u/No-Event9392

After working with a lot of operators, I keep seeing the same patterns — and they’re quietly killing growth.

1. Selling the tour instead of the outcome
Nobody wakes up wanting a “2-hour walking tour.”
They want:
“see the hidden parts of the city”
“skip the lines”
“do something memorable today”

If your titles and descriptions don’t reflect that, you’re invisible — especially on search-driven platforms.

2. Over-investing in social, under-investing in intent
Instagram looks good, but it’s mostly passive discovery.
Search (like Google) = people already planning or ready to book.

If you’re not showing up when someone searches “things to do in [your city]”, you’re missing your highest-converting traffic.

3. Relying too heavily on one channel (usually OTAs)
OTAs are great for volume, but they shouldn’t be your only distribution.
If one partner changes ranking, pricing, or visibility… your revenue drops overnight.

The operators winning right now are:
✔️ Diversifying distribution
✔️ Owning more of their demand
✔️ Showing up where intent already exists

Curious — what’s been the most effective channel for you lately?

(Search, OTAs, social, partnerships, something else?)

I’ve been digging pretty deep into how Google Things to Do actually works, and something feels… off.

When you search stuff like “things to do in [city]”, most of what shows up are listings from big OTAs. Smaller operators either:

• aren’t there at all
• or are there indirectly (through resellers taking a cut)

From what I can tell, the barriers are:

• technical integration (APIs, feeds, availability, etc.)
• needing an approved connectivity partner
• or going through platforms that take commissions

So even though Google looks like an open discovery channel, it’s kind of gated.

I’m curious:
👉 Are any operators here actually connected directly to Google Things to Do?
👉 If yes, how painful was the setup?
👉 If not, what’s stopping you — tech, cost, or just not worth it?

Feels like there’s a big gap between “local experiences” and actual distribution.

Would love to hear real experiences (good or bad).

I’ve been digging pretty deep into how Google Things to Do actually works, and something feels… off.

When you search stuff like “things to do in [city]”, most of what shows up are listings from big OTAs. Smaller operators either:

• aren’t there at all
• or are there indirectly (through resellers taking a cut)

From what I can tell, the barriers are:

• technical integration (APIs, feeds, availability, etc.)
• needing an approved connectivity partner
• or going through platforms that take commissions

So even though Google looks like an open discovery channel, it’s kind of gated.

I’m curious:
👉 Are any operators here actually connected directly to Google Things to Do?
👉 If yes, how painful was the setup?
👉 If not, what’s stopping you — tech, cost, or just not worth it?

Feels like there’s a big gap between “local experiences” and actual distribution.

Would love to hear real experiences (good or bad).

Most operators focus on Instagram, websites, or OTAs… but overlook one of the highest-intent channels out there: Google Things to Do.

When someone searches:
👉 “things to do in Montreal”
👉 “best tours in Barcelona”
👉 “skip-the-line tickets Rome”

They’re not browsing — they’re ready to book.

The problem?
Getting your products into that ecosystem is still confusing, technical, and often locked behind big resellers taking commissions.

That’s exactly what we’ve been working on solving.

We help tour operators:
✔️ Get their activities live on Google Things to Do
✔️ Distribute inventory without heavy commissions
✔️ Improve visibility where customers are already searching
✔️ Turn existing tours into scalable, bookable products

No fluff. Just better distribution.

Curious how it works or want early access?
Drop a comment or DM me — happy to share what we’re building.

#tourismmarketing #thingstodo #touroperators #traveltech #digitaltourism #googleads #experiencedesign

A lot of people focus on “getting more traffic” — ads, SEO, social, influencers…

But when you actually look closer, the issue is usually this:
👉 The traffic is there
👉 It just doesn’t convert

Here’s where things typically break:

1. Weak first impression (especially on Google)
Your title, image, and reviews are doing 90% of the work.
If those don’t immediately answer “is this worth my time and money?” — people scroll.

2. Generic product pages
If your tour page could apply to any city, it won’t sell.
Specificity wins:

• what makes this experience different?
• what will I actually see/do?
• why should I trust you?

3. No urgency or clarity
Users don’t want to think.
They want to know:
✔️ how long it takes
✔️ what’s included
✔️ when it runs
✔️ if it’s likely to sell out

If that’s not obvious in seconds, they bounce.

4. Mismatch between traffic and offer
If someone searches “family things to do” and lands on a generic or adult-focused tour… they’re gone.

The best operators aren’t just driving traffic — they’re aligning:
👉 intent
👉 listing
👉 experience

Small tweaks here often outperform spending more on ads.

What’s one change you made that actually improved bookings?

After working with a lot of operators, I keep seeing the same patterns — and they’re quietly killing growth.

1. Selling the tour instead of the outcome
Nobody wakes up wanting a “2-hour walking tour.”
They want:
“see the hidden parts of the city”
“skip the lines”
“do something memorable today”

If your titles and descriptions don’t reflect that, you’re invisible — especially on search-driven platforms.

2. Over-investing in social, under-investing in intent
Instagram looks good, but it’s mostly passive discovery.
Search (like Google) = people already planning or ready to book.

If you’re not showing up when someone searches “things to do in [your city]”, you’re missing your highest-converting traffic.

3. Relying too heavily on one channel (usually OTAs)
OTAs are great for volume, but they shouldn’t be your only distribution.
If one partner changes ranking, pricing, or visibility… your revenue drops overnight.

The operators winning right now are:
✔️ Diversifying distribution
✔️ Owning more of their demand
✔️ Showing up where intent already exists

Curious — what’s been the most effective channel for you lately?

(Search, OTAs, social, partnerships, something else?)

After working with a lot of operators, I keep seeing the same patterns — and they’re quietly killing growth.

1. Selling the tour instead of the outcome
Nobody wakes up wanting a “2-hour walking tour.”
They want:
“see the hidden parts of the city”
“skip the lines”
“do something memorable today”

If your titles and descriptions don’t reflect that, you’re invisible — especially on search-driven platforms.

2. Over-investing in social, under-investing in intent
Instagram looks good, but it’s mostly passive discovery.
Search (like Google) = people already planning or ready to book.

If you’re not showing up when someone searches “things to do in [your city]”, you’re missing your highest-converting traffic.

3. Relying too heavily on one channel (usually OTAs)
OTAs are great for volume, but they shouldn’t be your only distribution.
If one partner changes ranking, pricing, or visibility… your revenue drops overnight.

The operators winning right now are:
✔️ Diversifying distribution
✔️ Owning more of their demand
✔️ Showing up where intent already exists

Curious — what’s been the most effective channel for you lately?

(Search, OTAs, social, partnerships, something else?)

I’ve been digging pretty deep into how Google Things to Do actually works, and something feels… off.

When you search stuff like “things to do in [city]”, most of what shows up are listings from big OTAs. Smaller operators either:

• aren’t there at all
• or are there indirectly (through resellers taking a cut)

From what I can tell, the barriers are:

• technical integration (APIs, feeds, availability, etc.)
• needing an approved connectivity partner
• or going through platforms that take commissions

So even though Google looks like an open discovery channel, it’s kind of gated.

I’m curious:
👉 Are any operators here actually connected directly to Google Things to Do?
👉 If yes, how painful was the setup?
👉 If not, what’s stopping you — tech, cost, or just not worth it?

Feels like there’s a big gap between “local experiences” and actual distribution.

Would love to hear real experiences (good or bad).

A free 6-lesson course showing tour operators, guides, museums, and attractions exactly how to be discovered on Google — from claiming your Google Business Profile to ranking on Google Things to Do and running Google Travel ads. Each lesson has a Beginner track in plain language and an Advanced track for tech-savvy operators.

A lot of people focus on “getting more traffic” — ads, SEO, social, influencers…

But when you actually look closer, the issue is usually this:
👉 The traffic is there
👉 It just doesn’t convert

Here’s where things typically break:

1. Weak first impression (especially on Google)
Your title, image, and reviews are doing 90% of the work.
If those don’t immediately answer “is this worth my time and money?” — people scroll.

2. Generic product pages
If your tour page could apply to any city, it won’t sell.
Specificity wins:

• what makes this experience different?
• what will I actually see/do?
• why should I trust you?

3. No urgency or clarity
Users don’t want to think.
They want to know:
✔️ how long it takes
✔️ what’s included
✔️ when it runs
✔️ if it’s likely to sell out

If that’s not obvious in seconds, they bounce.

4. Mismatch between traffic and offer
If someone searches “family things to do” and lands on a generic or adult-focused tour… they’re gone.

The best operators aren’t just driving traffic — they’re aligning:
👉 intent
👉 listing
👉 experience

Small tweaks here often outperform spending more on ads.

What’s one change you made that actually improved bookings?

After working with a lot of operators, I keep seeing the same patterns — and they’re quietly killing growth.

1. Selling the tour instead of the outcome
Nobody wakes up wanting a “2-hour walking tour.”
They want:
“see the hidden parts of the city”
“skip the lines”
“do something memorable today”

If your titles and descriptions don’t reflect that, you’re invisible — especially on search-driven platforms.

2. Over-investing in social, under-investing in intent
Instagram looks good, but it’s mostly passive discovery.
Search (like Google) = people already planning or ready to book.

If you’re not showing up when someone searches “things to do in [your city]”, you’re missing your highest-converting traffic.

3. Relying too heavily on one channel (usually OTAs)
OTAs are great for volume, but they shouldn’t be your only distribution.
If one partner changes ranking, pricing, or visibility… your revenue drops overnight.

The operators winning right now are:
✔️ Diversifying distribution
✔️ Owning more of their demand
✔️ Showing up where intent already exists

Curious — what’s been the most effective channel for you lately?

(Search, OTAs, social, partnerships, something else?)

Hello,

I have created a group specifically for Google travel campaigns. Though not very well known it has an extremely low CPC and can only be setup but a connectivity partner. Join the group to ask questions and get set up on Google Things To Do, a program specifically for activity providers.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Googletravelads/

I am new to this group and I would like to contribute. Are there any tour operators or activity providers that need assistance with their marketing I can provide advice and direction or critique on their products and marketing plans

I’ve been digging pretty deep into how Google Things to Do actually works, and something feels… off.

When you search stuff like “things to do in [city]”, most of what shows up are listings from big OTAs. Smaller operators either:

• aren’t there at all
• or are there indirectly (through resellers taking a cut)

From what I can tell, the barriers are:

• technical integration (APIs, feeds, availability, etc.)
• needing an approved connectivity partner
• or going through platforms that take commissions

So even though Google looks like an open discovery channel, it’s kind of gated.

I’m curious:
👉 Are any operators here actually connected directly to Google Things to Do?
👉 If yes, how painful was the setup?
👉 If not, what’s stopping you — tech, cost, or just not worth it?

Feels like there’s a big gap between “local experiences” and actual distribution.

Would love to hear real experiences (good or bad).

Anyone need help with the Google things to do ads program?

It's for tour guides and activity providers.

I will help the first 5 market their tours for free.

Most operators focus on Instagram, websites, or OTAs… but overlook one of the highest-intent channels out there: Google Things to Do.

When someone searches:
👉 “things to do in Montreal”
👉 “best tours in Barcelona”
👉 “skip-the-line tickets Rome”

They’re not browsing — they’re ready to book.

The problem?
Getting your products into that ecosystem is still confusing, technical, and often locked behind big resellers taking commissions.

That’s exactly what we’ve been working on solving.

We help tour operators:
✔️ Get their activities live on Google Things to Do
✔️ Distribute inventory without heavy commissions
✔️ Improve visibility where customers are already searching
✔️ Turn existing tours into scalable, bookable products

No fluff. Just better distribution.

Curious how it works or want early access?
Drop a comment or DM me — happy to share what we’re building.

#tourismmarketing #thingstodo #touroperators #traveltech #digitaltourism #googleads #experiencedesign