Google Ads or Meta Ads for Venues, Restaurants and Hotels: Which Should You Run First?
Both work. The question is which one should earn your first pound, and the answer depends on whether people are already searching for what you sell.
The short answer. Run Google Ads first if people already search for what you offer: wedding venues, private hire, "restaurant near me", a hotel in your town. Run Meta Ads first if you need to create demand: a launch, a new event, a quiet midweek. Most venues end up running both, with Google capturing the bookings and Meta filling the pipeline.
Side by side
| Google Ads | Meta Ads (Facebook and Instagram) | |
|---|---|---|
| Reaches people who are | Searching right now | Scrolling, not yet looking |
| Best for | Wedding and private-hire enquiries, table bookings from local searches, hotel stays | Events and ticket sales, launches, seasonal offers, filling quiet periods |
| Typical conversion | A call, booking or enquiry form | A ticket purchase, lead form or booking |
| Speed to results | Quicker, because the intent already exists | Slower, because creative and audiences need testing |
| What it needs | A page that matches the search | Strong creative and a clear offer |
| Main risk | Paying for broad clicks that were never going to book | Cheap leads that don't turn into bookings |
When search demand already exists
Check how people look for what you offer. If they type "wedding venues in Lancashire" or "afternoon tea near me", the demand is already there and Google Ads can capture it with high-intent campaigns. These searches are often ready to book, which is why they usually earn the first budget.
When you have to create demand
Nobody searches for an event that was announced last week, or for a midweek offer they didn't know existed. Meta lets you put it in front of local people who fit your audience, and retarget those who showed interest. It's the better first move for launches, ticketed events and anything new.
Pace spend around your calendar
Demand for venues, restaurants and hotels moves with the season, the day of the week and local events. Push budget behind your peaks, and use quieter periods for awareness rather than forcing bookings that aren't there.
What to track
- Bookings and purchases, through your booking or ticketing platform where it supports tracking.
- Phone calls, because many venue enquiries start with a call.
- Enquiry forms for weddings, private hire and events, ideally with a question that filters for date and guest numbers.
A sensible 90-day order of play
This is a default, not a rule. Adjust it to your capacity and calendar.
- Days 1 to 14: set up tracking, then launch Google Search campaigns on your highest-intent terms.
- Days 15 to 45: add Meta for your next event or quiet-period offer, with retargeting for people who've looked but not booked.
- Days 45 to 90: compare cost per booking on each platform and move budget towards the cheaper one, keeping both running where they do different jobs.
Common questions
Do I need to run both Google Ads and Meta Ads?
Not at first. Start with the one that matches how your customers find you, then add the other once the first is producing bookings at a cost you can afford.
How much should a venue or restaurant spend?
It depends on your capacity and what a booking is worth. As a general rule, below about £500 a month there usually isn't enough data to optimise properly.
What if my demand is very seasonal?
That's normal for hospitality. Spend is planned around your peaks and troughs, with quieter periods used for awareness.