Expedia announces opening of 500 local jobs

In a news conference held today, Expedia Inc. announced it will expand its Springfield operations by adding approximately 500 jobs.

The company is looking to hire people for positions in customer service, financial operations, technical supports and other roles supporting its Expedia.com and Hotels.com online travel brands, the release said.

"It's going to be on a gradual basis. We're going to be starting probably within the next 30 days and in the next 12 months, we'll be adding jobs accordingly leading up to the 500," Scott Weismiller, Expedia vice president of global service delivery, said in an interview after the news conference.

Also in attendance to help announce the details were Gov. Jay Nixon, State Sen. Gary Nodler, R-Joplin, Springfield Mayor Jim O'Neal and other local and state officials.

Nixon said at the conference that the job expansion will help the area and the state.

"Expedia’s decision to invest in Missouri is yet another clear indication of our state’s ongoing economic recovery," he said.

State incentives to Expedia are comprised of $5.8 million in Missouri Quality Jobs Program tax credits, $1.2 million in new jobs training funding and $325,000 in recruitment assistance, according to a Nixon news release.

Expedia in February signed a five-year lease to occupy 59,000 square feet in the former Springfield-Branson National Airport terminal building, according to Springfield Business Journal coverage. With the lease taking effect this fall, the announcement could be welcome news to Springfield job seekers.

The terminal is currently under renovation and will begin occupancy this month, according to a Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce news release.

See the full story in the Springfield Business Journal issue released Aug. 9.[[In-content Ad]]