The Wolves Are Coming For Reserve With Google!

Despite the news this week, that the booking function will be wound down. Steve Jackson of tours and activities technology provider Toristy says operators shouldn’t give up on Reserve with Google (RwG).

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Reserve with Google (RwG) today

RwG allows tourists that find your Google MyBusiness page to book a ticket directly from Google Maps by clicking on a buy ticket button. 

You need to be connected to a reservation system that partners with Google to use this function. Alternatively, you can list your product on an OTA that is a Reserve partner.

To me, this defeats the objective of getting more direct bookings. If you’re connected to RwG through an OTA, you still have to pay their commission, despite being found on Google for your brand. Even this can be a challenge due to an OTAs ability to show real-time availability updates. 

Arival recently shared the news that Reserve with Google would be shutting down. You may wonder why I am still suggesting that you make the leap to RwG if it’s going to be deprecated. I asked the Arival team if I could put forward our view here. Having signed confidentiality agreements with Google, we have information that, while we can’t share everything, we can try to alleviate any worries operators may have.

Why bother if it’s being wound down?

Firstly, it’s going to be the end of 2021 before anything changes. There is an entire season between now and then.

If your visitors are in-destination and search for something to do “near me” in Google Maps, then you want to be visible. In this situation, you don’t want to miss out on that booking to a competitor.

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Secondly, if your branding has nearly done its job, but a potential guest can’t quite remember your web address, they may search for you or your services, and that will bring up the possibility to buy directly from Google search or maps. That’s better than not being found.

Thirdly, in my opinion, it’s going to get better than before.

Reserve with Google (RwG) tomorrow

It will change for sure, but I believe for the better, based on what I understand is being developed. 

How you book directly from Google will change, but operators who have connected with the right tech partners to take advantage of this channel won’t be simply dropped. 

The new Things to Do will be a positive evolutionary step, meaning that operators have way more control of what goes where. 

Yes, there may be Google tools to advertise these new listings in the Things to Do section. 

Google will need to make money, or it won’t be worth their time. However, much like Adwords, that choice will be left to the supplier, and because Google will be making money at it, it means it won’t go away; it will become a stronger offering. 

The OTAs that Arival pointed out would be a beneficiary of this change is not the entire story. They will still be serviced but not in the same way as I described earlier. 

My opinion is that the OTAs will lose the initiative to the supplier, not the other way around. Again, I can’t go into details, but I feel that Google is taking steps to level the smaller supplier’s playing field, not the OTA. Personally, I am excited about the possibilities these changes open up for suppliers. 

So now I got that out of the way; what about the wolves?

Ok, wolves. 

Many people use Google Maps when they are in-destination to discover things to do. 

Imagine the scene…

You’re on a camping holiday in Lapland, Finland, also known as The Land of the Midnight Sun. 

Being keen on nature, you’ve rented a car and traveled to a campsite in a place called Ranua in Northern Finland. 

After getting settled in your camp on a beautiful lake (Ranuajärvi), doing a spot of hiking in the area, you settle in for the night and are wondering what to do the next day.  

Things to do in Ranua

You can be forgiven for not knowing what’s going down in Ranua. 

It’s a stunning part of the world, but part of its charm is its remoteness and tranquility. So, you Google “things to do in Ranua” on Google Maps from your phone. 

Something on the map called Susimaa catches your eye. You click and see a picture of a wolf. Yes, of all the things to do in Ranua, there is a wolf sanctuary. 

How cool is that? I didn’t get into this business to wax lyrical about Reserve with Google and the benefits of using it; I got into the business to make operators like Susimaa famous. 

So there you have it, my two cents on why and how you should connect to one of the most powerful destination tools there is.

ABOUT TORISTY

Steve Jackson, CEO of Toristy

Steve Jackson is a veteran of the Analytics, Digital marketing, and search engine optimization field having over 20 years’ experience working for “Big Travel”. He now is focusing his efforts on making tour and activity operators in the experiences sector of the travel industry famous. He does this using Toristy’s tour operator booking software and in-destination sales network. If you’re looking for a reservation tool create a free trial account at the Toristy portal to find out for yourself if we can help you.

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Arival 360 | Valencia (28-30 April 2025)
  • Scope: Flagship European Event with a global reach; up to 30% of attendees from outside Europe, including the U.S., Middle East, LATAM, and APAC.
  • Audience: Experience creators, tech and distribution companies, and industry professionals from around the world.
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  • Location: Valencia, a stunning coastal city offering rich cultural experiences.
  • Attendees: Approximately 800, providing extensive networking opportunities.
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  • Scope: Regional focus on the UK, Ireland, and the Nordic regions.
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  • Breakout Sessions: Experience hands-on learning at Edinburgh’s top attractions and tours, with sessions on visitor experience, digital journeys and innovative tour development. In-depth sessions for companies at the beginning of their digital journey and more advanced sessions for people and companies looking to elevate their experience.
  • Networking: With a more intimate setting. you’ll have more time to build deeper connections and create more meaningful interactions with your current and future partners including distributors, tech companies, DMOs and more.
  • Location: Edinburgh, known for its stunning architecture and historic charm
  • Attendees: Approximately 400, fostering an intimate peer-to-peer learning and networking environment.
Key Differences:
  • Global vs. Regional Focus: Valencia is a global event with an international audience, while Edinburgh is a regional event focused on the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions.
  • Event Size: Valencia hosts about 800 attendees, providing broad networking opportunities, whereas Edinburgh’s 400 attendees create a more intimate, focused environment.
  • Content and Sessions: Valencia features global themes and advanced topics, whereas Edinburgh provides region-specific insights and hands-on experiential learning.
  • Location Experience: Valencia providing a coastal escape and Edinburgh offering historic and iconic attractions.
  • Who Will Be There: The most valuable part of Arival Events is the connections you make and the partnerships you build to grow your business. At Arival | Activate Edinburgh, you’ll engage with key industry players in the UK, Ireland, and Nordic regions. If your business focus is on these areas, Edinburgh is where you need to be. For those targeting broader European or global markets, Arival 360 | Valencia offers the ideal platform to network with international leaders and innovators. 
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