Hotel review site Oyster responds to job cut claims

Hotel review service Oyster has responded to claims by US site Gawker that is has made ‘massive’ job cuts.

Hotel review service Oyster has responded to claims by US site Gawker that is has made ‘massive’ job cuts.

Chief executive and co-founder Elie Seidman said the company’s staff had ‘fluctuated’ and would continue to change based on the rate of new destinations. 

He said: “At our 2009 production peak, we had more than 30 people, full-time and temporary.

“As a result of both economic conditions in the market and our decision to slow the rate of new market additions after 18 months of torrid growth, we now have more than 20 people – full time and temporary.

“We will focus on continuing to improve the depth and quality of our product for the markets we’ve already covered.”

Oyster told Travolution last week that it was planning to add UK and European content in the first quarter of next year as well as additional US cities including Boston, Washington D.C and Orlando. The site launched in the summer covering major cities including New York, San Francisco and Miami as well as Jamaica, the Dominican Republic and Hawaii.

Seidman also said Oyster would focus on usability to make the site easier to use with the additional of new features. Oyster provides professionally generated reviews.