January 6th, 2026

How To Get Your Hotel To Appear in Google’s Featured Snippets

by travelboom

Appearing at the top of Google’s search results is not just about bragging rights. It’s about business. Featured snippets, also known as “position zero,” sit above the traditional search results, drawing the eye, building authority, and driving more clicks.

For independent hotels trying to reduce reliance on OTAs and increase direct bookings, this is a golden opportunity. But how do you earn this coveted spot?

Your content calendar holds the secrets to your hotel’s featured snippets, and to rank, it must consider keywords and structure, and show your expertise. Doing these things won’t just help your hotel appear in FAQs and travel queries; your authority attracts guests and drives clicks that bypass OTAs.

What Are Featured Snippets?

Featured snippets are short excerpts of content that Google highlights in a special box at the top of the search results page. They typically answer specific questions and come from well-structured web pages.

Common Types of Featured Snippets:

Paragraphs: Direct answers to “what is…” or “how to…” questions.
Lists: Ordered or unordered steps or tips.
Tables: Comparison charts or data-driven content.
Videos: Often pulled from YouTube with time-stamped relevance.

Why Featured Snippets Matter for Hotels

1. Higher Hotel Visibility = More Direct Bookings

Featured snippets appear at the very top of Google’s results, often above paid ads and traditional organic listings. This prime positioning draws travelers’ immediate attention to your hotel, especially on mobile devices where screen space is limited. Users are more likely to click the first result they see.

For independent hotels, this visibility can significantly boost direct traffic by putting your content in front of travelers before they ever reach an online travel agency (OTA) listing. The more often your site earns this placement, the more opportunities you have to attract direct bookings without competing in a crowded search environment.

2. Establish Local Authority

When your hotel’s website is optimized for local SEO and consistently answers common travel-related queries such as “best places to stay in [city]” or “family-friendly activities near [location],” Google is more likely to feature your content in snippets. This not only improves visibility, but also reinforces your hotel’s credibility as a trusted local resource. Travelers are more inclined to book with brands they see as knowledgeable and helpful. Over time, this positions your hotel as more than just a place to stay. It becomes a reliable guide to the destination, building trust and long-term customer loyalty.

3. Snippet Clicks Bypass the OTA Trap

One of the biggest advantages of featured snippets is that they often direct users straight to your hotel’s website. This direct pathway is important because it allows you to manage the booking experience from the very beginning.

Instead of sharing space with other listings on an OTA and paying high commissions, you bring guests directly into your booking environment. This gives you control over messaging, pricing, and user experience. Over time, gaining traffic through snippets can help reduce your dependency on OTAs and improve your bottom line.

How Your Hotel Content Calendar Wins Snippets

To rank for featured snippets, Google needs content that’s structured and relevant and clearly answers user queries. In other words, content that’s search engine optimized. A well-planned hotel content calendar ensures you’re consistently creating the right kind of content to compete.

1. Target Long-Tail, Question-Based Keywords

Build your hotel’s content calendar around the exact questions travelers are already asking. Instead of generic topics, focus on long-tail, question-based keywords like “What are the best months to visit [your location]?”, “How far is [attraction] from [your hotel]?”, or “Top things to do near [your hotel].” These highly specific, intent-rich queries are far more likely to trigger featured snippets, and they target guests in the middle and bottom funnel when they are closer to booking.

2. Use Clean Formatting and Structure

Search engines favor content that is clearly structured, easy to read, and scannable. In other words, Google loves:

Clear headers (H2s and H3s)
Short paragraphs
Bullet points or numbered lists
Defined answers within the first 50–60 words

Structure your high-quality blog content to be easy to scan, and easy to rank.

3. Repurpose FAQs, Itineraries, and Local Tips

By strategically planning and repurposing these content types throughout your editorial calendar, you not only keep your website fresh and relevant, but also signal to Google that your site is a reliable source of information. Over time, this helps you build topical authority, which improves your chances of earning more snippet placements and driving consistent, high-intent traffic.

Featured Snippets and the Bottom Line

A strategic content approach focused on featured snippets doesn’t just boost visibility—it increases direct bookings, lowers dependence on OTAs, and helps independent hotels stay competitive in a digital-first landscape.

And it all starts with a smarter hotel content calendar that is aligned with SEO best practices, real traveler intent, and your direct booking goals.

Need Help Planning a Snippet-Winning Content Strategy?

At TravelBoom, we don’t do cookie-cutter. Our team builds tailored hotel marketing strategies rooted in data and driven by your goals. If your content isn’t working hard to win snippets—and direct bookings—we’ll fix that.