Booking.com is shrinking its global workforce by about one quarter.
The grim market conditions caused by Covid-19 will lead to the elimination of at least 4,000 jobs.
CEO Glenn Fogel described the pandemic as ‘the largest social and economic crisis of our lifetime’ in a call to workers as the job cuts were unveiled.
"In my heart, for a long time, I hoped that this would not happen. However, nothing can mitigate the impact this crisis has had, and will continue to have, on both the travel industry and our business."
Downsizing will happen globally including in the US, and represents about 25% of employees at Booking.com.
The company employs about 17,000 with 6,000 based in the Netherlands capital Amsterdam.
Other major travel firms like Airbnb and TripAdvisor Inc have shed a similar number of jobs as the effects of the Covid-19 crisis have been felt across both leisure and business travel segments.
Norwalk, CT based parent Booking Holdings is due to announce second quarter financial results this week.
by Ray Montgomery, US editor
