Expedia 2026: Layoffs Cut 58 Roles in Seattle
Expedia files a WARN notice cutting 58 Seattle jobs effective November 21 to December 1, impacting finance, data science, and senior executives.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Expedia filed a Washington WARN notice to eliminate 58 roles in Seattle.
- The layoffs are scheduled to take effect between November 21 and December 1, 2026.
- Technical positions absorb 31 cuts, including 18 in data science and machine learning.
- Senior leadership, including an SVP and multiple VPs, are impacted by the reorganization.
Online travel giant Expedia has filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) in the state of Washington to eliminate 58 jobs located in Seattle. According to the state filing, the workforce reductions are slated to take place between November 21 and December 1, 2026, extending the reorganization footprint beyond Washington into states like Illinois and Florida.
The filed notice outlines where the reductions are taking place, showing a heavy concentration in senior and technical capacities. Out of the total 58 positions, 31 are technical roles, with 18 specifically sitting within data science and machine learning departments covering customer loyalty, payment systems, sponsored listings, marketing testing, and booking platforms.
In an official statement, Expedia characterized the layoffs as streamlining measures aimed primarily at simplifying its Global Finance team structure. The company noted that the changes are designed to reduce organizational complexity across the board.
The statement read, "We are continuing to look across the organization for ways to simplify how we work. Our Global Finance team is making some changes, mostly to simplify their org structure. Some employees are moving to new roles or locations, and some roles are being eliminated. We know change can be difficult, and we’re committed to supporting every employee through it." These technical operations function directly within the finance division.
"We are continuing to look across the organization for ways to simplify how we work. Our Global Finance team is making some changes, mostly to simplify their org structure."
Expedia Group
The job cuts extend past junior staff and outside Washington state. Affected senior personnel include an SVP for Book-to-Trip, a VP of finance, a VP of operations and services, five director-level positions, and Julie Kyse, a 15-year veteran who managed hotel global partnerships based in Florida.
This wave of layoffs at Expedia highlights an aggressive push toward cost efficiency and AI-driven operational restructuring. While the official statement attributes the cuts to simplifying the finance organization, the significant number of technical and data science roles eliminated suggests a deeper automation shift. CEO Ariane Gorin has consistently emphasized a "make every dollar matter" strategy, leveraging consolidated AI and agentic platforms to run the business with fewer headcount resources.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
These reductions follow an organizational shakeup initiated in August, during which Expedia announced a shift toward small end-to-end squads while consolidating its data, AI, and agentic platforms. Speaking via remote video at the Skift Global Forum 2026, CEO Ariane Gorin emphasized corporate efficiency, highlighting 20 consecutive quarters of double-digit B2B growth and free cash flow that has more than doubled since she assumed leadership in 2024.
Source: Skift
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