Google has begun changing how Search displays hotel, flight, restaurant and other service results in Europe, reducing the amount of information available directly on the results page. The rollout started September 8 and will push Google’s own specialized result carousels lower on the page while giving comparison services more prominent placement.
For queries such as a weekend hotel search in Berlin, Google previously displayed a detailed carousel that could include hotel listings, real-time prices and comparison information. Under the revised layout, those carousels will carry less information, including the removal of some real-time pricing features.
The new presentation is centered on Vertical Search Services, the specialized search and price-comparison platforms that compete with Google’s own offerings. One such service may be displayed at the top of a results page, followed by two others with less information. Services such as Booking.com and Expedia could gain visibility relative to hotels, restaurants and other businesses surfaced directly by Google Search.
The changes follow a €460 million fine imposed on Google in July over the alleged preferential treatment of its own services in results for shopping, hotels, transport and sports, in breach of the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The European Commission gave the company 60 days to comply, with possible periodic penalties of up to 5% of Google’s global turnover.
Google received a separate €430 million penalty in the same month over restrictions on app developers directing users to cheaper offers outside Google Play. The company argues that the Search redesign will make results less useful for European users and could raise costs for local businesses. Google also says earlier DMA-related changes had already reduced free traffic for direct bookings to European businesses by 30%.
