Google announced this Tuesday that it will no longer charge for displaying hotel booking links on Google Travel, the company’s platform designed to provide services such as comparing accommodation prices. Previously, companies had to pay to appear on the listing.
According to the Mountain View giant, the new feature will give users of the tool a “more comprehensive view of options” when researching and planning their trips, allowing them to find the most suitable alternatives among a broader offer.
Google Travel
Hotels and travel agencies will be able to benefit from increased booking traffic and the involvement of Internet users, according to the company, being able to reach a greater number of potential customers. Businesses that already use the Hotel Pricing API and ads will appear in the free listing automatically, while others can sign up through a Hotel Center account.
“When Google travel resumes in earnest, it is crucial that people can find the information they are looking for and easily connect with travel agencies online,” commented Vice President of Platform Management Richard Holden, referring to the return of travel when the new coronavirus pandemic is under control.
Shopping and Flights had the same change
In 2020, the search giant made a similar change to Google Shopping, allowing e-commerce retailers to display their ads for free on the platform — previously, only paid ads appeared in the Shopping tab.
Google Flights was another service that announced this new feature last year, allowing airlines to appear for free when searching for flights carried out vertically.
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In the case of Shopping, the company said it observed a 70% increase in clicks after the arrival of free listings, attracting a greater number of brands to e-commerce.
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