Google Acquires Travel Guide Publisher Frommer’S

[cdnvic]

Google has acquired travel guidebook publisher Frommer’s from John Wiley & Sons for an undisclosed amount, a Google spokesperson has confirmed.

“The Frommer’s team and the quality and scope of their content will be a great addition to the Zagat team,” the spokesperson said. “We can’t wait to start working with them on our goal to provide a review for every relevant place in the world.”

Wiley has been publicly seeking a buyer for Frommer’s since early March.

Google will likely integrate Frommer’s reviews of hotels and destinations in the same way that it has baked Zagat’s reviews of restaurants into its search and Maps products.

Full Story : http://mashable.com/2012/08/13/google-acquires-travel-guide-publisher-frommers/

[WilliaminBKK]

It is now reported they paid £95M. What does a published travel guide bring to Google? it will be very interesting to see what Google does with this vault of travel data. The last time I purchased a guide book was in the 90's.

[Ricardo]

The traditional publishers have a problem, in the electronic world of the www, how to continue to make money when people don't buy books anymore.

Search-engines like Google have another on-going need, how to attract ever-more viewers and be the preferred source of information, of all and any kinds. They're already the experts at making money from people looking for information online.

Sounds like a match made in heaven, to me.

[craigt3365]

Just saw a report on CNN. Seems Zagats is part of this deal. Which puts restaurant reviews online. And with Frommers, all the info in the books will be online to search. Hotel and restaurant reviews being of particular interest to traveling business people. The talking head said it was a fantastic deal for Google and cheap ( ).

[bkkjames]

BREAKING NEWS "Google Acquires the INTERNET" lol

[cdnvic]

The move to live data in travel guides is a welcome thing to anyone in the tourist industry who is tired of people accusing them of false advertising because their 6 year old copy of Lonely Planet they bought at a second hand shop says you charge $______ for your rooms.

[Ricardo]

Embarrassed to admit, I only just renewed my L-P Thailand, after eight years !

... darn, but we really need a Cheap-Charlie emoticon, at times like this !