Expedia announces layoff of 208 Seattle employees in a pivotal workforce reduction move

SEATTLE — Expedia, the online travel agency, is set to lay off 208 Seattle employees on May 1, according to Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification (WARN).

The announcement comes just five days after the company released a regulatory filing, noting they'll be reducing their overall workforce by roughly 1,500 employees.

"On February 22, 2024, Expedia Group, Inc. committed to restructuring actions to recalibrate resources in light of the company's organizational and technological transformation," the company wrote in its filing.

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Expedia also said they expect the "restructuring" to result in an $80 million to $100 million charge to its bottom line due to severance and compensation benefits costs.

The layoffs were reported nearly four years after Expedia announced their plans to lay off roughly 12% of their direct workforce, which affected roughly 500 Seattle employees and 3,000 employees overall. Following that announcement, Expedia declared that the nature of its expansion was both "unhealthy and undisciplined."

In 2019, Expedia moved into a 40-acre, 950,000 square foot headquarters overlooking Elliot Bay and the Puget Sound.

RELATED: New Expedia Seattle HQ welcomes first new employees

Expedia Group announced on Feb. 8 that Ariane Gorin will succeed Peter Kern, who has served as the company's CEO since 2020, starting May 13, 2024. Gorin, who's held various roles at Expedia Group since 2013, has also been elected to serve on the company's Board of Directors.

I am truly honored to have the opportunity to lead Expedia Group as we build on the foundations established by Peter, our leadership team, and our global workforce. Leading our multibillion-dollar B2B business has been an incredible experience, and I look forward to even greater growth ahead for the entire Company," said Gorin. "It’s an exciting time in the Company’s history, and I’m energized by the opportunities ahead for our employees, travelers, and partners.

Last year, Expedia recorded its highest-ever full-year and fourth-quarter revenue, which grew roughly 10% compared to 2022.

The company also reported that they repurchased over 19 million shares for a record price of $2 billion in 2023.