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Google Free - Listing API Connection

Status: Closed 42 Votes
This request is a duplicate of Google Vacation Rentals Connectivity Partner
Ken T
Jan 19, 2023 4:38 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1448 posts

Integration with Google Vacation rentals is currently in progress.  More information available here:

https://www.ownerrez.com/forums/requests/google-vacation-rentals-connectivity-partner

Shawn H
Oct 31, 2023 3:11 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2021 205 posts

[This topic has been closed as a duplicate of another topic (Google Vacation Rentals Connectivity Partner)]

Le Touquet Holid
Apr 21, 2021 11:19 AM
Joined Nov, 2018 113 posts

Google announced a route to the free listing of rates and availability section at the foot of the paid advertising block in its search results.
It fits in below the paid or sponsored listings. Googles offering provides a real chance for self-catering owners to be listed for free and show a big label with an official site link to your own website. This could be a big win for booking direct - which I know Owner Rez fully supports.
This is a real shake-up to the metasearch market - we just need the API to be part of the action.

Paul W
Apr 22, 2021 9:00 AM
OR Team Member Joined Jun, 2009 820 posts

Thanks, Le Touquet Holid. Can you drop a link in this thread where the announcement was (from Google)? I'd like to trace this back to some Google Developer docs on the subject. I've seen some 3rd party blogs about it, and haven't really looked that hard frankly.

Le Touquet Holid
Apr 22, 2021 9:06 AM
Joined Nov, 2018 113 posts

Hi Paul
I think this is what you are after. It's the free booking link we are interested in.
https://developers.google.com/hotels/hotel-prices

Paul W
Apr 22, 2021 12:48 PM
OR Team Member Joined Jun, 2009 820 posts

Thanks. We know about these Hotel API docs. I should have been more clear - where is the doc or announcement about free listings? I might be staring right at it, but I don't see that language anywhere.

Paul W
Apr 22, 2021 12:53 PM
OR Team Member Joined Jun, 2009 820 posts

Google help page on "free booking links":

https://support.google.com/hotelprices/answer/10472393?hl=en&ref_topic=10468394

Paul W
Apr 22, 2021 12:55 PM
OR Team Member Joined Jun, 2009 820 posts

What makes a "hotel booking link":

https://support.google.com/hotelprices/answer/9296693?hl=en&ref_topic=9301472

BlueMtnCabins
Apr 22, 2021 1:11 PM
Joined Jun, 2016 1113 posts

so does this mean it is doable or not? I doubt it will actually be "free" forever. What Goog will likely do is offer free initially to make all accommodations providers flock to it. Once it cannibalizes enough from OTAs to make them near-obsolete (basically destroying their grip on the market - which in case of Goog is easy to do) and make accommodation providers dependent on Goog - it will start charging any commission it wants. On one hand I feel good about someone sticking it to overbearing overcontrolling OTAs. On another hand, it will be done by even bigger monopoly in the name of even more control of the market. And we the small guys are just insignificant specks in this whole thing.

Le Touquet Holid
Apr 22, 2021 2:21 PM
Joined Nov, 2018 113 posts

Your probably right. But I rather be in than out. Here is the link I found which may have already been posted

https://support.google.com/hotelprices/announcements/9652284?hl=en

BlueMtnCabins
Apr 27, 2021 12:45 PM
Joined Jun, 2016 1113 posts

I will be in too, but I do not put much hope in it.. You know where the free cheese is...

Aunger Vacation
May 3, 2021 11:38 AM
Joined Apr, 2021 47 posts

Would love this...

Ben
May 15, 2021 2:42 PM
Joined Jan, 2020 45 posts

Hope this gets more votes.

With Google involved, there's no reason why this won't be a huge game changer.

Even if they start charging commission later, it will probably be competitive and even if it's not... more bookings is a good thing.

Ken T
Jun 5, 2021 3:05 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1448 posts

While there is a great deal of noise about Google entering the market for bookings - understandable, since they're huge - we see no evidence that very many actual guests are using them to make reservations. So at present, we don't view integrating with them as a priority.

Additionally, Google has a long history of making loud announcements of entering into markets, making a half-baked attempt at them, and then abruptly either cancelling the effort or leaving it half-backed to die slowly. Thus, it isn't good business to immediately spend our resources on them, without first seeing evidence that there's something real there.

This can change at any time of course, and we're tracking how much demand for this integration there is from both our clients and from guests.

Le Touquet Holid
Jun 5, 2021 7:57 PM
Joined Nov, 2018 113 posts

Isnt this a bit chicken and egg? We don't know what level of bookings we may be missing out on because we are not in the game. Forums from another PMS provider suggests that bookings are being made by clients. So I believe there is evidence of people booking this way.

Aunger Vacation
Dec 27, 2021 10:41 PM
Joined Apr, 2021 47 posts

See many others getting integrated to google, etc. Facebook, Google, Tiktok are the daily search engines for life when I have a private ad (now not allowed) I got enquiries and bookings. So google 100% works and I hear from guests I also "google to see if your also else were and not just on Airbnb" 

Kelly M
Nov 14, 2022 3:10 PM
Joined Apr, 2021 26 posts

Any update on if this is a feature that will be considered in the near future? Would love to get our property and google business page integrated with google search / reservations.

Ken T
Nov 14, 2022 10:25 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1448 posts
PacViewLodging
Nov 14, 2022 11:10 PM
Joined Sep, 2019 74 posts

So why doesn't OR go to them as an OR portfolio rather than a bunch of individuals?  The channel managers like booking pal or rentals united are integrated with Google and they have small clients just as much as OR would.  With OR as the channel manager managing the integration it should be no different than the other channel managers and Google could get thousands of properties with an OR integration

Tim C
Jan 18, 2023 11:29 AM
Joined Apr, 2022 1 post

Now it seems that NOT being listed with pricing on a Google map is a distinct DISADVANTAGE. I would upvote this feature request. It is required to compete in the 2023 market today.

 

Ken T
Jan 19, 2023 4:38 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1448 posts

Integration with Google Vacation rentals is currently in progress.  More information available here:

https://www.ownerrez.com/forums/requests/google-vacation-rentals-connectivity-partner

Shawn H
Oct 31, 2023 3:11 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2021 205 posts

[This topic has been closed as a duplicate of another topic (Google Vacation Rentals Connectivity Partner)]