Google is bringing Reserve with Google (RwG) to an end. The closely watched booking service enables consumers to buy tickets for participating tours, activities, and attractions directly from the operator’s Google business listing. Multiple partners to RwG, including reservation systems, online travel agencies (OTAs), and other technology partners, confirmed the news off the record.
RwG is the service behind the “Buy Tickets” button on the Google MyBusiness listings of many tour, activity and attraction operators. It enables the purchase of tickets without leaving Google. The booking is handled on the back end by either a connected OTA (online travel agency) or operator reservation and ticketing system.
There is no clear timeline for when RwG will end, but the Buy Tickets button and booking path is expected to be phased out over 2021. Google is not onboarding any new partners to the service. The closure only applies to tours, activities, and attractions and not other services such as restaurants, salons, and other local businesses that take reservations.
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