Skift grip
When it comes to arranging consumer tours of popular attractions, booking sites cannot hope to compete with the online user experience provided by Google. Activities off the beaten track, however, can be more fruitful.
Denis Schaal
Google has previewed a series of upcoming search features in Google Maps to improve user experience, which could make tour and activity booking sites and operators even more dependent on the search engine when it comes acts of popular attractions.
Event planners and organizers may also see value in some of the new search features.
At his Search 22 On Wednesday, Google unveiled a feature on Google Maps for Android and iOS that displays 250 “photorealistic” aerial videos of landmarks, including the Empire State Building, the Louvre, Tokyo Tower, the Acropolis and the Colosseum, for example.
You can now view a 30-second aerial video of the Colosseum – empty of people – in the Google Maps app as it circles around the landmark. Google Maps users can add photos, get directions, call the location, save the attraction for trip planning purposes, share it, or get ticket booking information on the site’s website or from third-party providers.
Booking options included the official website and nearly two dozen other third-party providers, including Thrillophilia, Headout, and GetYourGuide. As it does in its new Trains in Europe feature in Google Search, as well as for vacation rentals in the Google Travel portal, Google does not charge these providers or operators for clicks on booking links, although Google makes money if a company buys an advertisement. .
Predictive landmark views
But another new feature set to launch in the coming months could be even more appealing to travelers and anyone involved in consumer experiences or the tour operator industry.
Google Maps will debut initially for attractions in Los Angeles, London, New York, San Francisco and Tokyo, a feature that will predict conditions at the site the next day, week or month, for example, Google said.
“So if you’re visiting San Francisco and want to visit Oracle Park, you’ll have all the information you need to plan your day,” said Chris Phillips, Google vice president and general manager of its Geo unit in the ad frame. . “You will be able to see where the parking lots and entrances are and if the weather will be cool on game day, so you can bring a jacket.”
For example, a tour operator or event organizer could use this predictive technology in Google Maps to advise guests or attendees to congregate at Lot A/Pier 48 or Oracle Park Lot C if those locations are expected to be the least frequented or most convenient. meeting points in two days or three weeks, for example.
Assuming that the predictions turn out to be reasonably reliable, operators or meeting organizers could not hope to have the resources to develop these types of technologies on their own.
Note that at this very early stage, Google is focusing these aerial videos and predictive technologies on mainstream attractions – the same ones that have sometimes been the subject of overtourism concerns. Google therefore offers potential visitors new inspiration to visit sites that are already overwhelmed.
A company like Airbnb, which prides itself on offering less mainstream experiences, like a culinary tour or cooking class from a host, might be less impacted than a booking site selling Vatican tours, for example.
Live view of neighborhood locations
Google has a few other new Google Maps features in the pipeline that should debut in the coming months.
Among them, users in London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Paris and Tokyo using iOs and Android could point their phones at physical cafes, supermarkets, transit locations and ATMs to search for information. on their opening hours or whether they are overflowing with customers or not.
Google will also make additional information from Google Maps about eco-friendly routes available to developers for ride-sharing and delivery services, the company said.
Rather than just searching for restaurants, Google plans to roll out a feature that would allow people to find specific dishes or menu items, the company said.
“In the past, searching for soup dumplings near me would show a list of related restaurants,” said Sophia Lin, Google’s chief food officer, as part of the announcement. “With our revamped experience, we’ll now show you the exact dish results you’ve been looking for. You can even limit your search to spicy dishes if you want a little sizzle. No more digging through endless menus from different places to see if they have what you want.
All of these new features aim to go beyond traditional search to make it more intuitive and natural, Google said.
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