Booking.com is going to lay off approximately one thousand employees, including at least hundreds in the Netherlands. The rental platform is making enough profit, but wants to work more efficiently, a spokesperson tells NU.nl.
In November, Booking.com’s parent company announced plans to reduce the workforce. At that time, it was still unknown what numbers were involved. Booking.com has now confirmed to NU.nl that roughly one thousand jobs are at risk.
“The number is not yet officially fixed, but it is close to one thousand,” the spokesperson said. “We are in the middle of the process.”
The booking platform employs thirteen thousand people worldwide, of whom seven thousand are in Amsterdam. It is not yet known how many redundancies will occur in the Netherlands. But the reorganization will “certainly have an impact” here, the spokesperson said. “More than two hundred and less than a thousand” jobs will disappear in the capital.
Booking.com says it wants to focus on innovation and efficiency. “We don’t want to have so many layers in the organization anymore,” the spokesperson said. “Our people manage the work of other managers. It has become too bureaucratic.”
Parent company makes enough profit
Parent company Booking Holdings does not need to cut back, as net profit rose by 37 percent to $5.9 billion (more than 5 billion euros) last year. Revenue also grew.
Booking Holdings employs more than 24,000 people. In recent years, layoffs have occurred at several subsidiaries.
Within a few weeks, Booking.com will provide more clarity about the reduction of the workforce.