The 250M USD investment over five years will create 1,000 technology and professional services jobs by the end of 2026 in the company’s newest talent hub in Karnataka
BENGALURU, India, November 29, 2023 – Today, Booking Holdings, the world’s leading provider of online travel and related services, celebrated the official opening of its latest Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, India, which will serve as a hub for specialized and highly skilled technology talent supporting the company’s growth and vision for the future of travel. The new Center represents a projected 250M USD investment over five years and 1,000 jobs to be created in Bengaluru by the end of 2026.
“At the core of Booking Holdings’ mission to make it easier for everyone to experience the world is building a more seamless, connected travel offering powered by technologies that strip friction from the travel process,” said Randhir Bindra, General Manager, Booking Holdings India. “The Booking Holdings Center of Excellence in Bengaluru will enable us to tap into the city’s world-class talent pool to further accelerate innovation to support transformation of the travel experience and unlock new potential for the company to meet the ever-evolving needs of our business and customers. We’re looking forward to continuing our innovation journey here, and growing our presence in this exciting city and local tech community.”
To mark the official opening of the Center and formally welcome Booking Holdings to Bengaluru, the Honorable Tourism Minister H.K. Patil joined company leadership for a series of welcome events, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“It is my privilege to be at this auspicious occasion to inaugurate Booking Holdings’ second Center of Excellence globally in Bengaluru, fostering investment of 250M USD [Rs 2,084 Crores],” said the Minister. “I would like to welcome Booking Holdings on behalf of my Government and people, and I’m confident that the state will benefit greatly from 1,000 employment opportunities that will be created by 2026 from this venture.”
Mr. Navratan Katariya, Director for Startup Engagement, Innovation Enterprise Partnership, Cleantech at Nasscom, who also joined the event, said, “At Nasscom, we aim to diligently foster an innovation ecosystem that drives the digitalization agenda, unlocking a new wave of growth and possibilities. We look ahead to the game-changing influence of Centers of Excellence, like Booking Holdings’ here in Bengaluru, which are reshaping the landscape of technology of innovation.”
The Center of Excellence provides Booking Holdings access to high performing talent with specialized capabilities who support projects across both the front and back end of products and services within the enterprise, as well as horizontally through shared service functions, powered by new and emerging technologies. The Center also plays an important role in enabling the company to leverage industry best practices and foster collaboration opportunities across all of the Booking Holdings brands, including Booking.com, Priceline, Agoda, Rentalcars.com, KAYAK and OpenTable.
Initially, the work of the Center will focus on expanding capabilities in Fintech, Data Analytics and Engineering, Software Engineering and Mobile Development, with new capabilities in other areas including Trust and Safety, Cybersecurity, and Professional Services continuing to scale up in the coming year.
The Center already has a full management team in place, leading over 320 colleagues in different capacities supporting multiple brands, including employees supporting Booking.com’s Fintech and Trips divisions. With plans to grow to a workforce of 1,000 people by the end of 2026, there are dozens of open positions available. Interested applicants are invited to apply directly via www.bookingholdings-coe.com.
Located in a 4,500 square meter space in the state-of-the-art RMZ Ecoworld 30 building just off the Outer Ring Road near the Bellandur neighborhood of Bangalore, Booking Holdings is pleased to partner with a cutting edge facility that provides an inspiring home for innovation and maintains a commitment to becoming more sustainable in its operations. RMZ Ecoworld 30 has achieved LEED Platinum pre-certification for its base building and enrolled for LEED Gold certification, and features a rainwater retention pond and water recycling systems. The building also features an art gallery, sports facility, jogging track, walking and green spaces, and is International WELL Building Institute certification targeted (a performance-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring features of the built environment that impact human health and wellbeing).
To further support employee wellbeing as a part of the company’s goal to provide a great work environment, the Center is appointed with nursing rooms, wellness rooms, a game area, and a faith room, features ergonomic chairs and sit-stand desks and more. Booking Holdings is also committed to investing in its employees via career learning and development, dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion, mental health support, an employee assistance program, rewards and recognition as well as a comprehensive range of competitive benefits.
The Center of Excellence offers employees a flexible and inclusive workplace environment that enhances connection and collaboration between colleagues and brands, catering to the dynamic, diverse and digital-first nature of the Booking Holdings organization. Developed by Gensler, a leading architecture and design firm, the office theme and design concepts draw inspiration from cultures worldwide, reflecting the company’s heritage in travel. This approach aims to evoke the spirit of exploration and discovery at the core of the industry.
To learn more about the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru, please visit www.bookingholdings-coe.com.
