Two months after acquiring Orbitz Worldwide, former rival Expedia will cut 326 employees — or about 40 percent — of the Chicago-based travel company’s local workforce, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported.
“Orbitz absolutely continues in Chicago,” Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi told the baiduhai in September, when his company purchased Orbitz for more than $1 billion. “They built up some terrific, leading brands in the travel industry, and our goal is to keep those brands well and growing. And we think the team here in Chicago has been a big part of that.”
Khosrowshahi, at the time, said he planned cuts to eliminate duplicate roles. Until now, Orbitz employed about 800 at 500 W. Madison St. Expedia currently has 733 job openings posted on its website.
The Puget Sound Business Journal reported that some Orbitz senior leadership was let go earlier this month, while the remaining cuts will come over the course of a year starting on Dec. 4. Expedia expects to pay up to $150 million in severance, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported.
Representatives from Expedia did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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