Mogga,
I agree that Google's results page doesn't offer any
info on hotels that some merchants/affiliates might
provide on their sites (and that these search results
might hurt these same merchants/affiliates).
(I usually like to know a bit about a hotel, check out
reviews etc., but in this particular case I'm a bit desperate
and a collection of phone numbers (a la Yellow Pages)
is good enough (and more than I managed to find, via
a Google Search).)
As a (frustrated) searcher I really like having an idea
about what's available in a given area - in this case hotels.
Google's Local search provides that for me.
I might then be prepared to search out an internet-only
deal (i.e. cheaper deal) via a Google search, and via one
of the previous merchant/affiliate sites.
(You have to agree that a search on Google as-is
is frustrating. I only ever seem to find hotel search
sites, most of which are affiliates to active hotels.)
Affiliates/merchants will just have to adapt, and try and
better serve their visitors. Maybe they could stop trying
to be a hotel search engine, and provide detailed
accommodatoin content on a specific locale instead.
I was actually looking for a guide to hotels and bed and
breakfasts in Holmfirth. All I found was hotel guides, that had
short listings to hotels everywhere, including - but not always -
in Holmfirth.
As a searcher, I was pleased anyway. As an affiliate
(admittedly not a travel affiliate) the consequences have
probably not sunk in, yet.
Steve
