Google has a Free Booking links in Google Hotel Search and Cloudbeds released this functionality to all of our properties that qualify to have their rates listed with Google Free Booking Links.
To learn more about the requirements for Google Hotel Search and how to get started, check further details below.
Google also allows properties to bid for preferential placement in Google Hotel Search through Google Hotel Ads. If you would like to check further details, check the following article: Is Cloudbeds going to integrate with Google Hotel Ads?
Benefits
- Your property rates and availability are displayed, always accurate and directly bookable on Google.
- Boosts the power of your commission-free Cloudbeds Booking Engine and empowers you to maximize your revenue.
- Converts future guests at an earlier point in their purchasing journey.
- Drives direct bookings by reaching guests when they first search.
- You own the guest details and communications.
How does it work?
Once the connection with Google Hotel Search is established, Cloudbeds will send your property's rates, availability and inventory from your Booking Engine to Google, so potential guests see this information while performing property search.
Your property will be displayed in the free booking links, and if a reservation occurs, you will see a reservation with source 'Website / Booking Engine' and it's origin will be Google Hotel Search on your Cloudbeds account.
- The following articles may help you understand:
- What is the difference between Google Ads, Free Booking Links, Google My Business, Google Hotel Ads.
- Which reservations were made with the Free Booking Link on Google.
In order to qualify for Google’s Hotel Search, your property must meet the following criteria:
- A property must comply with all Google limitations concerning rate plans, taxes and fees. The technical requirements to synchronize your rate plans are not deliverable to Google by all Cloudbeds subscription plans, you may need to upgrade.
- You must use Cloudbeds Booking Engine. All of the properties using Cloudbeds booking engine are qualified, but not all of them send rate plans to Google Hotel Search. Check here which Cloudbeds packages include the possibility to send Advanced Channel Rates to the channels.
- You must have a Google My Business listing that is matched with the information loaded into Cloudbeds (Property Name, Address, Phone and Website). Learn more: Guidelines for representing your business on Google and Sign up and review your business information.
- Vacation Rentals - at the moment, this type of business is not eligible for a Google My Business Profile. Click here for further details from Google support.
- Properties that are using the setting Allow guests to book specific accommodations on booking engine are not eligible for Google Hotel Search connection.
Before moving forward, check the Restrictions Categories for more information.
Getting Started
You will receive an in-app announcement once your property is live on Google Hotel Search, and you can also check this information by following the steps below:
Access the Distribution section,
- Check if you have the following banner:
If your Cloudbeds information is different from your Google My Business profile, this could cause your property not to match and will prevent us from establishing your connection with Google Hotel Search.
We highly recommend you to confirm/review the following details on your Cloudbeds account:
Property Profile
Access the Property Profile tab and make sure that the following information are correct: Property Name, Phone, website, Address, City, and Zip Code.
Reservation Sources / Taxes & Fees
Access the Sources tab in the Property configuration section and check if you have applied all the necessary taxes & fees to the Website/Booking Engine reservation source.
Overview
When customers look for your business today, they will start by Googling your destination. If you have worked to establish a good online presence, customers will be able to find the name of your business and information such as your phone number, address, business hours, and more.
A Google My Business profile allows you to manage your online presence across the entire Google platform. Once claim ownership of a Google My Business profile, you can access and edit all of the information that appears in your listing from the business hours and the location to any photos. A high quality Google My Business Profile is valuable for your business and helps your property turn lookers into bookers.
Create your Google Business Profile
Open the Google My Business page and follow the step-by-step instructions below:
- Click on Manage now
- Sign in to your Google Account. If you do not have a Google Account, create one
- Enter the name of your hotel and click Next
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Enter the address of your property and click Next
- If your address does not geolocate, you may also be asked to position a marker on the location of your property on a map
- Select your Business category and click Next
About vacation rentals:
In Google's words: "For your vacation rental property to be eligible on Google, your property must provide a furnished space that’s private to the guest who’s renting it. A vacation rental must also accept short-term, overnight reservations and be managed and cleaned in-between stays."
Learn more in the following Google's articles:
- Enter a phone number or website URL for your hotel
- Select a verification option
- Most postcards or other verification methods arrive within 14 days. When it arrives, sign in and click Verify Now
- Enter the verification code and click Submit
Google takes up 2 weeks to match a property.
After this period, we encourage you to confirm that your property is up and running by searching it on Google. If you can not see your property booking link in Hotel Search after you become live, reach out to our support team.
If you would like to opt-out of this service, email our support team and one of our Customer Coaches will confirm once complete.
Check our Google Hotel Search FAQ for more information.
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