Why your booking software’s connection to Google Things to Do isn’t enough (And How We Fix It)

If you run a tour or activity business, direct bookings are your lifeblood. Every time a customer books through an OTA like Viator or GetYourGuide, you lose 20% to 30% right off the top.

Google Things to Do (GTTD) was supposed to solve this by giving operators a direct link on Google Search and Maps. Most operators turn on the built-in GTTD toggle inside software like Fareharbor or Bókun and assume they’re set up properly.

Unfortunately, it’s not that simple.

While they manage your booking calendar, it only passes raw product data to Google.

It doesn’t optimize your listings, it can’t fix profile eligibility errors, and most importantly, it leaves your Google Ads account completely disconnected.

Here is what’s actually happening behind the scenes, how to fix your setup, and why combining your booking software with Thingstodomarketing.com gives you the best of both worlds.

Thingstodomarketing.com acts as your distribution and optimization layer. We specialize specifically in Google’s travel framework to make sure your listings actually rank, convert, and stay compliant with Google's technical rules.

The Booking software Setup: Gives you a basic toggle switch. It dumps raw product titles, prices, and availability into Google's system. If Google rejects a tour or hides your listing because of a setup error, they won't alert you or fix it.

Thingstodomarketing.com: We take that same inventory feed and clean it up. We audit your setup, map your exact Place IDs, format ticket pricing to match Google’s layout rules, and secure the official blue "Official Site" badge on your Google Business Profile.

This is where the booking software integration falls short: It does not connect your product feed to your Google Ads account.

When you only use the booking platform connection, you're restricted to organic listings. But if you want to run paid ads, you need to run Google Travel Campaigns—which require an active feed connection to your ad manager.

By letting us handle your Google Things to Do setup, you fix backend errors, get access to lower-cost Travel Campaigns, and ensure every booking goes straight to your checkout page without giving away a cut to OTAs.