Local SEO for Hotels
Every direct booking saves you 15–25% in OTA commissions. Local SEO is the cheapest channel to rebuild that direct funnel, and reviews are the single biggest input.
How many reviews to pass the hotel above you?
We compare ranking strength with the same formula we use in the app: rating × log10(reviews + 1). Enter your numbers and the rival you want to overtake.
You
Competitor
704 more reviews at your current rating
Your strength score is 10.48 versus their 13.09. At 12 per week that's roughly 59 weeks. Raising your rating shortens the list fast, a higher average needs fewer reviews to pass the same score.
- “hotels near me”
- “pet friendly hotel [city]”
- “boutique hotel [city] centre”
- “hotel near [landmark]”
- “hotel with parking [city]”
Best moment to ask: the morning of check-out, by email, while the stay is still fresh and the bill has been settled.
Great stay, noisy room
“Thank you for the kind words about our team. Sorry about the street noise, we keep quieter rooms at the back and will note that on your profile for next time.”
Complaint about breakfast
“Thank you for the honest feedback on breakfast. We've shared it with our kitchen and are adding more hot options. We'd love the chance to show you the change.”
Why this matters
Local customers decide on Google. The score, the review velocity, and how you reply are what move the needle.
Hotel Pack > Map Pack
Google's Hotel Pack uses a different ranking model that weighs review score and recency heavily.
Every source tells part of the story
Google, Booking.com and Tripadvisor influence guest decisions differently. Monitor each source within its provider limits.
Direct booking link wins
Adding your direct booking link to the GBP can capture 10–20% of would-be OTA bookings.
Photos are the hero
Hotels with 100+ photos get dramatically more profile interactions and higher booking intent.
Replies = trust signal
Travellers read your replies before they book. A consistent voice is a soft conversion booster.
Local SEO checklist for hotels
- Claim your GBP and set the property type accurately
- Add direct booking link, amenities, room types and check-in/out times
- Upload 50+ professional photos including room types, amenities, exterior
- Connect Google directly and monitor supported OTA reviews as read-only sources
- Automate post-stay requests with Apaleo, Mews early access or a PMS workflow
- Reply to every review in the guest's language within 24 hours
- Set up post-stay review requests via email and SMS
- Optimize for 'hotel near [landmark]' and 'pet-friendly hotel [city]' long-tail
- Build citations across Tripadvisor, Booking, Expedia, local tourism boards
- Add structured data (Hotel schema) on your website
- Track Hotel Pack ranking weekly per source market
Ready to win local search?
Start 14 days free, onboarded clients see their first 5-star reviews within days, and a measurable Maps ranking lift inside three months.
Start 14 days free