A New Way to Attract Local Customers
Google has expanded the “What’s happening” feature inside Google Business Profiles (GBP). This tool now helps restaurants and bars highlight special events, offers, and deals at the top of their profiles.
Earlier, this feature was available only for single-location restaurants. Now, Google has released it for multi-location restaurants and bars too. It is currently available in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Why This Feature Matters
When people search for a place to eat or grab a drink, they usually decide quickly. Google understands this. So, the platform now shows customers real-time events such as:
✅ Happy Hours
✅ Taco Tuesday
✅ Live Music Nights
✅ Special Discounts
This information appears instantly when users search on Google Maps or Google Search. It gives restaurants a chance to stand out and draw customers who are ready to visit.Google’s Lisa Landsman shared that businesses are already seeing excellent results during testing. This feature catches customers at the exact moment of decision — which increases foot traffic.
More Visibility = More Visitors
This feature helps restaurants and bars to:
- Promote unique offers and events
- Increase in-store visits
- Get discovered by new customers
- Post timely and location-specific promotions
The excitement is that restaurants with multiple branches can now promote different offers in different cities.
Imagine:
One branch running a Burger Festival
Another offering, Ladies Night
Another promotingof Live Band Night
All these show right when customers search!
This is a huge opportunity for businesses.
Marketing experts at the best digital marketing company in Lucknow recommend using this feature creatively to appear more attractive in local searches.
What You Should Do Now
If you manage a restaurant or bar:
📍 Update your Google Business Profile
📅 Add upcoming events
🎉 Post limited-time deals
🎵 Highlight entertainment nights
A professional digital marketing agency in Lucknow can help you manage profiles, schedule posts, and maximize visibility.
Conclusion
Google’s new “What’s happening” feature gives restaurants and bars a smarter way to attract real-time customers. By promoting events directly in search results, you can increase store visits and stand out from competitors. Start using it now and enjoy better visibility, more footfall, and higher sales.
FAQs
- Can businesses other than restaurants use this feature?
Not yet. Google may expand it to more categories soon.
- Does this feature work for multi-location businesses?
Yes, Google has now enabled it for multi-location restaurants and bars.
- Where is this feature available?
It is currently active in the U.S., U.K., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.



