What is Google Vacation Rentals? | Everything You Need to Know

When searching for a vacation destination or accommodation, many travelers turn to Google. That’s why the launch of Google Vacation Rentals is a game changer for the industry. The launch of this new channel will make your listings more searchable, which in turn makes it easier than ever before for travelers to book with you.

If you’re looking to boost your short-term rental business, here's a comprehensive guide on everything you need to know about:

• What is Google Vacation Rentals?
• What information does Google Vacation Rentals share?
• How do guests book a stay?
• Managing reservations made with Google Vacation Rentals
• Benefits of listing your property on Google Vacation Rentals
• How to list your property on Google Vacation Rentals
• How long it takes for your listing to appear on Google
• How Hostaway can help

What is Google Vacation Rentals?

Google Vacation Rentals, known as Google Holiday Rental in the UK, allows travelers to find and book vacation rental properties directly through Google Search, Google Maps, and the new dedicated tab under the Travel category.

It aggregates rental listings from various sources and presents them in a user-friendly format, giving hosts a wider reach and potential guests a seamless booking experience.

For example, when someone searches for a vacation rental in Florida, they’ll see results similar to the below image, without having to navigate to any other website. All listing locations in Google Maps are approximate in order to protect the hosts’ privacy.

The platform's simplicity, immediate connectivity, and potential for heightened organic exposure make Google Vacation Rentals a standout choice for hosts, equipping them with a potent tool to effectively showcase their properties and drive more bookings.

What Information Does Google Vacation Rentals Share?

When a traveler clicks on a specific property marker or listing on the search results page, they're taken to a detailed property listing page.

The property listing page provides comprehensive information about the selected property, including:

• Property Description: A detailed overview of the property's features, amenities, and nearby attractions.
• High-Quality Photos: Images showcasing various aspects of the property, from interiors to outdoor spaces.
• Pricing and Availability: Clear information about the property's rates and available dates for booking.
• Amenities and Features: A list of amenities and features available to guests during their stay.
• Location Information: A map displaying the property's exact location and its proximity to local points of interest.
• Reviews and Ratings: Guest reviews and ratings from previous stays at the property.

These details are pulled from various vacation rental partners, which could include vacation rental platforms and property management software like Hostaway. To have your listing displayed, it needs to be integrated with these vacation rental partners. These partners provide Google with data feeds containing the information which Google then displays - making it easier for guests to find and book a vacation rental.

How do Guests Book a Stay with Google Vacation Rentals?

On a property’s detailed listing page, travelers can often find a "Book Now" button or a similar call to action.

Depending on the property and the partner platform it’s been listed with, travelers might be able to initiate the booking process directly on Google's platform. Otherwise, travelers are redirected to the partner's website to complete the reservation.

When a traveler chooses to proceed with booking, the booking process is facilitated by the partner platform that the property is listed on. This could involve providing additional details, confirming dates, making payments, and agreeing to terms and conditions.

Managing Reservations Made with Google Vacation Rentals

For property managers, managing reservations involves ensuring that the information provided to Google Vacation Rentals is accurate and up to date. This includes maintaining pricing, availability, and other details.

Some property managers use property management software like Hostaway to synchronize calendars and manage bookings across multiple platforms. When you manage all this information in one place you reduce time spent doing tedious tasks, eliminate double bookings, and enable your business to scale up.

Benefits of Listing Your Property on Google Vacation Rentals

Improved Listing Visibility and More Bookings

By listing your property on Google Vacation Rentals, you gain access to a massive and diverse audience of potential travelers who use Google for their vacation rental searches.

Travelers who have used Google to book hotels in the past will have the same experience when booking a short-term rental - giving your listing more visibility than before. This exposure can significantly increase your property's visibility and attract more bookings.

Competitive Edge

Being present on Google Vacation Rentals gives your property an edge over competitors who might not yet be utilizing this platform. It allows you to tap into a unique avenue for attracting guests, especially those who prefer to use Google for their travel research and bookings.

Enhanced Credibility

Listing your property on a trusted platform like Google helps increase the credibility of your listing. Paired with your positive guest reviews, you’ll be able to reassure travelers of the quality and reliability of your vacation rental.

Access to Insights

Provides hosts with valuable insights into the performance of their listings. These insights are typically made available within the platform through which hosts have listed their vacation rental properties.

For instance, if hosts have directly listed on Google, they might find these insights within their Google Vacation Rentals dashboard. Alternatively, if hosts have listed through a third-party service like Hostaway, the insights might be accessible through the Hostaway platform.

You can track metrics such as click-through rates, conversion rates, and guest reviews. These insights allow you to assess the effectiveness of your listing strategy and make informed adjustments.

Increase Direct Bookings Without Fees

Google Vacation Rentals doesn’t charge commission on bookings, giving your direct booking website more traffic without increased costs.

How Do I List My Property on Google Vacation Rentals?

Listing your vacation rental on Google can be achieved through three distinct approaches:

• showcase your property on a partnered Online Travel Agency (OTA) endorsed by Google
• collaborate with a Google-sanctioned connectivity partner like Hostaway
• a direct integration with Google is exclusively available to companies with 5,000+ properties and technical expertise for XML feed implementation. A dedicated tech team is vital for this advanced integration. Eligible companies can apply via Google's interest form.

How Long Does it take for my Vacation Rental Listing to appear on Google?

The time it takes for your vacation rental listing to appear on Google can vary depending on several factors. After you've listed your property on partner platforms that collaborate with Google Vacation Rentals, it might take a few days to a couple of weeks for your listing to be processed and indexed by Google's search algorithms. However, this timeline can be influenced by factors such as the partner platform's data feed updates, Google's indexing process, and any potential review and verification steps.

To ensure a smooth and timely appearance of your listing on Google, make sure you've provided accurate and detailed information on the partner platform, optimized your property listing, and adhered to any guidelines provided by both the partner platform and Google Vacation Rentals. Keep an eye on your listing's status and performance on both the partner platform and Google Vacation Rentals to ensure it becomes visible to potential guests as soon as possible.

Key Takeaways

Google Vacation Rentals presents an exciting opportunity for hosts to showcase their properties to a vast audience of travelers. By ensuring accurate and appealing listings, maintaining competitive pricing, and providing excellent customer service, hosts can leverage this platform to enhance their vacation rental business. Remember, staying informed and adapting to the evolving landscape of the vacation rental industry is key to long-term success.

How can Hostaway Help?

Hostaway is the only vacation rental software in the industry to have the highest level of integration with all major OTAs, including Google Vacation Rentals. Hostaway helps you save time and money by automating every aspect of your business.