Google has expanded its “What’s Happening” feature within Google Business Profiles to multi-location restaurants and bars in the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, making it accessible to more businesses. Originally launched in May, this feature was only available to single-location restaurants but has now been broadened to include multi-location establishments.
What Google Said
Google’s Lisa Landsman announced on LinkedIn, “I’m excited to share that the Google Business Profile feature highlighting what’s happening at your business, such as timely events, specials, and deals, has now rolled out for multi-location restaurants & bars across the US, UK, CA, AU & NZ! Previously, it was only available for single-location restaurants.”
This feature is designed to increase real-time foot traffic by promoting specific events, specials, and deals for individual locations. It surfaces these promotions when customers are actively searching for places to eat or grab a drink.
How It Works
The What’s Happening feature automatically highlights live promotions, such as Taco Tuesday or Happy Hour events, for specific locations of multi-location restaurants and bars. It ensures businesses can engage potential customers right when they’re making decisions on where to go, catching them in the moment.
More Details
Landsman noted that initial tests of the feature have shown great results, and she’s eager to hear more feedback from businesses about how it impacts foot traffic and customer engagement.
Availability
Currently, the What’s Happening feature is exclusive to restaurants and bars in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Google has also mentioned plans to expand the feature to other categories in the future.
Why It Matters
For restaurant and bar owners, particularly those with multiple locations, this feature provides an excellent opportunity to attract more customers by showcasing real-time events, promotions, and deals directly on your Google Business Profile. It’s a great way to stand out in Google search results and drive more foot traffic to your venues.
