Expedia Group, a Seattle-based travel giant, has announced a layoff of 36 workers in Washington as part of a broader workforce reduction plan. The company had previously stated that around 1,500 roles would be impacted primarily in its Product & Technology division, representing more than 8% of its total workforce. These cuts are part of the company’s operational review and prioritization of essential work, allowing for investment in key growth areas. This move follows a filing showing 208 employees being laid off in the state and will result in pre-tax charges of $80 million to $100 million related to the broader layoffs.
Expedia’s total employment has fluctuated over the years, with the company employing more than 25,000 people in 2019, but reducing its workforce to 14,800 employees as of 2021 following a restructuring before the pandemic. Despite smaller cutbacks in recent years, such as unspecified layoffs in its Traveler Products team, Expedia’s total employment increased to 17,100 at the end of 2023, with approximately half of those positions in tech roles. The company includes various brands such as vrbo, Orbitz, Hotwire, Trivago, and Hotels.com, in addition to its flagship Expedia.com, and has launched a unified travel loyalty program called One Key for several of its brands.
Expedia reported $2.9 billion in revenue for the first quarter of the year, representing an 8% year-over-year increase. However, the company’s shares fell after the earnings release as it mentioned that a tech migration was progressing slower than expected. Expedia’s new CEO, Ariane Gorin, assumed her role earlier this month, replacing former CEO Peter Kern as part of a move announced in February. Additionally, former Expedia CTO Rathi Murthy and Sreenivas Rachamadugu, senior vice president, core services product and engineering, abruptly left the company due to a violation of company policy.
In recent years, Expedia has consolidated its tech platform across its brand portfolio and has made efforts to streamline its operations. This includes integrating its different brands under a unified loyalty program as well as organizing a restructuring of its workforce to focus on key growth areas. The workforce reductions in Washington are part of the company’s ongoing operational review to optimize its resources and investments. Expedia remains a major player in the online travel industry, with various brands in its portfolio and a focus on technological innovation to enhance the travel experience for its customers.
