Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said at the Skift Global Forum in New York that the company's April launch of hotel booking in its app through a partnership with Expedia was part of a "generalized bet" on the direction of the travel industry. He said that because Uber operates in more than 70 countries and delivers in more than 100, the traveler comes to Uber.
Uber is laying off 3,300 employees and cutting managerial roles by 20%, consolidating teams to prioritize ridesharing, delivery, and autonomous/robotaxi investments. The company says its product portfolio remains unchanged, but travel partnerships (Hopper, Expedia, Omio) may see reduced focus as resources shift. Remote work policy tightens: only about 1% of staff remain fully remote, with a three-day-a-week in-office mandate.
Uber has agreed to acquire Blacklane, a premium chauffeur service, to expand into luxury and executive travel. Terms were not disclosed, and the deal is subject to regulatory approval, expected to close by end of 2026. Blacklane, founded in 2011, operates in over 500 cities across 60+ countries and has raised over $150 million. Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said premium travel is a fast-growing segment, and the acquisition will broaden options for riders.