The Council — Google Visibility Analysis

Where The Council Stands Today

The Council stands out as a well-regarded boutique hotel nestled in Sibiu’s historic center, consistently earning a strong 4.2/5 rating from 387 verified guests. Its prime location places guests steps from the iconic Black Church, bustling market squares, and the charming cobblestone streets that define Sibiu’s medieval charm, making it a favorite for travelers seeking authenticity without sacrificing comfort.

The Visibility Gap — 1,432 Booking Reviews vs. 387 Google Reviews

On the surface, 1,432 Booking.com reviews sounds impressive — and it is. It means thousands of guests have stayed at The Council 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 The Council in search results.

Right now, The Council has a 3:1 OTA-to-Google review ratio. That means for every guest who reviews on Google, roughly 3 review on Booking.com instead. Those are guests who liked your hotel enough to write about it — but they wrote on the wrong platform.

The Council vs. Campeador Inn — The Local Competition

Campeador Inn currently holds 390 Google reviews compared to The Council's 387. That only 3-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 Sibiu" searches — directly impacting which property travelers see and click first.

The good news: a 3-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 The Council

Based on The Council's Booking.com profile and the average nightly rate in Romania (€65), we estimate the hotel pays approximately €25,690 per year in OTA commissions. That breaks down to €70 every single day going to Booking.com and similar platforms instead of directly to The Council.

This isn't a marketing cost — it's revenue leaving the business. With an OTA-to-direct ratio of 3:1, 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 The Council between €5,138 and €7,707 per year — money that goes straight back to the hotel.

What We Would Fix First for The Council

We’d prioritize three immediate actions to boost The Council’s Google visibility: first, respond to every Google review within 24 hours—acknowledging feedback publicly builds trust and signals active engagement to Google’s algorithm. Second, optimize their Google Business Profile with 25+ high-quality photos showcasing rooms, amenities, and local views, paired with weekly posts highlighting seasonal events or guest experiences. Finally, implement an automated post-checkout email sequence requesting reviews, using a simple link to make the process frictionless for guests while capturing timely feedback.