ICONIC travel guide book publisher Lonely Planet is “almost entirely” closing its offices in Melbourne and London, saying plummeting demand and sales meant it will “reduce its publishing operations for the foreseeable future”.
Other Lonely Planet locations around the world will also be impacted, the company said.
Melbourne-based Tony Wheeler, who founded the business in 1973 with wife Maureen, sold 75% of Lonely Planet to the BBC for more than 88 million in 2007, with the UK broadcaster moving to 100% in 2011 for a further 42 million.
Then in 2013 the BBC offloaded Lonely Planet to Kentucky-based NC2 Media, owned by billionaire Brad Kelley, for US$77.8 million.
That led to a transition to digital publishing, with Lonely Planet cutting about 80 roles, mostly in Melbourne (TD 22 Jul 2013).
A statement from NC2 Media said “this is obviously a very sad and difficult time for the Lonely Planet family”.
Earlier this year Lonely Planet announced a new partnership with Intrepid (TD 22 Jan), offering “Lonely Planet Experiences” under Intrepid’s Urban Adventures day tour umbrella.
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Source: traveldaily