Airbnb claims that Google’s search activity has prevented the home-sharing company from collecting Internet traffic, according to documents filed through the company as it prepares to sell shares to the public. As a component of the “risk factors” in Airbnb’s S-1 file, the company stated that Google had prioritized its own products over corporate ones, reducing the number of online visitors to its website. Last year, Alphabet added other similar search features to websites, adding for vacation rentals.
“Our search engine optimization effects have been affected by the launch of Google Travel and Google Vacation Rental Ads, which diminish the importance of our platform in biological search effects for travel terms and location on Google,” says the lead.
Airbnb explains search engine optimization or referencing as the practice of customizing content to make it appear more prominent in the search effects they pay for location.
“We focus on unpaid channels like SEO,” the prospectus says. “SEO is about creating our platform in a way that allows a search engine to rank our platform prominently for search queries for which the content of our platform is likely to be relevant. Changes to search for engine algorithms or similar movements are not under our responsibility and may also rate search engines and traffic to our platform. “
The company warns that persistent disruptions with search ratings can force it to spend more on marketing.
“To the extent that our logo and platform are indexed less visibly or do not appear to have search effects for some reason, we would like to increase our paid marketing expenses, which would increase our overall visitor acquisition prices and have a significant negative impact have an effect on our business, operational effects and monetary situation. “
The Justice Department filed its long-awaited antitrust lawsuit opposed to Alphabet last month, claiming that the company illegally maintained a search monopoly by cutting its rivals off primary distribution channels. Alphabet refuted the argument, saying he had a lot of competition and was helping consumers. .
Airbnb and Alphabet have a joint board member, Ann Mather.
Airbnb’s statements adhere to other travel officials who have criticized Google to have an effect on the travel industry. TripAdvisor CEO Stephen Kaufer, a long-time Google critic, told CNBC last month that he welcomed the Justice Department’s antitrust lawsuit opposed to the Alphabet study unit. the company was using “its domain to control Internet access at the expense of other companies. “
Peter Kern, CEO of Expedia, also recently said, “We don’t have a punch that opposes Google, we don’t think the market is fair. “
Google did not return a request for comment.
Look at it now: Airbnb Archives for IPO
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