Google Expands Its Things to Do Feature Deeper Into Maps
Skift Take
Step by step, inch by inch, Google is becoming more central to the tours and activities sector. We've seen this playbook before.
Dennis' Online Travel Briefing
Editor’s Note: Every Wednesday, Executive Editor and online travel rockstar Dennis Schaal will bring readers exclusive reporting and insight into the business of online travel and digital booking, and how this sector has an impact across the travel industry.The typical Google Maps use case doesn't entail people planning their entire vacations in the app, but they can selectively find flight information, compare hotel prices and — Google announced Tuesday — mix and match prices of attractions tickets.
No, Google Maps isn't a superapp yet but it's edging in that direction, and touts 1 billion people monthly using the feature. Search "New York" in Google Maps and you'll find restaurants, hotels, museums, transit options, pharmacies, ATMs, and now things to do.
In a blog post, Richard Holden, Google's vice president of travel products, wrote: "Last year, we began showing ticket booking links on Search when people look for attractions, like the Boston Tea Party Museum, to help them quickly compare admissions prices across different partners. Now, this ticket information is available on Google Maps as well, where travelers often plan their itinerary for the day."
In other changes announced Tuesday, Google is in the initial stages of introducing in Google search booking links for tours that are connected to attractions, such as a combination Vatican and Colosseum tour in Italy. Previously, Google had booking links to attractions tickets, suc
