Astoria — Google Visibility Analysis

Where Astoria Stands Today

Astoria Hotel stands as a well-regarded choice in Olten, Switzerland, consistently earning a 4.2/5 rating from over 767 verified guests on Google. Nestled in the heart of Olten’s historic center, it offers easy access to the city’s cultural attractions and efficient public transport links, making it a practical base for both leisure travelers and business visitors exploring the canton of Solothurn.

The Visibility Gap — 1,909 Booking Reviews vs. 767 Google Reviews

On the surface, 1,909 Booking.com reviews sounds impressive — and it is. It means thousands of guests have stayed at Astoria and taken the time to share their experience. But here's what most hotel owners don't realize: Google doesn't care about your Booking.com reviews.

Google's local search algorithm ranks hotels based on their Google reviews — not reviews on third-party platforms. And with 92% of travelers searching Google before booking anywhere, your Google review count directly determines how many potential guests ever see Astoria in search results.

Right now, Astoria has a 2:1 OTA-to-Google review ratio. That means for every guest who reviews on Google, roughly 2 review on Booking.com instead. Those are guests who liked your hotel enough to write about it — but they wrote on the wrong platform.

Astoria vs. Hôtel Continental — The Local Competition

Hôtel Continental currently holds 776 Google reviews compared to Astoria's 767. That only 9-review lead might seem small, but in Google's local search algorithm, every review counts. Hotels with more reviews consistently appear higher in "hotels in Olten" searches — directly impacting which property travelers see and click first.

The good news: a 9-review gap is closable in 3-6 months with the right approach. Hotels that implement systematic review collection typically grow their Google reviews 8 to 15 times faster than those relying on organic submissions alone.

The Revenue Impact — What OTA Dependency Costs Astoria

Based on Astoria's Booking.com profile and the average nightly rate in Switzerland (€150), we estimate the hotel pays approximately €79,032 per year in OTA commissions. That breaks down to €216 every single day going to Booking.com and similar platforms instead of directly to Astoria.

This isn't a marketing cost — it's revenue leaving the business. With an OTA-to-direct ratio of 2:1, the vast majority of guests who take the time to write a review are booking through commission-based platforms rather than directly.

Even converting 20-30% of these OTA bookings to direct would save Astoria between €15,806 and €23,709 per year — money that goes straight back to the hotel.

What We Would Fix First for Astoria

What we’d fix first for Astoria’s Google visibility is responding to every single review within 24 hours—not just the negative ones—to show active engagement. Next, they should optimize their Google Business Profile with 25+ high-quality photos (including interior, rooms, and local views) and post weekly updates about events or seasonal offerings. Finally, implementing an automated post-checkout review request system via email or SMS would systematically capture more guest feedback, directly boosting their review volume and freshness in local searches.