Google pushes further into private accommodations, rolls out vacation rentals search worldwide

Google is expanding its accommodations search and booking platform by adding vacation rental properties from around the world to its Hotel Search function.

Vacation listings worldwide are available beginning today on mobile and will roll out on desktop in the coming months.

Google says the platform includes listings from partners including Expedia Group brands Expedia, HomeAway, Hotels.com and VRBO as well as RedAwning and TripAdvisor.

Notably missing from Google’s announcement: Airbnb and Booking Holdings’ brands.

When asked, a Google spokesperson responded via email, “We have a broad set of partners, including large vacation rental providers, medium-sized distributors and OTAs,” and, “We can’t comment on specific players or partners. Today, we are just getting started with expanding our vacation rental inventory, and you will continue to see us add new partners to the program as we move forward.”

Unlike Google's test of vacation rentals in selected European markets that began in mid-2017 and displayed comparative pricing from multiple booking channels, the new layout shows users just one “book” option.

According to the Google spokesperson, the listings are “organically ranked, based on relevancy for the user,” and, “We show each listing individually with a name, description, reviews, content, price and booking link from only one partner. The reason is that it's often difficult to determine that two listings on two sites are definitely the same.”

Google says the search is focused on “entire units” - not a bedroom within a home - and will include apartments, vacation homes, villas and other options.

Users can filter properties based on number of bedrooms and bathrooms and amenities such as Wi-Fi, air-conditioning and whether it is pet-friendly. The display also includes photos and reviews from the partner site.

Booking transactions are completed on the travel partner’s site.