November 13, 2020— The first step in making users feel more confident in making a booking with you is developing a set of sanitation protocols and offering a flexible cancellation rate policy, and communicating this to potential guests. You can take advantage of some of the free tools available on metasearch channels to help showcase this information beyond your website. So what features can you use?
New Health and Safety Content Attributes by Google
This week, Google has announced the addition of more COVID-related health and safety information to Google Travel booking service. In May, DerbySoft saw Google implementing a COVID-19 responder policy tag, and earlier this year, they were one of the first to make a step towards showing cancellable rates.
Starting this week, when users search for properties through Google Travel, they will see new information about COVID-19 safety precautions and measures at the property level. Information such as enhanced cleaning procedures and information if the property has a contact-free check-in.
Individual hotel owners will be able to directly provide Google with their COVID-19 Health and Safety procedures via their Google My Business admin section.
There are 27 new health and safety attributes that are split into the following five categories: Enhanced Cleaning, Personal Protection, Physical Distancing, Minimized Contact, Increased Food Safety.
Currently, this new COVID-related health and safety information is only available when users search for accommodations only on google.com/travel and not on other Google services, like Google Maps.
Travel Safe by Tripadvisor
Back in May, Tripadvisor introduced a feature that provides hoteliers with a way to communicate COVID-19 messaging to their potential guests. Properties can share their personalized COVID-19 responses directly in their Tripadvisor business listing.
Shortly after this, Tripadvisor launched a new Travel Safe feature that filters hotels, restaurants, and businesses by their health and safety standards. When travelers search for a hotel in their desired destination, they will see a new COVID-19 option pop up as a filter. When they select properties taking safety measures, the list of results will be sorted by businesses that have opted into the Travel Safe program.
Businesses can now select safety measures they have in place at their property by accessing the checklist in their Tripadvisor management center for free. The checklist also enables properties to submit descriptive text regarding the steps they are taking to protect customers, including links back to safety information on their websites.
Other Tools You Can Use
Branding on Metasearch: Callouts, Photos, Favicons…
