Upstairs Hotel — Google Visibility Analysis

Where Upstairs Hotel Stands Today

Upstairs Hotel in Oostende, Belgium, stands out as a consistently well-regarded destination among travelers seeking coastal charm with modern comfort. Nestled just steps from the vibrant seaside promenade and Oostende’s historic center, the hotel has earned a solid 4.4/5 rating from over 1,700 verified guests, reflecting its strong reputation for hospitality and location. Guests frequently highlight the convenient access to the beach, city attractions, and the hotel’s welcoming atmosphere as key reasons for their positive experiences.

The Visibility Gap — 4,235 Booking Reviews vs. 1,700 Google Reviews

On the surface, 4,235 Booking.com reviews sounds impressive — and it is. It means thousands of guests have stayed at Upstairs Hotel 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 Upstairs Hotel in search results.

Right now, Upstairs Hotel 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.

Upstairs Hotel vs. Hotel Dukes' Palace — The Local Competition

Hotel Dukes' Palace currently holds 1,800 Google reviews compared to Upstairs Hotel's 1,700. That 100-review lead might seem significant, but in Google's local search algorithm, every review counts. Hotels with more reviews consistently appear higher in "hotels in Oostende" searches — directly impacting which property travelers see and click first.

The good news: a 100-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 Upstairs Hotel

Based on Upstairs Hotel's Booking.com profile and the average nightly rate in Belgium (€100), we estimate the hotel pays approximately €116,886 per year in OTA commissions. That breaks down to €320 every single day going to Booking.com and similar platforms instead of directly to Upstairs Hotel.

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 Upstairs Hotel between €23,377 and €35,065 per year — money that goes straight back to the hotel.

What We Would Fix First for Upstairs Hotel

The hotel’s Google visibility could be significantly elevated by implementing three immediate, actionable steps. First, responding to every Google review—both positive and critical—within 24 hours would signal active engagement, boosting local search ranking and building trust. Second, optimizing the Google Business Profile with a minimum of 25 high-quality photos (showcasing rooms, lobby, and local views) and publishing weekly posts about seasonal events or neighborhood tips would make the listing far more compelling. Finally, setting up an automated post-checkout email sequence requesting reviews would capture feedback while guests’ experiences are fresh, directly addressing the common issue of low review volume that impacts visibility.