Google Pay closes the hotel booking while the partner keeps the support desk

Google, on Thursday, made AI Mode more travel agent-like. US users can book hotels and pay with Google Pay.

The hotel chains and travel sites are still the merchant of record and will handle any customer service.

Ten travel brands hand Google the checkout screen

A user describes their trip and preferences, and then AI Mode displays options with guest reviews and comparison points. When a hotel is selected, a “Continue on Google” button appears next to participating partners.

From there, the room type, cancellation terms, and payment are handled within Google’s interface, and the transaction is completed using Google Pay.

“When you book hotels through AI Mode, the hotel or booking platform will act as the merchant of record and handle any customer service.”

James Byers, Group Product Manager for Search, wrote in the announcement.

Google commands the discovery and checkout screen. The partner possesses the transaction and everything that goes wrong thereafter.

Hotel booking has started rolling out in the US in English. It will be available over the coming weeks with Booking.com, Choice Hotels International, Expedia, Hilton, Hotels.com, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Marriott International, Priceline, Trip.com, and Wyndham Hotels & Resorts.

The hotel feature ships with two flight tools. Users enter when and where they want to fly and see options priced from more than 300 partner airlines and travel sites.

Flights do not complete inside AI Mode. Users build the itinerary there, then buy through the airline’s own site or their preferred booking platform.

A prompt like “track these flight prices for me” sets up email alerts when fares change. AI Mode confirms the route, dates, and filters, then gets ready to watch.

Flight price tracking is now live in more than 180 countries and territories.

Google added the ability to price flights and hotels in loyalty points or miles as well. Ask for Atlanta to Miami on American miles for some dates, and AI Mode will state how many miles the matching flights cost.

At launch are Alaska Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, American Airlines, Choice Hotels International, Hilton, and Wyndham. In the coming weeks, Accor, Flying Blue, Hyatt, LATAM Airlines, and Lufthansa Group will join the list.

The points feature is available globally.

Julie Farago promised this in November 2025

In a November 2025 post, Search VP of Engineering Julie Farago said Google was already working with Booking.com, Choice Hotels, Expedia, IHG, Marriott, and Wyndham to enable users to “complete the booking with the partner of your choice” for flights and hotels, then a future feature.

That post kicked off agentic booking for restaurants and events via partners such as OpenTable, Resy, and Ticketmaster. Thursday’s update is Google delivering on the flight and hotel promise it made.

The visual side of AI Mode in Search got the same treatment last September, when generated images and shoppable product links appeared in results.

In February, Cryptopolitan reported that Google was allowing users to shop from Walmart, Wayfair, and Etsy within Search and Gemini without leaving the app.

The change “is helping to lay the foundation for a future where all commercial experiences can be seamless and agentic,” said Vidhya Srinivasan, who runs ads and commerce at Google. Travel is that pattern applied to trips.

Google retains the user on its surface and directs the sale to a partner.

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