Below is a compilation of our most frequently asked questions in relation to Reserve with Google. Alternatively, you can watch our webinar that covers the below topics:
What is Reserve with Google and it's advantages.
What you need to know before enabling Reserve with Google.
Integration behaviour and the customer journey.
How to manage your integration.
Configuration
Only our support team can enable or disable Reserve with Google, so feel free to get in touch with us for assistance.
Can you tell me more about having my tables and areas booked through Google?
We're excited about this new, nationwide partnership between Access Collins by DesignMyNight and Google. Google users can now book your venue through Google Search, Google Maps, and the Reserve with Google website.
What are the requirements? How do I enable this feature?
Before you can use Reserve with Google, you must:
Be an agreed DesignMyNight bookings partner.
Offer Dining auto-confirm bookings or enquiries through your Access Collins system.
Is Reserve with Google available in all countries?
Yes.
If my venue doesn’t meet the requirements, will the Book A Table button appear on Reserve with Google?
No.
I don’t want my tables to be discoverable and bookable through Google. Can I opt out?
You can turn the Partner Network feature off at any time. Just reach out to us. Please then allow 24-48 hours for these changes to appear in Google.
How do I disable or remove Reserve with Google?
To remove yourself from the network, reach out to us, and we can take this forward with your account manager. Please allow 24-48 hours.
How do I choose which of my Booking Types are available for Reserve with Google?
Once you've activated Reserve with Google, you have a new section in your Site Settings, in the booking types called Sort booking type priorities.
Only dining types are available for Reserve with Google. Any existing dining types you have are automatically enabled. This is according to Google's bookings policy.
You can also set your available booking types to active or inactive.
Does Google get access to the customer data collected through Reserve with Google?
No.
Use Reserve with Google
Can any Google user book with my business through Reserve with Google?
Yes, just the same as any customer can make a booking on your Access Collins widget on your own website.
What can customers expect when booking through Google?
When a potential client searches for a venue using Google Search, Google Maps, or the Reserve with Google website, they see your Google listing profile. In your profile, there are multiple Book buttons that pull in your availability, live from your Access Collins system.
They then go ahead and book through the Reserve with Google, directly from Google, and complete their booking.
They're sent an automatic confirmation email from Reserve with Google, as well as your standard Access Collins confirmation email.
How much does it cost me when customers book through Google?
You're charged your normal DesignMyNight referral booking fee. There's no extra charge.
Any bookings via Reserve with Google are treated the same as a booking coming in from DesignMyNight.com and incur the third-party booking cost.
How does Reserve with Google work out the Until Time of a booking?
Reserve with Google doesn't allow the customer to pick a duration, like in Access Collins. Access Collins, therefore, passes Google the most accurate duration possible.
The system will look at your duration settings, such as the max duration, your rules dependent on the number of guests, and your duration interval settings to decipher an appropriate until time.
If it has a max duration set and no other duration settings, it will try to get it as close to two hours as possible.
If you want certain durations to show on Reserve with Google for your different booking types, please contact the Collins customer success team or your account manager, and they will help you with your Collins settings.
What if I have Booking Types that require a payment, deposit, or authentication at the point of booking?
The customer is asked to make the payment or authentication at the point of booking, just the same as if they were making a booking through your website.
What happens if I have booking types that require a pre-order at the point of booking?
These Booking Types or booking slots aren't available on Reserve with Google. This functionality is not yet available from Google.
How long in advance I can book through Reserve with Google?
You can book through Reserve with Google up to 30 days in advance from today.
The maximum number of covers you can book through Reserve with Google is 20.
Does my booking policy appear to the customer when they book through Google?
There's a hyperlink under the Book Now button for customers to check your booking policy for the type they're booking for, and the date.
🤓Tip: If you need the customers to be aware of your booking policy before arriving for their booking, we recommend that you add this to your confirmation email.
What happens to my booking policy tick box on Reserve with Google?
The way Reserve with Google is set up means Access Collins cannot surface your booking policy on the Google booking flow.
At the bottom of the checkout flow, Google states that by making the booking, the customer is accepting your booking policy. There's a hyperlink to your booking policy in this message too, should the customer want to read it.
Can the booking flow or journey be changed at all?
No. This is a Google product that we have integrated with the Access Collins system. We have no control over the booking flow or how availability is presented. We're simply slotting your availability into the Google product.
Can I edit my business listing on Google?
Yes. You can edit your business information. Please note we have no control over your Google listing, nor are we experienced in helping you customise or change your Google listing. Please use Google's FAQs or help channels.
What happens if a user wants to cancel a booking they booked through Google?
Nothing changes in this process as they also get your usual Access Collins confirmation email, so they can cancel their booking through your usual Access Collins channels.
Google also allows customers to change or cancel their bookings through Google, and this makes use of your venue's rules on whether to accept changes or cancellations.
If I have payments set up at the point of booking, does the note to the customer show if they book through Google?
Currently, the Google form doesn't have this field in place, to make sure the customer is aware of this note, put it in the Booking Policy or Confirmation Email.
Troubleshooting
Why are only some of my Booking Types displayed by Google?
Reserve with Google only allows bookings which are Dining types. This means types such as Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner will be eligible.
We'd recommend using our Booking Type Templates to create these types to ensure these are automatically enabled with Reserve with Google.
Any booking types that require a pre-order at the point of booking are not eligible.
Should I expect my Venue to become overbooked once they’re surfaced on Google?
No. Reserve with Google pulls your live Access Collins availability at all times, so it only surfaces Booking Types and booking slots that are available in your Access Collins booking calendar and floor plan.
I’m noticing that Google is not collecting all of my required fields. Why not?
Because you can create custom required fields in Access Collins, it’s difficult for third parties to create the same type of functionality for this integration.
Therefore, customers can search and book without populating:
Birthday.
Custom Field.
Offers.
📌Note: Access Collins does not influence the Google confirmation email that goes to clients. The details within the email and the branding are controlled solely by Google. Do remember however that your customers will also get your standard confirmation email as well as their Google one.
Why are other booking systems showing availability in my Google Listing, as well as Access Collins by DesignMyNight?
If you work with other partner booking sites that have some availability for your venue, they can activate your Reserve with Google functionality too.
If Access Collins, and other booking platforms are active on your profile, the customer selects which provider they wish to book with through Google.
If Access Collins is your primary booking system, we recommend that you contact the other booking systems and ask them to turn off their Reserve with Google.
You want Google to show your full availability and all bookings to go straight into your Access Collins diary and floor plan; this can only be achieved if Access Collins is your only live Reserve with Google provider.