Elevate opens Costa Rica hub for Swissport, targets 200 jobs by 2028

International workforce and business services company Elevate has officially opened its Costa Rica office, strengthening its global delivery network and positioning the Central American country as a strategic hub for clients across North America, South America and Europe.

The new office, located at WeWork El Cafetal II in Belén, Heredia, will support a growing portfolio of international companies, including Swissport International, the global provider of airport ground handling and air cargo services.

Elevate began operating in Costa Rica in late 2025 and is now moving into a new phase of expansion. The company expects to close 2026 with approximately 50 employees, double its local workforce during 2027 and reach 200 positions by 2028.

The expansion forms part of a broader international strategy by Elevate, which has more than 20 years of experience and operates through 14 offices in nine countries, with an established presence across Europe and the United States.

For the company, Costa Rica offers a combination of skilled professionals, multilingual capabilities and experience in supporting multinational business operations.

Ivaylo Slavov, Chairman and CEO of Elevate, described the opening as an important milestone in the group's international development.

The executive highlighted Costa Rica's qualified workforce and its ability to support global operations, while emphasising the importance of strengthening Elevate's relationship with Swissport from its new location.

The move reflects a business model in which international companies increasingly rely on specialised service providers to establish, manage and expand corporate functions across different markets.

Rather than focusing exclusively on traditional recruitment, Elevate develops and operates business capabilities for its clients, including Shared Services Centers, Centers of Excellence, workforce solutions and professional services.

A transatlantic platform for international business operations

Costa Rica's role within Elevate's network goes beyond servicing the local market.

The company intends to use its new base to support corporate operations across the Americas while maintaining links with its established European activities.

Elevate has offices in markets including Germany, Switzerland, Poland, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia and Croatia, alongside operations in the United States.

This geographical footprint allows the company to connect European business expertise with operational capabilities in the Americas.

Its services cover sectors such as information technology, engineering, automotive, accounting and finance, retail, logistics, manufacturing and hospitality.

The presence of Swissport among its clients gives the Costa Rican operation an international dimension linked to aviation and logistics, two industries that depend on specialised personnel and coordinated services across multiple jurisdictions.

For Costa Rica, the project also illustrates the growing relevance of knowledge-intensive business services within its foreign investment ecosystem.

According to CINDE, the private investment promotion agency supporting international businesses in the country, Elevate represents a type of company capable of generating additional opportunities beyond its own hiring plans.

Marianela Urgellés, Managing Director of CINDE, explained that the company's business model involves building and operating functions for other corporations.

From that perspective, each international client served from Costa Rica could create opportunities for further investment and employment.

The expansion also reinforces the country's positioning as a destination for higher-value corporate activities, particularly those requiring specialised knowledge, international coordination and multilingual talent.

Costa Rica's established business services industry and experience supporting multinational companies provide the foundations for this model, although future growth will depend on demand from international clients and the availability of qualified professionals.

Recruitment accelerates as Elevate plans further growth

Elevate is already expanding its local workforce and recruiting professionals across human resources, information technology, finance and other corporate functions.

The company is targeting mid-level and senior candidates, particularly specialists in payroll management, talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, and data analytics.

Advanced English proficiency at C1 level is required, while knowledge of French or Portuguese may offer additional opportunities for certain positions.

Candidates can submit applications through recruitmentcr@elevatechange.com.

The company's employment targets suggest a significant scaling of the Costa Rican operation over the next two years, although the final number of positions will depend on the execution of its expansion plans.

Elevate's growth strategy reflects a broader transformation in international business services, as companies seek to combine operational flexibility, specialised talent and access to different regional markets.

For European companies, Costa Rica can provide a platform for coordinating services across the Americas without requiring every function to be established independently in each country.

For Latin America, operations of this type can create opportunities to participate more deeply in international corporate value chains, particularly in technology, finance and business management.

The strategic significance of Elevate's expansion therefore extends beyond the opening of another international office.

By connecting European operations, multinational clients such as Swissport and a growing Costa Rican workforce, the company is building a service platform intended to support business activity across both sides of the Atlantic.

Its next challenge will be converting that international network into sustained client growth and fulfilling its target of 200 employees in Costa Rica by 2028.