Google Hints at Launching a Travel Assistant App

Have you ever used a travel assistant app? Even if you don’t travel often, Google has probably helped you prepare for road trips, day trips, or around-the-world journeys.

You can already receive destination information in seconds and airfare prices by using the Google Flights search filter.

Google might be getting more involved in the travel game by launching a dedicated mobile app for travel plans.

Local Guide Participants Can Beta Test It

Google representatives sent an e-mail to some users in the Local Guides program. It lets people who are experts about their communities give tips to visitors or people new to the area.

In return for dispensing that local knowledge, guides earn points that let them achieve progressively higher levels in the program. People at certain levels get rewards like testing new products, free Google Drive storage upgrades and event invitations.

Recently, all Local Guides level two or higher got an invitation to possibly try Google’s new travel app. The e-mail indicated they’d have to fill out a survey first to apply for the opportunity to be a beta tester for the highly anticipated travel app.

If selected, they’d receive further instructions. Local Guides had until April 25^th to earn enough points to reach level two and potentially test the app.

Details Are Scarce

As for what the app might do to make it simpler to plan trips, that’s anyone’s guess for now. The email indicated this new offering was described as a “travel assistant app” compatible with iOS and Android.

Some people speculate perhaps the app might integrate all the main components of planning a trip, such as booking flights, finding hotels and researching attractions, and let people do all those things within the app instead of using multiple tools. It’s also possible Google might offer an itinerary function so people can keep tabs on where they’re supposed to be and when.

Since Google is heavily driven by search engine optimization, it’s also likely if hotel listings are a part of this new app, they’ll be ranked in a strategic way that makes it easier for people to pick the properties that are most appropriate.

For example, if a hotel’s information is regularly updated and has a lot of current, recent reviews from people who have stayed there, such a property might rank more highly in the listings than others.

Some travel industry experts have speculated it’d be in an establishment’s best interests to make sure it’s optimized for mobile viewing and also is participating with the partners that Google normally uses when showcasing travel content. The company has already reportedly been making changes to the way it uses paid ads that relate to travel content.

Looking Ahead

Many people agree Google’s mysterious travel app will likely depend on human input to drive its content. Local Guides might propel things forward even beyond being beta testers.

If that’s true, it’ll be important for Google to take precautions to ensure the content listed on the app is trustworthy and not overrun by spammers.

Luckily, we won’t have to wait too long to know for sure what Google representatives have been working on.

The app should be reaching beta testers within days. When that happens, those tech-savvy travelers will certainly put the app through its paces and report on its capabilities.