellers don’t have to click through to a different website to drill down on their searches.

After a traveller filters their search, they can click through to a hotel details page, where all the offers from advertisers are listed – they can click the ‘View prices’ button to check the best deals for the hotel from across the web. Bookings aren’t made on Google Hotel Finder – the user is sent to either an OTA or the hotel’s own site to complete the booking.

How do I get my hotel on Google Hotel Finder?

“How do I list accommodation on Google?” is a commonly asked question.

As a metasearch engine, the first step to ensuring you come up as a result on Google Travel Hotel Finder is to make sure that Google knows you exist. This is a simple matter of completing a hotel Business Profile (which also ensures you come up on Maps and other Google properties).

Once you have set up your hotel Business Profile, you’ll automatically come up as a result on Google Hotel Finder (provided guests can book your hotel online, whether direct or through an OTA or other booking channel).

At that point it’s simply a matter of maximising your exposure on Google Hotel Finder – so let’s look at the best ways to do just that.

Google Hotel Finder best practises for small hotels

Following best practices helps ensure you’re able to achieve your goals. Sticking to best practices time after time will greatly increase the chance of a positive outcome. Here are three to keep in mind:

1. Offer great direct booking deals

Do you have a direct booking website? If you don’t, you should, as direct bookings remove the need to pay commissions to OTAs, which are often in the region of 15%-25% for every booking.

If you do have a direct booking site, it’s important that it is the top option on your Google Hotel Finder listing. Booking channel options for your hotel will be listed by price, so your site needs to offer the best rate, or at the very least the equal-best rate. As you don’t have to pay the 15-25% OTA commission on direct bookings, it’s wise to use some of those savings to offer direct deals that can’t be beat.

2. Pay to put your name up in lights

Google Hotel Finder has an ad function that lets you bid for a place at the top of the results. You bid on the percentage of the booking that you’re happy to pay if a guest clicks on your ad and books with you. Say, for example, you successfully bid 10%, then a person clicks on your Google Hotel Ad and books on your site. If the value of the booking was $550, you’ll pay Google Hotel Finder $55 in commission.

3. Add unique details to your hotel Business Profile

Is your hotel pet-friendly? Do you offer guests free breakfast, free parking or free WiFi? By listing these value adding services on your Business Profile, you’re more likely to be presented as an option when a potential guest types in an applicable term, such as ‘pet-friendly hotel [your city]’, into Google Hotel Finder.

Get direct Google Hotel Finder bookings with Little Hotelier

Google Hotel Finder is one of the most valuable tools an independent hotelier has for increasing visibility and driving more bookings, as it allows you to harness the power of Google. But being shown on the Google Hotel price finder is only half the battle – to fully capitalise on the tool, you need to drive direct bookings… which is where Little Hotelier comes in.

Little Hotelier is an all-in-one direct booking management software crafted specifically for small, independent hoteliers. It grants a hotelier a simple way to accept and manage direct bookings through a single portal with a single login. As many hoteliers have already found out, Little Hotelier can drive a 46% increase in bookings and an ROI of 63x!

  • Add it or build it: From adding direct booking functionality to your current site, to creating a brand new direct booking site, integrating Little Hotelier’s direct booking engine is simple.
  • Increase booking value: Let guests customise their stay, and make more money, by offering packages, deals and optional extras as part of the booking process.
  • Charge your worth: Add multiple rate plans for each and every room to ensure you’re always charging what your rooms are worth.

By Dean Elphick

Dean is the Senior Content Marketing Specialist of Little Hotelier, the all-in-one software solution purpose-built to make the lives of small accommodation providers easier. Dean has made writing and creating content his passion for the entirety of his professional life, which includes more than six years at Little Hotelier. Through content, Dean aims to provide education, inspiration, assistance, and, ultimately, value for small accommodation businesses looking to improve the way they run their operations (and live their life).