Livn interacts with the entire ecosystem of the Tours, Activities & Attractions sector.
Browse through our Frequently Asked Questions to find out how our automated solution can benefit your business.
(Google Things to do)
What is the difference between Reserve with Google (RwG) and Google 'Things to do'?
Since August of 2021, Google has been piloting their new ‘Things to do’ (GTTD) travel platform where end users can easily compare options for buying tickets and are then able to click through to your website to complete the transaction. Before GTTD, Google ran a different model called ‘Reserve with Google’ which excluded all but the largest players.
This now redundant Google model produced a “Buy Tickets” button creating a buying flow where customers never leave the search engine. On the back end, customers would complete their booking through the world's larger Online Travel Agencies (OTAs). If a company like yours wanted their product to appear in Google, you were limited to distributing them through an OTA, obviously ceding all control to the OTA, as well as being locked into high commission payments with the OTA for the privilege of their opening the Google channel to you.
GTTD turns the table on this restrictive and costly model and offers all operators the direct opportunity to list their products and services freely. Google does not process any bookings itself but instead passes users directly to your website. There are some differences between the way GTTD lists attractions versus tours and experiences.
What is the difference between GTTD for Attractions Vs Tour and Experiences?
Attractions
GTTD allows attractions and ticket-based businesses to list their ticket options as the ‘Official Site’ alongside other reseller listings, avoiding commission and booking through a third party. Users will clearly identify your site with an 'Official Site' badge added next to your link for authority.
You will also be able to display more than one ticket type and pricing to users. The 'Official Site' tag can only be claimed by the attraction themselves via Livn. You cannot do it through your 'Google My Business' or by email.
To find out more about the program details for attractions, visit: https://go.livn.world/attractions-and-ticket-business
Tours & Activities
In the case of tour and activity operators, GTTD levels the playing field for operators of all sizes, allowing you for the first time to publish your products into Google, without the reliance of Online Travel Agencies.
GTTD for tour and activity providers is centered around Points of Interests (POIs), representing important locations, such as museums, monuments, bridges, zoos, national parks, etc. If your products provide meaningful experiences around relevant POIs, you may have an opportunity to publish your products to these POIs so that they appear in more search results.
To find out more about the program details for attractions, visit: https://go.livn.world/tours-and-activities-operators
How can Livn help me to be part of Google 'Things to do'?
Via Livn’s integration with Google, we are the pipe that can get your inventory activated into Google environment and send customers directly to your website. Livn will provide you with our market-first GTTD product publishing tool ensuring that you have full control of the products you wish to publish including images, tittle’s, descriptions, landing pages, pricing, and the ability to easily attribute your products to Google high search traffic Points of Interest (POI’s). We ensure that your product listing will meet all of Google’s data structure requirements.
What are the minimum requirements to list with Google 'Things to do'?
- You must provide a landing page that goes directly to the product details of the specific experience.
- The product the user clicked on Google should be easy to identify when the user lands on your site. As such, it must be prominently displayed on the landing page.
- The price of the product should be easy to identify, and it should match the price provided to Google in Livn’s inventory feed. If a landing page has multiple prices, the advertised product's price must be the most prominent.
- A user should land on a page that is straightforward to navigate to book the selected product. Google requires that you maintain a consistent presentation of the product and pricing the user selected and a clear path to booking the product found on Google.
- On request products where an inquiry form must be submitted will not be accepted.
Which product types will not be accepted on GTTD?
- Multi-Day (greater than 4 days), overnight activities where the lodgings are not the focus are ok, such as a multi-day wine tour.
- Overnight hotel stays and multi-day cruises are not eligible.
- Must adhere to Google’s dangerous products or services guidelines. For example, some activities involving explosives, guns, weapons, recreational drugs, and tobacco are not permitted.
- Transit-specific businesses (such as airport pickups, car services, and rental cars) are not permitted. Tours that include transport can be offered, such as a bus tour or boat tour.
- Virtual experiences are not supported at this time. Inventory must take place in a physical location.
- Restaurant coupons and reservations are not permitted.
How much does it cost?
With Livn, there is no commission, no transaction fee, and no cost per click; we are simply charging an affordable fixed monthly data publishing fee to publish your products onto Google 'Things to do'.
How many products can I list?
It is up to you. We offer you the flexibility to publish as little or as many products as you wish. There is an affordable plan to suit your needs.
What if I have timed entry and other complex booking options that Online Travel Agencies do not currently support?
This is not a challenge for us. Livn will ensure that we present the right lead in data on Google. We will send the user directly to your website booking page. The customer will then proceed through your booking flow controlled by you on your website.
Who takes the booking for a product?
You take the booking via your own website. This means that you collect payment directly from the customer (no waiting for money to be sent from Online Travel Agencies). Most importantly, you own all the data and “The Customer.”
Is Livn a reservation system like Fareharbor, Bokun, Rezdy and others?
No. Livn is a connectivity hub connecting Google to the world’s leading reservation systems, so they do not have to create single integrations. We can activate your inventory into the Google Things to do program regardless of whether you are on a reservation system or not, ensuring you do not miss out.
Is Livn an Online Travel Agency?
No. It means you do not pay us a commission; we are the pipe that can get your inventory activated into Google and send customers to your website, where they can complete the booking directly with you through one of them. You will have little control over it, even though it may be your very own Google business listing.
Our advice is that you should claim this button to be on a level playing field with your other resellers. Otherwise, every booking via this channel will cost you a commission.
I heard that Google is still testing the 'Things to do' program and that it is in a beta phase. Why do I need to worry about it now?
The program is now coming out of beta which means GTTD is now open for all to participate via Livn. It will mean you get a first-mover advantage over your competition. However, please be prepared for things to change as Google has indicated the program will evolve.
What is Livn's role in connectivity?
Livn connects resellers and distributors to a global network of tour operators in real time. The Livn API is connected directly to the tour operators’ reservation system, providing you direct access to live availability, pricing and instant booking confirmation. Our technology enables you to automate your business, eliminates the need for any manual intervention and allows you to transact right up until time of departure. The Livn API is currently connected to over 20+ global tour operator reservation systems and growing.
What is the difference between Livn Wholesale and Direct Connect models?
- The Livn Wholesale API is designed for businesses who do not have existing relationships with tour operators. It enables our partners to sell products from Livn’s fully managed wholesale global catalogue, all with centralised rates and pre-negotiated commission rates. Livn manages the entire tour operator relationship and payments, allowing you to scale your offerings globally and at speed.
- The Livn Direct Connect API is ideal for travel companies who have existing relationships with tour operators. It allows you to connect directly with your preferred tour operator, using your own negotiated pricing, commercials, and payment terms. You will earn a commission directly from that tour operator and pay them directly under the terms you have negotiated with them. Under this model, you use our technical infrastructure to connect to your preferred tour operators without having to build, maintain and coordinate multiple API integrations.
A particularly popular solution with our partners is to combine both of the above models, tapping into Livn Wholesale extensive wholesale catalogue while moving high-volume products and previously contracted tour operators onto a Direct Connect model. You can run both models simultaneously with the single integration of the Livn API.
How long does it take to integrate the Livn API?
The Livn API generally takes around 3-6 weeks to implement.
- After a commercial agreement has been reached between you and Livn, our team will set up a dedicated development environment tailored to your specific business requirements.
- When you have completed your implementation, Livn will perform a set of independent tests to ensure that the integration is performing optimally for your specific requirements.
- Once you and our team are confident that the connection is running optimally, you will receive a set of production credentials to the live production API endpoint.
To find out more information and to familiarise yourself with the Livn API, visit our Developers Page for Resellers. There you can also sign up for instant access to our developer sandbox which is 100% replica of our production environment.
Do you offer affiliate or whitelable style partnerships?
Livn is purely B2B and does not offer a consumer facing platform. We work closely with one of our trusted partners by powering their products and content. Please let us know if you are interested in this style of partnership so that we can facilitate an introduction.
Are your rates net or retail?
Via the Wholesale model, you will be able to retrieve both net and retail rates. The Livn API will return 3 values for every product query ; {retailRate} , {retailCommissionAmount} , {retailNetRate}. It will be up to you as to which value you want to use and how you wish to merchandise the offering.
The rate that you will receive via the Livn Direct Connect model, will be the published price that comes from the tour operator’s reservation system in the raw currency which that tour operator has loaded, usually known as the retail rate. The reason for this is that when we connect you directly to the tour operator that you have negotiated your own agreements with, we do not see the net rate as this is between you and the tour operator. We simply pass on the data that we receive from their system which is almost always the published price. We do not interfere with the published price or any currency conversion.
Are your rates commissionable?
Yes. We offer a compelling variable commission fee on the published retail rate via our Wholesale model. For Direct Connect however, this is something that you will negotiate directly with your preferred end tour operator.
How do payments work and how do tour operator’s get paid?
Livn is not involved in and does not facilitate the consumer end payment. You are responsible for collecting full payment from your customers and will pay Livn or the Direct Connect tour operator accordingly depending on the model you choose.
Under the Livn Wholesale model, Livn manages all tour operator relationships and payments for you. Livn simply bills you the net amount owing for each booking.
For Livn Direct Connect, you own the relationship with the tour operator and will pay them accordingly under the payment terms you have negotiated with them. Livn simply bills you a transaction fee per booking, invoiced to you outside of the platform on an agreed invoicing cycle.
What information is provided after the booking has been made?
After the booking has been confirmed you will be able to retrieve your customers vouchers/tickets via the API instantly. These vouchers/tickets will include tour operator contact details, pick-up/start details, barcode or QR code if provided by the tour operator and any other important information that the customer may need.
Will my customer need travel documents to travel?
Yes, it is important that you provide the customer with the appropriate travel documents that are made available via the API after the booking has been made. In most cases the customer will need to present this voucher to the tour operator to redeem their tour/activity/attraction.
What is your cancellation policy?
Cancellation policies vary per tour operator. Whether a cancellation generates a full or partial refund is subject to the terms of the tour operator / product. Some tour operator’s offer 100% money back cancellation policies up to a certain time prior to departure, and others do not, and may only offer partial refunds.
All cancellation policies and any associated fees will be provided in a machine-readable format via the Livn API. Cancellations can be automated and performed over the Livn API.
How do I make changes to a booking?
Currently it is not possible to make changes or amendments to a booking via the API. If a booking requires an update such as a date change, you will need to process a cancellation through the API and re-book.
Typically however, updates to a booking are best performed by the customer contacting the tour operator directly, outside of the system. The customer will be able to find the tour operator contact details on the voucher that is provided to them at time of booking.
Who is responsible for customer support?
All customer support related enquiries are handled directly between you and your Customer.
Regardless of the model you choose, the contact details of the tour operator performing the service will be provided to you at the time of booking and on the customers vouchers/tickets. The customer can contact the tour operator directly at any time if they have any questions.
If you have made the booking via our Wholesale model and need assistance with a booking, Livn will endeavour to resolve the issue with the end tour operator on behalf of you and the customer.
If you have made the booking via the Direct Connect model however, all customer support related issues are handled directly between you and your chosen end tour operator.
What is Livn's role in connectivity?
Livn is first and foremost a travel technology company. Our expertise and key business are built around the connections and integrations to an ever-growing number of reservation systems in the tours, activities & attractions space into a unified, flexible and feature-rich API.
Does Livn connect to my reservation system API?
Yes. We have a clear process at the beginning of integration to gauge how far the existing functionality of your API meets the requirements for a speedy implementation and productive, low-maintenance business partnership.
Can a reservation system connect to Livn’s platform instead?
No. Livn will connect to your API. We believe that any extra engineering effort required on your side is best focused on your own platform and improving your API functionality.
How does Livn determine which systems it connects to?
Livn’s integration roadmap and priority weighting to reservation systems are determined by some of the following factors:
- Our distribution clients priority which is generally determined by wanting to connect to their most important tour operators/inventory first. This is very heavily weighted in our pipeline in terms of priority.
- A particular requirement for Livn’s Open Connectivity Hub strategy.
- The level at which your functionality meets Livn’s requirements for implementation.
What process should I expect once I am slated for connectivity?
- We will send you our API connectivity questionnaire, which your engineering team will need to submit.
- The Livn engineering team will review the submission.
- The Livn engineering team will engage you for a further discovery kick off meeting.
- Obstacles or roadblocks will need to be addressed before we are able to implement a connector.
- You will be advised of an approximate integration start date.
- Depending on the complexity of the integration the timelines until completion may vary between 4 – 6 weeks.
- Livn will complete the certification process that is required by you.
My operators keep asking me when Livn will integrate my Reservation System. What should I reply?
Please get in contact with us to discuss our connectivity roadmap at integration@livn.world
What value is there in Livn connecting to me?
We hope to bring real value to our resellers/distribution partners by shouldering the arduous work of integrating and maintaining connectivity with many different individual reservation systems to gain access to their combined inventories. In turn, we can expose reservation systems and tour operators to these companies for whom it would not be viable to deal with reservation systems individually and can, for the largest part, shield them from technical issues that inevitably arise along the way.
What is Livn’s business model?
Livn operates under two fundamentally different models playing a different role in each:
- Livn API Direct: Livn works as a technology provider to travel resellers/distributors who have their own direct commercial agreements (commision rates, payment method, etc) with tour operators using a particular res system. In this model, all booking-related communication, and where necessary a degree of caching, is done using the resellers/distributors own API credentials.
- Livn API Wholesale: Livn operates its own wholesale brand called Livn Holidays. In this model, we act as an agent to those suppliers/operators on the reservation system whom we have contracted, on-selling their products to those of our distribution partners who do not have the capacity or wish to maintain direct business relationships with a large number of individual suppliers.
A particularly popular solution with our clients is to combine both of the above, tapping into Livn Holidays extensive wholesale catalogue while moving high-volume products and previously contracted tour operators onto a Direct Connect model.
Does Livn charge any fees to Reservation Systems?
No. Livn does not charge any fees to integrate to your API or connect you to our distributors/resellers partners.
Does Livn charge tour operators any fees in the API Direct model?
No.