Online travel agency looking to create up to 200 jobs in Providence, incentives in play

A LEADING ASIAN online travel agency is looking to create a U.S. operation in Providence, with the potential to create up to 200 jobs. The R.I. Commerce Corp. is expected to consider awarding Agoda up to $4.1 million in state tax incentives to come to the Ocean State.
A LEADING ASIAN online travel agency is looking to create a U.S. operation in Providence, with the potential to create up to 200 jobs. The R.I. Commerce Corp. is expected to consider awarding Agoda up to $4.1 million in state tax incentives to come to the Ocean State.

PROVIDENCE — A committee of the R.I. Commerce Corp. on Thursday is expected to consider awarding up to $4.1 million in state tax credit incentives to Agoda Company Pte Ltd., a Singapore-based, online travel agency. The company is part of The Priceline Group Inc., according to its website, and has pledged to create up to 200 jobs in Rhode Island, said Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor.

The company is among the fastest growing travel sites in Asia, he said. It has been looking for a U.S. location and has found a space in the Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island building, at 500 Exchange St., in Providence.

The Investment Committee of Commerce RI’s full board is expected to discuss the requested tax credits in its meeting Thursday, and if approved, would be making a recommendation to the full board, which meets on Monday. Negotiations are continuing, Pryor said.

The state is expected to consider whether to award up to $3.1 million in tax credits to the company through the Qualified Jobs Incentive program, which allows companies to collect a state tax credit of up to $7,500 per job created, per year, for jobs that exceed the Rhode Island median salary. In addition, another $1 million could be awarded in Rebuild Rhode Island tax credits, for the renovation of its office space in Providence.

- Advertisement -

Agoda plans to create a customer experience center in Providence, Pryor said. Because the company books flights and hotel rooms through an online site and mobile app, the customer-focused jobs at the Providence center are expected to be Web-based.

No posts to display