Google Hotel Finder

Over the last year, Google jumped head first in the online travel agency (OTA) business. Part of that move included adding a hotel search tool to their search results pages, making it easy for travelers to find hotels matching their needs. Let's take a look at a few screen shots from Google and see what it's all about.

As you can see below, a search for “miami hotels” brings up the usual Google result page. But in addition to the normal results, there's Google's new tool that allows you to narrow your hotel search. So instead of having to first go to a travel website like Expedia or Orbitz, you can refine your search directly in the search results.

In our example, we chose 2-star hotels, and clicked “Book hotels”. That sent us to the page you see below, where you can sort hotels by price, stars, user ratings, and amenities. Users can also use the map on the right side of the page to search for a specific location or part of town.

Once you find a hotel that interests you, just click on the hotel listing to get more information. The listing will expand, allowing you to click on multiple tabs which offer photos, reviews, and more detailed location information. In addition, you can compare prices for the hotel at various travel booking sites, and the individual hotel website, assuming they have one.

For business owners and hotel marketers, the obvious question is “How do I get my hotel listed?” Currently Google pulls the majority of its information from Google Places. If your hotel doesn't already have a Google Place page, go ahead and set one up for free. It's quick & easy to do.

Check out Google's Hotel Finder help page for more details. With Google's huge online following, and huge budget, there's no doubt that Google will become a major player in the travel industry. Stay tuned.

Back to Blog Home