The tourism and hospitality industry was uniquely affected by the pandemic. We were left without visitors, bookings, and any sign of returning to normal. The good news is that visitors are coming back. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) anticipates tourism could contribute $8.6 trillion USD to the global economy this year. This is just below pre-pandemic levels.
Imagine international tourists taking a road trip through Slovenia and after a long day they want to find a place to stay the night and somewhere to eat. They will most likely use their phones to search for nearby accommodation or food recommendations.
If presented with two options on Google, where one is using their Google Business Profile to provide weekly updates and allow customers to leave glowing reviews, while the other never even claimed their profile and have no photos to show that they still exist. It should be no surprise that the business with content and social proof is more likely to be chosen.
Besides which one the customer will choose, the businesses with claimed profiles and fresh content are rewarded with better real estate on Google Maps and search results.
In 2021, searches for “along my route” increased 1000%.
Tourists are more tech savvy than previously which means businesses need to digitize and get online.
Wallflower Studios is hosting a series of free webinars in 2022 to help support Slovenian-based businesses in the industry. The first of which will cover Google Business Profile; the benefits, how to set up your account, and how to use it to attract new customers.
Google Business Profile (previously Google My Business) is a free tool that can truly benefit your business when used strategically.
The webinar will take place on 2 different days to accommodate different schedules. When registering please use this Google Form and select your preferred date; Thursday 24 Feb (19:00) or Saturday 26 Feb (10:00).
Visit Wallflower Studio’s official site for more details.
