Google has announced a host of new features to make travel search simpler and aid conversions for retailers.
In a blog published on Tuesday afternoon, Google stated that it expects mobile to “play its biggest role ever” during peak shopping season – October through December – this year.
Mobile travel and shopping searches are already up almost 30% year-on-year, the search giant claims, and visits to mobile travel sites made up 40% of total travel web traffic in the first quarter of the year.
Google has also found travel mobile conversion rates have grown 10% as users are increasingly ready to book on mobile.
The new Google features being introduced are intended to make travel planning and mobile shopping simpler in advance of the shopping season.
Hotel smart filters
Users will now have the option to filter hotel search results based on specific needs. An example given by Google is travellers being able to filter based on rating or price with one tap on their mobile phone. The query could be “Pet-friendly hotels in San Francisco under $200”.
This feature is available in the US and will roll out globally later in the year.
Google also wants to reassure leisure travellers that they are finding the best price. “To help users feel more confident about making a booking, we’re working on making it easier for people to filter to find the right flight or the right hotel – at the right price – using our technology and real-time analysis,” read the blog.
