What is it?
Google's hotel search engine allows you to show your property's profile on different Google media.
To launch your Google Hotel Ads campaign, you can do it directly with Google or through a Google authorized partner provider. This provider will provide Google with the rates and availability of your hotel and will manage the campaign on your behalf. Of course this is the easiest choice and it's also recommended by Google.
WuBook is a Google authorized partner and allows the Google campaign's activation from your ZaK control panel.
Costs and Business models
The cost in ZaK is the same as a channel (depending on how many channels you have connected).
On the other hand, the cost in Google side depends on which of the two business models you choose:
-
Free Booking Link + Ads: in addition to ZaK cost, for each reservation there is a 10% commission for Google, you'll find it among your payments in WuBook.
- Free Booking Link Only: only the button with no commission appears on Google. Therefore, you only pay the ZaK cost and not the Google commission.
How are models displayed on Google?
- Free Booking Link + Ads: With this model, both the Free Link + Ads button (with commission) and the Free Link Only button (no commission) appear on Google. The guest can choose which one to use. The one in the foreground will be the one with commission. Example:
- Free Booking Link Only: with this model you will have less visibility on Google, because the "official site" button will not appear immediately, but below among the other options. Example:
The business model you choose can be set in ZaK, after adding the channel. In the INTRO menu you will find the "Commercial Profile" section, where you can choose your preferred model:
Requirements before proceeding
- You must already have an account on Google My Business, where you only enter information about your property. Make sure, in the Settings section, that WuBook is indicated as your Provider.
- ZaK Online Reception must be subscribed.
- Your property information entered on Google must match perfectly with that entered in ZaK. You can find more details in point 2, "Check property information".
- On Google, the property type must always be Hotel or another one supported by Google. At the end, you'll find the list of supported property types.
Useful info
- Commissions will be charged at the guest's check-out for all reservations that were still confirmed at the check-in date (CPA model).
- If the reservation is canceled before the Check-OUT date, also the commission will be canceled.
- Commission is generated also for option/offer reservations.
- Discount codes cannot be used when booking on the Google interface.
- Google has a tracking time of 3 to 5 days. Therefore, when a reservation is cancelled during this time period, a trace is left in Google's systems and the reservation will still be received through Google.
- If you want, you can enable different products/rates for Google than the Online Reception.
- Inside the channel, in the INTRO section, you will find a link to check how the Online Reception appears to those who book from Google:
How to enable Google?
Let's now see one by one what steps to follow in ZaK to add and configure Google.
1. Add the channel
First you need to add the channel by clicking on the +, at menu:
Once added the channel, click on the channel name to access it. Click now on "CONNECT" button:
You'll be redirected to the INTRO section, where you find generic info about Google.
2. Check property information
By default, we will send Google the information about your property that you entered in the following menu, so property name, address and also coordinates (latitude and longitude):
↳ Useful Link: Administration > Properties > Property Information
If you have several properties and need to enter different addresses, you can edit your business information in the Google channel under "OPTIONS". At this point, this will be the information we send to Google:
3. Enable rooms and rates
Now in the PRODUCTS section you can add all the products and rates to be sold on Google. Select and add them one by one:
Enabled products will displayed below in blue. This way ZaK will start to update that room/rate on Google.
At any time, if necessary, you can quickly close the sale of the room by clicking the icon :
4. End
At this point you will have completed the configuration in ZaK. You will have to wait about one week for your property to be displayed and bookable on Google.
How to disable Google?
Also remember to suspend the campaign on Google side.
What to check if Google is not working?
- Are property info on WuBook equal to those on Google? Did you enter coordinates too? (see point 2)
- Is WuBook set as Provider on your Google profile?
- When did you enable the channel? Did you wait one week at least?
- Is the channel in ZaK active or is it paused/suspended?
- Is ZaK Online Reception subscribed?
List of property types supported by Google
As mentioned above in the requirements, Google does not support all types of property. Therefore, for the connection between Google and ZaK to be successful, you need to set one of the following property types on Google.
- The category HOTEL and also its subgroups are accepted:
Motel
Resort hotel
Inn
Extended stay hotel (Aparthotel)
Guest house
Bed and breakfast
Farm stay
Hostel
Dharamshala
Japanese Inn
Mountain hut
Capsule hotel
Love hotel
Camping cabins
- On the other hand, the category VACATION RENTALS and its subgroups are NOT accepted:
Apartment
Bungalow
Cabin
Chalet
Cottage
Country house
Gite
Holiday cottage
Holiday village
House
Houseboat
Log cabin
Studio apartment
Villa