Short answer: Ask every guest for a review in the same neutral way, at the moment they are happiest, with a direct link or QR code from your Google Business Profile. Never offer anything in return, and never ask only the guests you think will be kind. That is how Phuket hotels, spas and restaurants grow their Google reviews without risking removal.
Why Google reviews matter so much in Phuket
When a traveller searches “spa near me” or “Thai cooking class Phuket”, Google Maps shows your rating and review count before your name is even clicked. A place with 4.8 stars from 300 reviews looks safer than one with 5 stars from 4. Reviews are also one of the few things a small business can improve every week for free.
We see it ourselves: our newest enquiry found WE Marketing on Google, not on social media.
What Google allows, and what it removes
| Allowed | Not allowed |
|---|---|
| Asking customers to share a genuine experience, with no reward | Payment, discounts, free goods or services in exchange for a review |
| Sharing your review link or QR code in thank-you messages, receipts and emails | Asking only happy customers, or discouraging negative reviews |
| Reminding customers that reviews are quick to leave | Asking staff to collect a set number of reviews, or reviews that name a staff member |
| Replying politely to every review, good or bad | Reviews from owners, staff or competitors |
Source: Google Maps prohibited and restricted content policy. Google added the two staff rules in April 2026.
Step 1: Get your review link and QR code
- On a computer, open your Business Profile (search your business name on Google while signed in).
- Select Read reviews, then Get more reviews.
- Copy the link, or right-click the QR code and save the image.
Google notes that the QR code can only be created in a computer browser, not on a phone. Steps from Google Business Profile Help.
Step 2: Ask at the right moment
Google itself suggests three places: thank-you emails, the end of a chat, and receipts. For Phuket businesses that usually means:
- Hotels and villas: a WhatsApp or LINE message on the day of check-out, plus the QR code on the in-room card.
- Spas and wellness: a message the same evening, when the treatment still feels good.
- Restaurants, cafés and cooking classes: the QR code on the bill folder or table card, and a link in the booking confirmation follow-up.
Step 3: Use a neutral, ready-made message
Ask everyone the same way, and make it clear that honest feedback is welcome.
English:
Thank you for visiting [business name]. If you have a minute, we’d love to hear about your experience on Google, good or bad. It all helps us improve. [review link]
Thai:
ขอบคุณที่มาใช้บริการ [ชื่อร้าน] นะคะ ถ้ามีเวลาสักนาที ฝากเล่าประสบการณ์ของคุณบน Google ให้หน่อยค่ะ ไม่ว่าจะชอบหรือมีอะไรให้เราปรับปรุง ทุกความเห็นช่วยเราได้มาก [ลิงก์รีวิว]
Step 4: Reply to every review
- Good reviews: thank the guest by first name and mention one detail they enjoyed. Keep it short.
- Bad reviews: stay calm, thank them, apologise for the experience and invite them to contact you directly to resolve it. Google asks businesses never to share a reviewer’s private information or attack them personally.
- Language: reply in the language the guest wrote in. Future guests read your replies as much as the reviews.
A realistic target
Ask every guest, every week, and the numbers build on their own. Set a simple monthly goal, check it on the first of each month, and aim for a steady flow rather than a sudden spike, which looks unnatural to guests and to Google.
Questions owners ask us
Can I give a discount or a free drink for a Google review?
No. Google does not allow payment, discounts, free goods or services in exchange for a review, whether the review is good or bad.
Can I ask only my happy customers for a review?
No. Google does not allow businesses to selectively ask for positive reviews or to discourage negative ones. Ask every customer in the same neutral way.
Can my staff ask guests to mention them by name?
Not any more. Since April 2026 Google’s policy also bars merchants from asking staff to collect a set number of reviews, or reviews with specific content such as a staff member’s name.
Where do I find my Google review link and QR code?
In your Business Profile, select Read reviews, then Get more reviews. Copy the link or save the QR code. Google says the QR code can only be created in a computer browser, not on a phone.
Want us to check your Google profile? Message WE Marketing on WhatsApp at 099-504-4164 for a free 15-minute page check. We’ll tell you the three fixes that matter most before peak season.