Google has formally announced (after piloting last year) a project to offer businesses such as hotels free panoramic views of their properties on Google Places.
Google Business Photos is the official extension of a test from early in 2010 where Google officials will come into a business and take pictures, eventually after processing including the images on the relevant entry on Google Places.
The idea is to bolster businesses on Google Places with professional photography alongside the owner-generated images also possible on the service.
Read the full story at: http://www.tnooz.com/2011/05/06/news/google-triggers-scramble-for-free-hotel-images-for-places-pages/