German travel start-ups have called on Google to share the burden they’re currently experiencing, according to a letter.
The start-ups pay Google millions every year in advertising fees so that they feature high up in Google search results, in banner ads, and on Google’s own Hotel Finder platform.
In a letter to Google’s chief business officer, Philipp Schindler, the start-up’s leaders call on Google to wait for the ad money it’s owed. Specifically, the companies want Google to pause the enforcement of payments on companies that have received taxpayer-funded government financial aid.
They also want Google to offer a consistent and flexible way for them to restructure and postpone payment terms for ad services other fees incurred in the first quarter.
The letter was authored by the German Start-ups Association (The Bundesverband Deutsche Start-ups) and signed by eight travel start-ups including activity booking platform GetYourGuide and hotel finder Trivago.
“With over $41 billion in Q1 2020 revenue, Google is the leading player in the global digital economy,” the letter reads. “As a consortium of businesses that contributes to the health and diversity of that economy, we call on Google to demonstrate the leadership and solidarity necessary to navigate us all through this challenging time.”
