There are around 8.5 billion searches daily on Google. That includes guests hungry for delightful stay experiences, researching alternatives and learning more about your property.
Being on Google Maps is a must for hotels today. Managing your hotel's online presence is crucial. As the owner of your business profile on Google, you can engage with customers to build brand loyalty and recognition.
This article will show you the steps to adding your single or multiple hotel locations to Google Maps, editing your details, and what to do if your hotel has already been added.
Getting started
What is Google Hotels?
Google Hotels is a powerful metasearch engine streamlining online hotel searches, comparisons, and bookings. By listing your property on Google Hotels, you can significantly increase your hotel's online visibility and reach a broader audience. It allows potential guests to find and compare hotels easily, read reviews, and book their desired accommodations.
Having a presence on Google Hotels is crucial for hoteliers to attract more guests and drive direct bookings. With Google Hotel Ads, you can drive even more bookings by positioning your hotel in search results through an ad auction process.
Benefits of adding your hotel location on Google Map
Adding your hotel location on Google Maps can bring numerous benefits to your business. Here are some of the advantages of listing your hotel on Google Maps:
- Increased visibility: Adding your hotel location on Google Maps can boost your online visibility and help you reach a wider audience.
- Improved local search rankings: Google Maps is closely tied to Google Search, so having a verified hotel location on Google Maps can improve your rankings.
- More direct bookings: With Google Maps, potential guests can easily find and book your hotel, reducing the need for third-party booking sites and leading to more direct bookings.
- Improved customer engagement: Google Maps gives you an easy way to engage with customers through reviews, Q&A, and messaging.
- Better hotel details: Google Maps lets you add detailed information about your hotel, including amenities, services, and photos.
Preparing your hotel details
You must prepare your hotel details before creating a Google My Business account. Here are some of the information you'll need to provide:
- Hotel name and address: Ensure you have your hotel's correct name and address. This information is crucial for guests to find your location easily.
- Business category: Select the appropriate business category for your hotel, such as hotel, motel, or resort. This helps Google categorise your business correctly.
- Phone number and website URL: Let new guests contact you directly and visit your website for more information.
- Hotel's Business Information: Include hotel amenities and service details.
- Photos and Videos: Gather high-quality photos and videos to showcase your property and attract new guests to your hotel.
- Hotel's online presence: Prepare social media profile links to help guests connect with you on different platforms.
Creating a Google My Business account
Visit the Google My Business website and sign in with your Google account.
Enter your hotel's name and select it from the list of suggested businesses. If your hotel is not on the list, click "Add your business to Google" and follow the instructions.
Provide basic information about your hotel, including the business category, location, phone number, and website URL.
Mark your hotel location with your address or position a marker on the map.
Verify that you are the hotel's owner or an authorised representative. This step is crucial to publish your Google Business Profile.
Once you've created your Google My Business account, you can manage your hotel's online presence and start engaging with customers.
Why add your hotel to Google Maps with free booking links?
Outside the great benefits of brand visibility, Google features more tools to help your hotel grow.
For example, show your dedication to excellent customer service by replying to comments and thanking guests.
Or address negative reviews to turn unhappy customers into happier ones.
You can also add beautiful images and videos to showcase your hotel, services, and surroundings to customers to motivate potential guests.
Other features include answering Q&As, chatting with customers, and creating posts for hotels.
Managing a hotel's business information through a Google Business Profile allows hotel owners to manage their online presence, respond to reviews, and verify their business details effectively.
Taking the time to add your hotel to Google Maps is worth it.
Luckily, Google makes it very easy to do so.
How to add your hotel to Google Maps
There are two ways you can add your hotel to Google Maps.
If your hotel is in multiple locations and you want to register multiple profiles, follow the guide below.
To register a single hotel profile, follow "How to register one hotel in Google Maps" a few scrolls down.
How to add your hotel to multiple locations in Google Maps:
- Visit the Business Profile Manager at business.google.com.
- Click 'Manage now' in the top right corner.
- Sign in to your Google Account (or create one if you don't have one).
- Enter your hotel's name and click 'Next'.
- Add your hotel's address or place a marker on the map.
- Choose a business category under "Business category".
- Enter a phone number or website URL for your hotel.
- Click 'Continue' to verify your connection to the hotel.
Choose a verification option.>Using Google Hotel Ads can streamline campaign management and increase direct bookings for your hotel.
How to register one hotel in Google Maps:
- Sign in to Google Maps.
- Add your hotel in one of three ways: enter your hotel's address in the search bar, right-click anywhere on the map, or click 'Menu' then 'Add your business'.
- Enter your hotel's name.
- Select a business category.
- Follow the instructions to sign up.
- Choose a verification option.
According to Google, you must be authorised to manage the business profile of the hotel you want to enter.
If you're not authorised, they advise you to find the authorised person in your organisation and continue the process. Or select 'Try a different method' and click 'Later' to verify another time.
You can also set up advertising strategies for hotels using Google Ads, which allows you to manage bids, understand ad quality factors, and link current availability and rates to maximise visibility and conversions.
Verifying your hotel's listing
Verifying your hotel's listing on Google Hotels is essential to make sure that your hotel's information is accurate. Follow these steps to verify your hotel's listing:
- Sign in to your Google Account or create one if you don't have one.
- Go to Google My Business and search for your hotel's name.
- If your hotel is already listed, click on it and follow the prompts to claim and verify your listing.
- If your hotel is not listed, click "Add your business to Google" and follow the instructions.
- Verify your hotel's listing through phone, email, or postcard verification.
Verifying your hotel's listing gives new guests an easy way to access accurate and up-to-date details about your property.
If your hotel is already on Google Maps
In some cases, your hotel has already been added to Google Maps.
First, check if your hotel's business profile has already been claimed. See if you can find a 'Claim this Business' or 'Own this business' link on the profile.
If you can't find it, you're likely the owner already. In that case, you'll see a 'You manage this business profile' badge in your profile.
If the hotel business profile is unclaimed and you want ownership, start the process by finding your business profile:
Visit business.google.com/add, enter the name and address of your business, select it in the results, and click "Claim this business" under the business profile.
Alternatively, search your hotel name on Google Maps or Google Search and click "Claim this business" under the business profile.
You'll see a message if your hotel business profile is verified. But if you have the right to manage the profile, you can ask the current owner to transfer their ownership to you.
Next, click 'Continue.'
Then, click 'Request access' and follow the steps.
Finally, submit your application, and you'll be notified by email if your request for ownership is approved or denied.
Remember, If your application is approved, you must wait a week before making major changes like deleting the profile or other owners.
How to edit your hotel's business profile details
Keeping your hotel details current is vital. Nothing disappoints guests like being misled with false information. Make it a habit to audit your Google profile regularly and update it whenever you're making changes to amenities or other areas of your business.
Because hotels are open 24/7, you can't change your hotel's opening hours.
But if you have amenities with set business hours, like your bar or restaurant, creating new business profiles for those businesses is recommended.
Edit your hotel amenities in your dashboard.
To edit your hotel's details, go to your hotel's business profile and click 'Hotel Details.'
Find the attribute you want to change, fill in the information, and save.
Another cool feature for hotels is hotel highlights.
When users search for your hotel on Google Search or Google Maps, icons like "Free Wi-Fi" and "Pet Friendly" can appear next to your amenities.
Increasing visibility with free booking links
Free booking links are an effective way to increase your hotel's visibility on Google Hotels. It lets you display your hotel's rates and availability on your Google Business Profile, making it easier for guests to book directly with you. Here's how to set up free booking links:
- Sign in to your Google Account and go to your Google Business Profile.
- Click "Hotel details" and scroll down to "Booking links."
- Click "Add a booking link" and enter your hotel's website URL.
- Verify that your hotel's website is connected to your Google Business Profile.
Once verified, your hotel's rates and availability will be displayed on your Google Business Profile, making it easier for guests to book directly with you.
Free booking links can increase your hotel's visibility, drive more direct bookings, and reduce reliance on online travel agencies (OTAs).
Summary
Congratulations, with your hotel on Google Maps, you'll now make your hotel visible to a chunk of the billions of daily Google searches.
When users plan their next trip, you can wow potential guests with beautiful imagery and videos and motivate them to choose you over competitors.
Think of your profile on Google as an interactive, always-on ad — keep your information fresh and up-to-date and audit often.
When you get reviews, respond kindly and positively, thanking them for their ratings. For negative reviews, think of ways to remedy their experience. The right reply can work wonders to turn unhappy customers into returning ones.
Adding your hotel to Google search is a great decision that will benefit your hotel immensely.
Editor's Note: This article has been updated in November 2024 for accuracy.