Google is adding tools to its travel portfolio to simplify
and expedite the trip planning process.
Now when users search top worldwide travel destinations,
Google will offer relevant suggestions on things to do, day plans or travel
articles in Google Search.
As flight and hotel bookings are made and confirmations come
into Gmail, the recommendations will become more customized in organic search
results on Google.
In a post on its blog, Google includes the example of a traveler
searching “Austin” who has already booked a hotel in that city – the results
would then show things such as flight prices, weather and events for the specific
dates of the hotel booking and restaurants near the property.
Next month Google will update its “Your Trips” tool so it
consolidates prior travel research in one place. Flight price tracking, hotel
searches and saved places will all be accessible in Your Trips.
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Google is also expanding its Google Flights’ price trend capabilities
to include travel during December holidays such as Christmas and New Year’s. The
price trend service launched in August with tips for Thanksgiving travel only.
It uses historical prices and prices available so far this
year to indicate if a given price is unusually low, typical or high and whether
it is likely to rise or fall in the next five days.
Google says this capability will appear worldwide over the
coming weeks when users search for flights on their phones.
Finally, Google is adding a “location score” for hotels that
summarizes its neighborhood characteristics based on information from Google
Maps. The score will include details such as distance to bars, landmarks and
public transportation. It will also provide information on how to get to and
from the airport.