TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Here, we have consolidated a handful of support articles and information directly from Google for you to learn more about the feature and how to take advantage of it. All sources are linked at the bottom if you would like to read more directly from Google. Note that "Free Booking Links" do not replace Google Hotel Ads as they are separate products offered by Google. We hope to clarify any confusion in this article. Most of the information below has been provided by Google and modified slightly for ThinkReservations users.
About hotel free booking links
With free booking links, your booking site can appear across Google when users search for hotels. You can connect with more travelers and drive more bookings at no cost to Google.
Free booking links display your site name or hotel name along with the room rate for the itinerary selected, allowing you to show the best rate to travelers through the Google Hotel Ads integration. When users click on your link, they'll be taken directly to the ThinkReservations online booking engine.
Below is an example of a property with both their Google Hotel Ad (red box) displayed as well as their free booking link (blue box). | In this example, the hotel's ad is not displayed, so the top ad is Booking.com's Google Hotel Ad (green box). The property's free booking link is still displayed further down (blue box). |
 |  |
How to get started
As a ThinkReservations subscriber, you're automatically eligible to show free booking links. There's no cost for clicks on free booking links. Bids also have no impact on the ranking of free booking links. Your hotel ads will continue using the set bid price. You do not have to be using Google Hotel Ads to use the free links.
Free Booking Links vs. Google Hotel Ads
Free booking links may resemble hotel ads, but Google stresses they're not ads. Google says they are ranked using a variety of signals to determine which links are best to show users. No one can buy a better placement for free booking links, while advertisers can bid to be ranked higher in the hotel ads section. Google marks ads with the "Ads" badge in the hotel booking module.
FAQs
How are free booking links different from existing hotel ads?
Google's free booking links display similar information to their paid booking links, but the main difference is simple: 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. Google will experiment with free ad placement and options more than the paid Google Hotel Ads product.
Why are my paid ads showing below free listings?
Google continually evaluates how best to enhance the user and partner experience within Google's travel products, including how users interact with both paid and organic content. This includes testing placement variations of the free booking links relative to the paid booking links.
Can a partner appear in both paid and free booking links for a single impression?
Yes. Because ranking of free booking links is completely separate from ad ranking, duplication is possible. This is just as with text ads and search results. Google Hotel Ads and Google's Free Booking Links are two distinct products.
Can I make my Free Booking Link show up higher in the list, or more often?
No. Your free booking link may or may not show up consistently or at all, and it may be buried further below where it can only be seen when a guest clicks view more options. This behavior is not the same for Google Hotel Ads where you ad placement is based on bids (and other factors).
Can I use free booking links without paying for a Google Hotel Ads subscription?
Yes! There is no charge from ThinkReservations or Google to use Google's "Free Booking Links".
Resources:
Google's original articles can be found on these Google support websites:
If you are not a ThinkMarketing client you can explore our marketing services at https://www.thinkreservations.com/products/marketing, or contact Sales to discuss our options. 877-736-4195 x1 or sales@thinkreservations.com