Expedia joins NHL lineup with travel partnership and playoff bracket sponsorships

Seattle-based Expedia and the National Hockey League (NHL) announced a multi-year partnership on Tuesday, naming Expedia the league’s official travel partner.

Expedia secured marketing rights and NHL designations in the U.S. and Canada and will retain exclusive rights to online travel, vacation rentals, and hotels, the company announced.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Expedia as our official travel partner at such an exciting time for the league,” said George Dudas, NHL Vice President, Business Development. “Our fans are at the center of everything we do, and this partnership gives our fans new ways to combine travel and memorable NHL moments — from the start of the season through the Stanley Cup Playoffs.”

Under the partnership, Expedia will have a brand presence on the NHL’s digitally enhanced dasherboards throughout the season and during the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Expedia will also be featured in some of the league’s largest events, including NHL All-Star Weekend, NHL Winter Classic, NHL Stadium Series, and NHL Heritage Classic.

The new partnership will also be prevalent online, with Expedia acting as the presenting sponsor of the Stanley Cup Playoffs Bracket Challenge and the Stanley Cup Playoffs Second Chance Bracket.

On NHL.com, hockey fans can pair travel with regular-season and Stanley Cup Playoff games. By combining both, traveling fans can engage with the NHL season more quickly and plan their next trip around games featuring their favorite NHL team.

“NHL fans will go near and far to support their team,” Tracey Weber, the general manager of Expedia, said. “We’re excited to partner with the NHL to help fans easily plan and book trips to cheer on their favorite team, whether it’s traveling for a regular season game or flying across the country for the Stanley Cup Playoffs. From takeoff to puck drop, Expedia can help fans get there, stay there, and make the most of every NHL travel experience, while saving when they bundle flights, hotels, and more.”

Both partners will continue to share details on the new fan experiences planned for the NHL’s marquee events, as well as travel-focused content for fans.

Expedia cuts 58 Seattle jobs in second round of layoffs this year

In late September, Expedia cut 58 jobs in Seattle, representing the company’s second round of layoffs in 2026.

Expedia filed a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notice with Washington’s Employment Security Department, saying the permanent layoffs will affect workers at its headquarters campus on Expedia Group Way.

The other round of cuts, in January, laid off more than 150 jobs from its technology staff, ranging from vice president of experience design to several director-level roles, engineers, and product managers.

In total, Expedia officially cut 162 roles at its Seattle headquarters. It is estimated that 10% of the technology team’s roles were eliminated.

An Expedia spokesperson told The Puget Sound Business Journal that the company is simplifying its structure and “reducing organizational layers.”

“We are eliminating roles as well as opening some new roles as we remain disciplined about assessing the skills we need for the future,” the spokesperson said in a statement to The Puget Sound Business Journal. “These are not easy decisions, and we are grateful for the contributions of our colleagues who are impacted.”

Many Seattle-based employees shared news of the layoffs on LinkedIn.

The company stated that some of these jobs may be relocated or contracted out. Expedia had an estimated 16,500 employees by the end of 2024, including 3,300 in the Puget Sound region.

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