FAQ: Add and manage room rates and availability using Google Business Profile

Access the hotel rate editor

Who can add rates and availability using Google Business Profile?

Currently, only hotels that are bookable online are eligible to add rates. If your hotel is not bookable online, fill out our interest form to stay informed on product updates.

How do I access the rates and availability option using Google Business Profile?

When signed in to the Google Account used to manage your Google Business Profile, search for your hotel using Google Search on your desktop. Click Edit rates or Manage your rates button within the Booking module to access the hotel rate editor.

This image illustrates where you can edit or manage rates of your properties on Google.

Booking page URL

What is a booking page URL?

A booking page allows a traveler to select their dates and finalize the reservation. In most cases, a traveler is asked to enter purchase details such as name and credit card information to secure the reservation.

When entering a booking page URL, don’t use a social media page like Facebook or an online travel agency (OTA) link like Expedia or Booking.com. The booking page URL must take travelers who click on your hotel via free booking links to your website to book directly with you, not a third party.

Where can I update my booking page URL?

The booking page URL can be updated by clicking on “Rate settings”. Changes to the booking page URL will reflect on Google within 5 business days.

I get an error when entering my booking page URL. How do I proceed?

You may get an error while we attempt to validate your booking page URL. Below are the possible errors and reasons for them:

URL is not on your official hotel website: When entering a booking page URL, don’t use a social media page (like Facebook) or an online travel agency (OTA) link (like Expedia or Booking.com). The booking page URL must take travelers who click on your hotel via free booking links to your website to book directly with you, not a third party. Learn more about booking page URLs.
An error occurred while verifying your booking page URL: It looks like we’re having trouble verifying your booking page URL. We recommend trying again later.
URL is broken: We couldn’t load your booking page URL. It could be because the link is broken or the URL is timing out. We recommend trying to load the page on your end to verify that it’s working as intended.
Enter the URL: The booking page URL field seems to be blank with no text entered. Enter a valid booking page URL to proceed.

Minimum stay restrictions

What is a minimum stay restriction?

A minimum stay restriction is the fewest number of nights a traveler can book.

For example, If your minimum stay is 3 nights, your property won’t appear for travelers searching for 2-night stays.

Stay restrictions cannot be longer than 30 nights, and the shortest possible stay is 1 night. Hotels can add only one restriction at a time.

Where can I update my minimum stay restriction?

You can add or edit your minimum stay restriction using the calendar view or by clicking Rate settings.

Calendar View: Edit your minimum stay restriction for individual dates.

This image shows how to edit minimum stay restrictions.

Rate Settings: You can set a minimum stay restriction for multiple dates by clicking Rate settings.

This image shows how to open rate settings in calendar view.

This image shows how to add a minimum stay requirement.

A separate setting will appear for entering the new restriction.

This image shows how to set up minimum stay restrictions.

Adding new stay restrictions will override any previous restrictions. Hotels can add only one restriction at a time.

This is the confirmation message shown after setting stay restrictions.

After a minimum stay restriction is entered, the calendar view will display an icon with the stay restriction you entered for the date. For a stay restriction of one day, the icon will not show on the calendar view.

This image shows a minimum stay restriction placed on a calendar date.

I get an error when entering a stay restriction. How do I proceed?

You may get an error while you attempt to set a minimum stay restriction. Below are the possible errors and reasons for them:

Can’t be longer than 30 nights: Stay restrictions cannot be longer than 30 nights. Enter a number between 1 and 30 to proceed.
Travelers must stay at least 1 night: The shortest possible stay is 1 night. Enter a number bigger than 0 to proceed.
Enter a number: The minimum stay restriction field needs to be a numerical value between 1 and 30. We default to 1 night minimum. Based on your minimum stay restriction, enter a number between 1 and 30 to proceed.

Update Settings

Can I change the default rate currency?

The rate currency is determined based on the location of the hotel. The currency can't be changed.

How do I change my internet booking engine?

Google will either automatically detect which booking engine you are using or you can enter your booking page URL. If your IBE changes or is not correct, you can replace it with a booking page URL. The booking page URL can be updated by clicking on “Rate settings”. Changes to the booking page URL will reflect on Google within 5 business days.

How do I update the VAT/GST setting from including VAT/GST to not including it or vice versa?

VAT/GST (Value Added Tax/Goods and Service Tax) are set at the account level. Any changes to the VAT/GST applies to all existing prices. If VAT/GST wasn’t added during account set up and onboarding, contact us to have the VAT/GST added.

If you’ve already added VAT/GST, you can edit or remove VAT/GST in Rate settings by selecting the specific tax or fee entry:

To edit VAT/GST: Change the amount to a value between more than 0 and less than 100
To remove VAT/GST: Set the amount to 0

Rate Entry

What rate do I enter?

Learn more about best practices for entering rates using your Google Business Profile

What taxes and fees should be included in the room rate?

Learn more about taxes and fees that should be included in the room rate.

How do I change my rates, taxes, and availability?

Room rates, taxes, and availability can be updated at any time. Learn more about managing your rates using Google Business Profile

How do I edit or remove my taxes and fees?

Taxes and fees are set at the account level and can be updated in Rate settings. Any changes to taxes and fees will apply to all existing prices.

Find the “Taxes and Fees” area under Rate settings. You can edit existing tax and fees or delete inapplicable ones. Select the “Delete this tax/fee” button next to specific tax entries.

Can I set specific rates for holidays, weekends, or special events?

You can add or manage rates and availability for any date using the rate calendar or bulk editor view.

Use the rate calendar to update specific days one at a time. Click the date to edit inline. Sold-out dates can also be edited.

Screen depicting calendar view of existing users of Hotel Extranet

You can also update rates in bulk using the bulk editor. Select the date range and days that the special rate applies to and enter your new rate.

Screen depicting the bulk editor for existing users of Hotel Extranet

Taxes and fees are set at the account level and can be updated by clicking on “Rate settings”. A change in your taxes and fees will apply to all rates.

Screen depicting calendar view of existing users of Hotel Extranet with Rate settings highlighted.

Can I update VAT/GST and taxes/fees information for a specific period?

We don’t currently support setting taxes and fees that apply to only certain time periods. Taxes and fees that are set will reflect across all prices entered.

What if VAT/GST or taxes/fees apply only to travelers from certain countries or are different depending on the rate?

We currently don’t support rates with restrictions.

How far in advance can I enter my rates and availability?

We support prices for itineraries up to 2 years in advance with stays of up to 30 days. Travelers can search for prices up to one year in advance with stays of up to 30 days.

How do I enter rates for other occupancies, room types, or rate plans?

We currently offer a single nightly room rate for double occupancy.

What if I have different rates depending on the currency? How do I enter the various rates?

We currently offer a single nightly room rate for double occupancy in the local currency based on the location of the hotel. We don’t support different rates depending on the currency. Travelers will find your rate converted automatically to their local currency when they view your price on Google.

When do I need to set the availability to “Closed”? What happens when I do this?

The availability should be updated to “Closed” when the room is sold out, no longer available, or the hotel is closed. Setting the availability to “Closed” will prevent the rate from showing on Google for that date.

Length of stay discount

What is a length of stay discount?

Length of stay discount allows you to offer travelers a special discount for longer stays at your property. You can only add discounts that already appear on your official website.

Where can I update the length of stay discount?

You can update the length of stay discount anytime in your "Rate settings".

Can I add multiple discounts?

Yes, you can add multiple discounts in your "Rate settings".

If there are multiple discounts on the same date range, which discount will be applied?

If multiple discounts are available, the highest discount rate applies to the entire stay on the condition that all dates of the stay fall within the discounted period and these dates meet the minimum length of stay requirement.

Is there a limit on the number of discounts I can add?

No, there’s no limit.

Is the discount based on the base or total rate?

The discount is based on the base rate.

Does the discount apply to the “End date” in the Minimum stay date range?

Yes, the discount applies to all nights in the date range, inclusive of the end date.

Example:

A hotel offers a discount for the date range June 1, 2023 to June 30, 2023, with a minimum stay of 3 nights.

If a user checks in on June 28 and checks out on July 1, they’ll get the discount for all 3 nights of their stay (from June 28 to June 30).

Do we have any restrictions on the amount of discount for different lengths of stay?

No, there's no restriction on the amount of discount for different lengths of stay.

If some dates of a stay fall outside a length of stay discount period, is the discount applied to the entire stay?

No, the discount is only applied to dates that fall within the discount period given that the number of days within the discount period is equal to or higher than the minimum length of stay requirement.

Example:

A hotel offers a 30% discount for dates from Jan 01, 2023 to Jan 31, 2023 with minimum length of stay of 5 nights

A user chooses to stay from Jan 27, 2023 to Feb 03, 2023 (7 nights).

The user would get:

30% discount for the first 5 nights (Jan 27 to Jan 31)

AND

0% discount for the 6th and 7th nights of the stay (Feb 1 and Feb 2)

If a stay spans over multiple different discount date ranges, will the highest discount be applied to the entire stay?

No, each discount is only applied to dates that fall within the discount period, assuming those dates meet the minimum length of stay requirements for that discount.

Example:

A hotel offers:

A 15% discount for stays from Jan 1, 2023 to Jan 31, 2023 - Minimum stay 3 nights
A 20% discount for stays from Feb 1, 2023 to Feb 28, 2023 - Minimum stay 4 nights

Scenario 1:

A user chooses to stay from Jan 29, 2023 to Feb 7, 2023 (9 nights in total). They’ll get:

15% discount for 3 nights in January (Jan 29, 2023 to Jan 31, 2023)

AND

20% discount for 6 nights in February (from Feb 01, 2023 to Feb 06, 2023)

Scenario 2:

A user chooses to stay from Jan 29, 2023 to Feb 03, 2023 (5 nights in total). They’ll get:

15% discount for 3 nights in January (Jan 29, 2023 to Jan 31, 2023)

AND

0% discount for 3 nights in February (from Feb 01, 2023 to Feb 03, 2023) because they don’t meet the minimum length of stay for the February discount.

How do I enter blackout dates?

When you update your length of stay discount in your "Rate settings", unselect the days of the week for which you don’t want the discount to be applied.

This image shows how to set up minimum stay restrictions.

View your rates on Google

Where will my rates appear on Google?

Travelers will find your rates and availability via free booking links in Google Search and Google Maps. Free booking links are listed under "All options". Learn more about how travelers find hotel booking links

What happens when a traveler clicks on my rate?

Travelers that click on free booking links for your hotel will be directed to your website to book with you directly.

How are prices presented in different regions?

When a traveler searches for your hotel, Google will show your hotel prices in the currency of the user’s regional settings.

For travelers in the United States and Canada, Google highlights the value of the base rate without taxes and fees more prominently. In all other countries, the total price (which includes taxes and other fees) is more prominently shown. However, all travelers have the ability to view prices with or without taxes and fees using a selector on Google. Google reserves the right to amend the way in which it displays prices to comply with local law or other requirements.

When a traveler clicks on your free booking link, they will be directed to your website to complete the booking process. The traveler will be charged in the currency supported by your Internet Booking Engine.

How long does it take for my rates and availability to appear on Google?

For internet booking engines that are auto detected, your rates and availability will appear on Google within an hour.

For booking page URLs, your rates and availability will appear on Google within 5 business days.

How are free booking links different from existing hotel ads?

Free booking links display similar information to paid booking links. The main difference is that hotel ads are paid links, ranked according to Google’s ad auction, whereas free booking links are unpaid links, ranked according to their utility to users. Google may show free booking links alongside hotel ads within the existing booking module. Hotel partners pay no fee for free booking links, and Google doesn’t collect any payment for placement or user engagement with these links.

How can I show in the ads section on Google Search?

For now, room rate and availability entered using Google Business Profile will appear only in the free booking links section and are not used for hotel ads.

To participate in hotel ads, we recommend signing up with one of our integration partners.

If a traveler searches for a multi-night stay, how do you determine the price? I've only entered single night pricing.

For travelers who search for multi-night stays, we simply add the prices for each date together.

Reporting and Ranking

How does my listing get ranked in free booking links?

Hotel free booking links use a variety of signals to determine which links are best to show users. These signals include consumer preference, value offered to the user, and landing page experience. Google’s commercial relationship with the free booking link provider has no effect on ranking, nor can anyone pay for a higher ranking. Participation, or non-participation, in Hotel Ads doesn't impact rankings of free booking links.

Where can I track the clicks I generated from free booking links?

When a traveler clicks on your free booking link, we track these clicks and display them above the rates and availability calendar.

Screen depicting calendar view of existing users of Hotel Extranet with Click information highlighted.

Was this helpful?

How can we improve it?

FAQ: Add and manage room rates and availability using Google Business Profile

In this article

Was this helpful?