Why Hotels & Guest Houses Across the North East Need Virtual Tours & Google Maps Optimisation

When someone searches for:

• “hotel near me”
• “guest house Sunderland”
• “places to stay South Shields”
• “hotel Newcastle city centre”

they are usually planning a stay and ready to book.

In fact, 76% of people who search locally visit a business within 24 hours — and for hotels, that often means booking the same day.

That means your Google listing plays a huge role in whether someone books your accommodation — or chooses another nearby.

Why Virtual Tours Are So Powerful for Hotels

When choosing where to stay, customers want to see:

• Room quality
• Cleanliness
• Reception areas
• Dining spaces
• Facilities
• Overall atmosphere

Photos alone don’t always provide enough reassurance.

A virtual tour allows potential guests to:

• Walk through your hotel online
• View bedrooms and bathrooms
• Explore reception areas
• See dining or lounge spaces
• Experience your environment

before committing to a booking.

This helps build trust and increases the likelihood of direct bookings.

Hotel Virtual Tour Statistics

Research shows immersive content can influence booking decisions:

• Businesses with virtual tours are 2x more likely to generate interest
• Listings with immersive content receive up to 87% more engagement
• Customers spend up to 5–10x longer on listings that include virtual tours
• 67% of customers say online imagery influences their decision
• 74% of customers are more likely to visit a business with a virtual tour

For hotels, this can directly influence booking rates.

Why Google Maps Optimisation Matters for Accommodation Providers

When someone searches locally for accommodation, Google often displays the top three results in the Map 3-Pack.

Businesses featured here receive up to 44% of total clicks.

Local search data shows:

• 46% of all Google searches are for local information
• 88% of customers who search locally visit within 24 hours
• 28% of local searches result in a purchase

Optimising your Google Business Profile helps your hotel:

• Appear higher in search results
• Increase direct bookings
• Get more phone calls
• Generate more website visits
• Attract new guests

Stand Out From Other Hotels Across the North East

Many hotels still rely on:

• Basic listings
• Static photos
• Limited online updates

Adding a virtual tour and optimising your listing helps your business:

• Rank higher locally
• Build customer confidence
• Increase booking enquiries
• Improve visibility
• Convert searches into stays

Go Local 360 helps hotels and guest houses across the North East improve their visibility through immersive Matterport virtual tours and expert Google Maps optimisation.