Google Travel Search Is Unrecognizable as Advertising Dries Up

Free links from travel companies are now appearing dramatically higher in Google Search on desktop and mobile — but it isn't because regulators have clamped down on the search engine or Google has reformed its advertising-tilted business practices.

The dearth of travel advertising because of the coronavirus pandemic has made Google's pages look almost unrecognizable. For example, Google's one-box of hotel search results, wth its maps and reviews directing consumers right into Google's own travel business, is now the highest search result in many cases.

With travel ads largely missing from Google Search, the silver lining is that organic links from the likes of Tripadvisor, Booking.com, and Expedia are newly visible right below the "fold" on desktop, and on the second page in Google results on mobile.