How Does Google’s Travel Feed in Search Ads Work? 5 Big Questions Answered

A traveler wearing a straw hat and denim backpack standing in front of a brightly lit airport flight schedule display, symbolizing the importance of real-time updates in travel feed in search ads for seamless trip planning.

Key takeaways

  • Google’s Travel Feeds pulls in real-time details like prices, ratings, and photos. They make search ads way more engaging for travellers.
  • Early results hint at a 20% CTR boost, but that’s no promise — it’s just based on initial tests.
  • Setting up Travel Feeds takes some work but gives even smaller advertisers a shot at showing up with highly relevant, eye-catching ads.

Google’s been tweaking its travel ads — and it’s kind of a big deal.

They’ve launched something new called Travel Feeds.

It pushes live updates straight into search ads.

And if you’re in travel, you’ll want to pay attention.

Early reports are hinting at a 20% click-through rate (CTR) increase with these dynamic ads.

Not bad, right?

But that number isn’t set in stone.

It’s more of an estimate based on early results. 

Still, the concept is pretty cool.

People searching for hotels or vacation rentals get all the details they need without having to jump through 10 different websites.

There’s a huge potential for it.

Hotels pull in 76% of their revenue online

Vacation rentals aren’t far behind at 71%.

So I’m sure you’ve got questions about Travel Feeds.

Let’s go ahead and talk about what you need to know about Google’s shiny new ad format.

5 questions you might be asking about Google’s Travel Feeds

Question #1 — how exactly does Google’s Travel Feed in search ads work?

Google’s travel feeds pull live information into your search ads.

People see live prices, ratings, availability, and even photos.

They get all the information they need instantly.

Plus, these ads go beyond text.

Basically, they serve all the real-time details people need to book their next trip.

It’s like having a personal travel agent right there in the search results.

It also doubles as a pretty neat tool if you want your ads to stand out.

You get to give people exactly what they’re looking for, right when they search for it.

mobile search results showing hotel options in boston, including ratings, prices, and sponsored ads at the top. the display highlights how travel feeds in search ads enhance the online booking experience by showing relevant, location-based hotel options directly in search results.

Question #2 — is the 20% CTR boost legit? 

Before you get excited, the quick answer is no.

It’s not a guaranteed figure across the board.

That said, it’s easy to see why these ads perform better.

Let’s say you’re looking for a hotel in New York.

One ad shows you updated prices, availability, and ratings.

The other is a generic ad that just says “Best hotels in New York.”

Which one would you click?

a bold graphic of a stopwatch alongside text that reads, 'for 80% of people, "real-time" means 2 minutes or less,' emphasizing speed and immediacy, a critical factor for optimizing travel feed in search ads.

Up-to-the minute data pulls people in. 

More clicks means higher chances for booking.

But this isn’t some magic bullet that’ll solve all your problems.

Remember, it’s just a tool.

And like any tool, results depend on how you use it.

The good news is it’s not just for the big-budget advertisers.

Even smaller players can use Google Travel Feeds for search ads.

graphic displaying a statistic showing that 72% of travellers prefer to book their trips online. a world map with an aeroplane symbolises global travel, while bold text highlights the importance of travel feeds in search ads to capture this online booking preference among travellers.

Question #3  — how do I start setting-up travel feeds?

Setting up Travel Feeds in Google Ads isn’t complicated. 

But it’s not totally plug-and-play either.

First, you’ll need a Hotel Centre travel feed.

This is basically a file with all your data — prices, availability, images, ratings, etc.

Once you’ve got that feed, you link your Hotel Centre to your Google Ads account.

After that, Google does most of the heavy lifting.

It automatically pulls the info from your feed and inserts it into your search ads.

If you don’t have a feed already, Google has guides to walk you through it step-by-step.

Once you’ve got it running,  keep it sharp and up to date.

Old data kills conversions, so update prices and availability often.

Use clean, high-quality photos that pop.

And, of course, resize and compress them to keep loading fast.

You can even skip the feed for certain campaigns, but you’ll probably miss out on some opportunities.

Get your feed running sooner to see results faster.

But don’t just sit back.

Do what you can to move things along.

Write ad headlines that grab attention.

Track your ad performance and make quick changes when needed.

Schedule ads when your audience is most engaged to get the most out of your budget.

Question #4 — can I show more than just hotels?

Google’s already experimenting with Travel Feeds for other travel-related services.

Car rentals are on the table.

And there’s talk of expanding into activities, tours, and even event bookings.

Now, let’s be clear.

None of this has been confirmed yet.

This is all just speculation for now.

But if Google does roll this out, it could change the way people book activities online.

Soon, you could be booking a city tour or renting a car directly from a search ad.

No extra clicks.

No extra steps.
So, it’s worth thinking about how to stay ahead.

Travel ads are changing fast, and you don’t want to get left behind.

a pie chart illustrating top online travel bookings in the u.s., with hotels leading at 35%, followed by flight tickets at 22%, and car rentals at 15%. the graphic emphasises that hotels are the primary choice, highlighting the importance of travel feeds in search ads to attract customers to book accommodations online.

Question #5 —  what does this mean for people booking their travel online?

Planning a trip just got a whole lot simpler.

No more juggling tabs to compare prices.

No more guessing whether a room is actually available.

Travel Feeds puts it all right in search results.

People get prices, availability, and reviews in one spot.

It’s smoother.

It’s quicker.

And it takes the stress out of comparing options.

If you’re a traveller, you’re probably loving this already.

And if you’re an advertiser, this is your chance to get more conversions.

Make your Travel Feed work harder for you

Want to get the most out of your Travel Feeds?

Here’s what you can do:

  • Keep your feed fresh
    Stale info is a surefire way to lose clicks. Make sure your copy is sharp while you’re at it. Real-time updates keep people interested and show you’re on it.
  • Use high-res images
    People love sharp visuals, especially when booking. Quality images pull people in and make them stick around.
  • Show off ratings and reviews
    Testimonials are instant trust-builders. Good ratings mean people click with confidence — and that’s half the battle won.
  • Try out different ad formats
    See what your audience bites on. Some love detailed ads, some want it simple. Running Google ads experiments helps you find that sweet spot.

Getting your travel feed right isn’t hard — but it matters. 

The more you dial it in, the better your results (and your ROI).

Is this the next big thing for travel search ads?

Travel Feeds are a sneak peek into Google’s bigger game plan for ads.

The main focus here is dynamic, real-time info.

They want to bring people the latest details right when they’re searching.

And it’s not just travel.

Retail, real estate — you can be scrolling through ads for houses or products with live prices, availability, even reviews.

As people crave more instant info, feed-based ads could explode across industries.

This could be a breakthrough moment.

Google Travel Feeds are already active across 21 countries and supports 12 languages.

Travellers can spend less time worrying about where to stay.

And start focusing on planning their adventures.

Use Travel Feeds to make your ads hit the mark, and you might just land a spot on their dream itinerary.

With a decade of digital marketing experience under his belt, OJ's got a knack for words and social media that make brands grow. He works on doing the little things online that lead to big real-world wins. Pretty much like when he's hooping on the basketball court.

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