How to Set up and Use Google Hotel Ads

INTRODUCTION

Google Hotel Ads logo

Formerly Google Hotel Finder, Google Hotel Search is one of the major metasearch engines used by travelers. In fact, research by D-EDGE shows that Google Hotel Search is the largest metasearch channel in terms of the number of clicks and bookings.

That’s because it’s integrated with other popular Google services, like Search, Maps and Google Assistant. Google Hotel Ads can further increase bookings by prominently displaying your property to the millions of people using Google to plan trips. 

Following are some tips on how to use Google Hotel Ads for your hotel, hotel group or resort. 

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How to Use OTA Marketing for Your Hotel

INTRODUCTION

While Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) have been around for years, more and more travelers are using them to plan and book their trips each year. In fact, the market size of the global online travel agent sector is expected to exceed $820 billion by 2023

Recent research from Expedia Group also reveals that travelers are 57 percent more likely to book through an OTA than before the pandemic. If your hotel isn’t using OTA marketing, now is the time.

Since Expedia Group (Expedia, hotels.com, Travelocity, Orbitz) and Booking Holdings (booking.com, Priceline, Agoda) are the major OTA players, it makes sense to start with them. 

Following are some tips on how you can use OTA marketing to increase brand awareness and drive bookings to your hotel, hotel group or resort. 

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How Hotels Can Use Metasearch

INTRODUCTION

To stay competitive, hotels of all sizes must use metasearch sites. These sites (e.g. Google, TripAdvisor, Trivago, etc.) aggregate and list hotel room rates from various online travel agencies (OTAs) and other booking sites all in one place. From there, guests compare prices and availability before booking.  

Travelers can enter search terms (e.g. travel dates, location), then the metasearch sites present hotels that meet the criteria. The listings show a hotel’s rate (plus guest reviews, amenities, photos and policies) on several different booking sites, like Booking.com. If the traveler clicks the link to one of the channels, they can complete their booking there.

Here are ways hotels can effectively use metasearch websites to increase bookings and gain brand awareness.

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