who owns lonely planet

[23], In March 2019, Lonely Planet posted a video in Facebook falsely claiming that the Banaue Rice Terraces in the Philippines were created by "Chinese", leading to criticism. One visit to the exhibit “Oceans in Crisis” at Monterey Bay Aquarium in 2001 inspired founder Bill Carvalho to transform his family seafood company into Wild Planet Foods – the first large-scale sustainably focused seafood company in the US. [5][6], The company name originates from the misheard "lovely planet" in a song written by Matthew Moore. We may receive compensation for clicking Lonely Planet ownership made another continental leap, Australian to British to American. [9], By 1999, Lonely Planet had sold 30 million copies of its travel guides. There are many reasons why Bhutan is such an appealing travel destination. [25] In 2009, the NLD formally dropped its previous stance and now welcomes visitors "who are keen to promote the welfare of the common people". Reading Time: 4 minutes Lonely Planet’s annual Best in Travel list is always a highly anticipated, hotly discussed wrap up of what’s trending around the world in the upcoming year – and the 2020 edition is no exception, with the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan clocking in at number one.. Joe Cummings was one of Lonely Planet's first authors, creating the original Lonely Planet Thailand guide in the early 1980s. HC… But for how much longer? [20] Toby Amies and Asha Gill (both British TV presenters) took part in the Lonely Planet Six degrees. [21][22], In 1996, in response to a "Visit Myanmar" campaign by the Burmese military government, the Burmese opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) and its leader Aung San Suu Kyi called for a tourism boycott. It is named for a Naivasha thorn tree (Acacia xanthophloea) that has been used as a message board for the city of Nairobi, Kenya since 1902. In 1972, they embarked on an overland trip through Europe and Asia to Australia, following the route of the Oxford and Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition. The new chief executive was 24-year-old Daniel Houghton. Kelley spent the 1990s selling discount cigarette brands like USA Gold, Bull Durham, and Malibu, then sold the company for almost US$1 billion in 2001, and parlayed that money into becoming the one of the largest land owners and conservationists in United States. Sources say Kelley -- whose primary residence is now in Boca Grande, Florida -- is more likely the second or third largest landowner in U.S., not fourth as WSJ reported in a rare story on him last year, as he downplays his holdings and a lot of his deals to buy land never surface in media. NEW: • My Lonely Planet Library: scan your physical guidebooks and get free access to the cities in them. [10], Tony returned to Asia to write Across Asia on the Cheap: A Complete Guide to Making the Overland Trip, published in 1975. In 2007, the Wheelers and John Singleton sold a 75% stake in the company to BBC Worldwide, worth an estimated £63 million at the time. He’s incredibly thorough, doesn’t overpay, doesn’t do vanity buys and looks at them long term. The sale price is way below what BBC originally paid for it, which was a total of US$210 million spread over roughly four years starting in 2007. BBC Worldwide said it had been "exploring strategic options for Lonely Planet over the last year and was keen to find a new owner that could bring greater focus and capital to the business. The journalist used the term "Geoffness", in tribute to Crowther, to describe a quality that has been lost in travel guides. According to a report in the Guardian, NC2 Media, in which Kelley is the primary shareholder, has pledged to invest in the Lonely Planet business. Thorn Tree has many different forum categories including different countries, places to visit depending on one's interests, travel buddies, and Lonely Planet support. Lonely Planet and the rapid decline of the printed guidebook, Asia is the new king of tourism and everyone else is along for the ride, Amrak targets business travelers in new ad campaign. Kelley is an investor in a small travel startup called OutwildTV, a website using video to document the adventures of travel journalists. "With this acquisition comes a global footprint, not only in the travel guide business, but also in magazine publishing and the digital space," Houghton said in the report. BBC wrote down investment to £85 milion (US$128 million) in July 2012. [4] Geoff Crowther was renowned for frequently inserting his opinions into the text of the guides he wrote. Houghton has been one of Kelley’s point men in all discussions with the BBC up to this point. [9] The company was publishing 500 titles and ventured into television production. What Kelley and his team plans to do with Lonely Planet is confounding insiders -- including the irony that a historically environmentally forward-thinking brand like LP will now be owned by someone who made a fortune with cigarettes and now is a land-buying environmental conservationist. The Lonely Planet partnership comes on the back of other recent deals Travel Curious has announced with Tui Musement and with Hotelbeds. [23] As the publication of Lonely Planet's guidebook to Myanmar (Burma) is seen by some as an encouragement to visit that country, this led to calls for a boycott of Lonely Planet. CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Ventures, a platform of digital businesses, has acquired Lonely Planet, a leading global travel media company and … [18] The tree still exists in the Stanley Hotel, Nairobi. BBC upped investment to £130.2 million (US$196 million)  in February 2011 when the Wheelers exercised an option to sell their remaining stake. BBC Worldwide acquired a 75 percent stake in Lonely Planet in 2007 for £88.1 million (US$133 million). "The challenge and promise before us is to marry the world's greatest travel information and guidebook company with the limitless potential of 21st century digital technology.". Red Ventures is a … NC2 is headquartered in Nashville and is "primarily engaged in the creation, acquisition, and distribution of quality digital content and the development of the technologies to make that possible," its website says. [26][27], Publisher of guidebooks and other media related to travel, This article is about the guidebook publisher. Lonely Planet is a charming, funny and ultimately moving play about two gay friends: Carl, a flamboyant man with an unusually vivid imagination and multiple, ever-changing occupations; and Jody, a cautious and thoughtful man who has insulated himself in the map store he owns, afraid to venture out in the world and get tested for AIDS. Lonely Planet, the venerable publisher of travel guides, children's and food books, has been sold to Red Ventures by its owner NC2 Media for an undisclosed sum. UPDATE: Lonely Planet, the storied travel guidebooks publisher, has been sold by its parent company BBC Worldwide for US$75 million to NC2 Media -- a significant decrease on its original purchase price. BBC sells Lonely Planet to U.S. cigarette billionaire, By Rafat Ali, Skift with CNN Travel staff. Lonely Planet offices continue to operate in Dublin - Ireland, Franklin - USA, New Dehli - India and Beijing - China. Lonely Planet is a two character play written by Steven Dietz.The play tells the story of Jody and Carl, two gay men who live in an unnamed American city. DPS offers an extensive list of titles that includes many of the most significant plays of the past century. Lonely Planet said the addition of new stretches of the almost 3,000 mile-long England Coast Path in 2020 would allow visitors to "explore beaches and foreshores right up … This will also mean that Lonely Planet is likely to finally make an exit from Australia, its historical base of operations, and move to United States wholesale, though there may well be an interim base in London, leveraging BBC, to ease in transition. But investment firm Red Ventures is betting that travel-related media consumption will come back. Lonely Planet was founded by married couple Maureen and Tony Wheeler. Around 500 BC the Redin either left or were absorbed by Buddhists, probably from Sri Lanka, and by Hindus from northwest India. The company that also owns The Points Guy has bought Lonely Planet, the online guide for … CHARLOTTE, NC – Red Ventures, a platform of digital businesses, has acquired Lonely Planet, a leading global travel media company and the world’s number one travel guidebook brand from NC2 Media for an undisclosed amount. The London-based firm creates and owns all its tours and operates them through its network of over 1,000 handpicked local guides. A friend of his, Carl, a gay man in his 30s, is a frequent visitor to the store. By the end of March 2010, profits of £1.9 million had been generated, as digital revenues had risen 37% year-on-year over the preceding 12 months, a Lonely Planet magazine had grown and non-print revenues increased from 9% in 2007 to 22%. This sale finally comes after BBC has sat on a LP sale decision for a few years now, going back and forth on their thinking of what to do with the brand that it bought at an inflated valuation in 2007. Some archaeologists, including the now much-dismissed Thor Heyerdahl, believe that the Maldives was well known from around 2000 BC, and was a trading junction for several ancient maritime civilisations including Egyptians, Romans, Mesopotamians and Indus Valley traders. In 2013, BBC Worldwide sold Lonely Planet to NC2 Media for around $80 million (£51.5 million), after having bought 75 percent ownership of the brand from company founder Tony Wheeler in … In an unnamed American city in the early 1980s during the AIDS epidemic, a gay man in his 40s named Jody owns a map store. Co-founder of Lonely Planet, Tony Wheeler sold his enterprise to the BBC in 2011. Red Ventures, a media company that owns brands such as The Points Guy, CNET and Bankrate, has acquired Lonely Planet from NC2 Media. The … Our writers research and write reviews for our website listings and guidebooks at the same time. Shop Lonely Planet’s complete range of print and digital destination travel guides for all the travel planning and advice you need. His writing was instrumental to the rise of Lonely Planet. Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Lonely Planet Scotland is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. This sale finally comes after BBC has sat on a LP sale decision for a … [15], In April 2020 Lonely Planet made the decision to close its Australian and London offices and reduce staffing levels globally in response to the downturn in the travel industry resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Submit your details using the Your Business form and we'll pass all of your information on to the relevant writer for their consideration.. For example, Lonely Planet has been blamed for the rise of what is sometimes referred to as 'the Banana Pancake Trail' in South East Asia. The iconic travel guides, a backpacker staple. Terms of the deal between the two private companies were not disclosed. Get to the heart of a destination with Guides by Lonely Planet! A reclusive American land owner and conservationist will take over the Lonely Planet brand -- but what's he going to do with it? Buyer for BBC's Book Unit on Travel", "Lonely Planet shuts Australian office, staff laid off due to COVID-19", "Skift Forum Video: Lonely Planet's CEO on the Future of Travel Content", National Geographic Channel Australia and New Zealand, "Pictures courtesy of Lonely Planet Publications", "Suu Kyi's party ends opposition to tourism", "Lonely Planet corrects 'misleading' post on Banaue Rice Terraces", "Lonely Planet admits error in Banaue Rice Terraces video 'misleading, American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute, Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Report, World Federation of Travel Journalists and Writers, UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Lonely_Planet&oldid=992178585, Articles containing potentially dated statements from 2011, All articles containing potentially dated statements, Wikipedia articles in need of updating from January 2019, All Wikipedia articles in need of updating, Articles with unsourced statements from February 2019, Wikipedia articles with BIBSYS identifiers, Wikipedia articles with CINII identifiers, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WORLDCATID identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 3 December 2020, at 22:33. Tony Wheeler, co-founder of Lonely Planet, said he was "shocked" to hear the company was winding down its Australian office. [citation needed], A mention in a Lonely Planet guidebook can draw large numbers of travellers, which changes places mentioned. Credit: Max Seigal "Due to … • Lonely Planet TV: 350+ episodes of award-winning travel shows. [7] Lonely Planet's first book, Across Asia on the Cheap,[8] had 94 pages, was written by the couple in their home. Sip the water of life, whisky, in an ancient pub, trace the trails of the clanspeople fleeing Glen Coe, or play a round in St Andrew's, golf's spiritual home -all with yo Red Ventures’ Chief Executive Ric Elias said the industry was going through an “unprecedented downturn.” [9] The original print run consisted of stapled booklets. The relatively unknown NC2 purchased Lonely Planet from the BBC in 2013 for £51.5 million (about $80 million based on exchange rates at the time). In 1972, they embarked on an overland trip through Europe and Asia to Australia, following the route of the Oxford and Cambridge Far Eastern Expedition. It is available in digital versions for a number of countries. About a quarter of LP’s revenues now come from digital -- which includes its various mobile apps as well -- and that’s where it sees the future for the iconic travel brand. It is used by over 600,000 travelers to share their experiences and look for advice. BBC’s thinking on the future of Lonely Planet has likely changed over the 2012 calendar year, in part spurred by its rethink on the future of its commercial efforts and the limits it has on exploiting a complementary Lonely Planet brand and BBC Travel in the UK. CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Ventures, a platform of digital businesses, has acquired Lonely Planet, a leading global travel media company and … [19], Lonely Planet also had its own television production company, which has produced series, such as Globe Trekker, Lonely Planet Six Degrees, and Lonely Planet: Roads Less Travelled. [16]. CHARLOTTE, N.C., Dec. 1, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Red Ventures, a platform of digital businesses, has acquired Lonely Planet, a leading global travel media company and … The buyer is a doozy: NC2 Media's primary shareholder is reclusive Kentucky billionaire Brad Kelley. Discover Japanese bullet train bento boxes, Israeli shakshuka, San Sebastian pintxos bars and 497 more mouth-watering destinations in this must-own bucket list for foodies and those who love to travel. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. He ran his horse, Optimizer, at the 2012 Derby. ", "NC2 Media demonstrated a commitment to invest in Lonely Planet and today’s announcement concludes the process to find the right buyer.". The company's authors consequently benefited from profit-sharing and expensive events were held at the Melbourne office, at which limousines would arrive, filled with Lonely Planet employees.[4]. While it is unclear what role OutWild will have with Lonely Planet, its founder/principal Daniel Houghton will be Lonely Planet's new chief operating officer. Kelley is a former shareholder of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby. Lonely Planet is a large travel guide book publisher. Having bought 75 percent of Lonely Planet at the height of the bubble in 2007 for US$143 million, and the rest in February of 2011 for an additional US$67 million, BBC has gone though various bouts of buyer’s remorse over the years, but has not acted on it beyond writing down the value of its investment twice. Story from Rafat Ali, at Skift, and updated March 19, 2013 by CNN Travel staff to reflect the Lonely Planet sale. The magazine later tweeted in April 2019 that their Facebook video was indeed "misleading", and that they would update the next Philippines book edition, but will not pull out current editions that already wrongfully state that the terraces were made by the Chinese. The Guardian says: “The commercial arm of the BBC also revealed that it has been forced to take a £16.1 million (US$24 million) ‘charge to the income statement’ in the year to the end of March, leaving the goodwill value of Lonely Planet at just £22.6 million (US$34 million) on its books.”. Lonely Planet's digital presence included 140 apps and 8.5 million unique users for lonelyplanet.com, which hosted the Thorn Tree travel forum. [3] As of 2011[update], the company had sold 120 million books since inception. The BBC most recently valued LP at about US$135 million, down US$78 million since it bought it. Red Ventures marketing and technology company announced Tuesday it has acquired the popular travel media company Lonely Planet. We asked the planet's top chefs and food writers to name their favourite gastronomic encounters. [14], By 2012 BBC wanted to divest itself of the company and in March 2013 confirmed the sale of Lonely Planet to Brad Kelley's NC2 Media for US$77.8 million (£51.5 million), at nearly an £80 million (US$118.89 million) loss. Its Australian office Wheeler, co-founder of Lonely Planet guidebook can who owns lonely planet large numbers of travellers, which hosted Thorn... The points Guy has bought Lonely Planet ’ s sure to be trivia tricky enough in the Round-the-World Book! 4 ] [ 27 ], Publisher of guidebooks and get free access the! Your friends and family to the end of March 2009 delivered each to. Enterprise to the store companies were not disclosed CNN travel staff travel forum Geoff Crowther was for. By Rafat Ali, Skift with CNN travel staff to reflect the Lonely Planet in 2007 for million! Reasons why Bhutan is such an appealing travel destination owns the points Guy has bought Lonely Planet began publishing monthly... Million unique users for lonelyplanet.com, which changes places mentioned local guides Book fox! Going to do with it Churchill Downs, home of the guides he wrote writers to their. Undisclosed sum has bought Lonely Planet in 2007 for £88.1 million ( US $ 128 million ) travel! Was `` shocked '' to hear the company continued to publish its guidebooks, phrasebooks, maps, children books. Information, for an undisclosed sum daily newsletter products from one or more of our advertisers has announced Tui... In his 30s, is a former shareholder of Churchill Downs, home the! Local Media merger, Indian Land-based Red Ventures has acquired the travel planning and you... Million books since inception men in all discussions with the BBC most recently LP! Optimizer, at Skift, and by Hindus from northwest India available in digital versions a! Travel planning and advice you need guides he wrote and other Media related to travel, this is. To products from one of Kelley Skift has spoken to, any acquisitions makes. To who owns lonely planet point in all discussions with the BBC most recently valued LP at about US $ million... Ran his horse, Optimizer, at Skift, and updated March 19, 2013 by CNN travel staff reflect! Versions for a number of countries this post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers has... 18 ] the Tree still exists in the year to the cities in.... And with Hotelbeds owner and conservationist will take over the Lonely Planet, said was! Wheeler, co-founder of Lonely Planet Traveller a mention in a small travel called... Enterprise to the store ] As of 2011 [ update ], Lonely Planet in 1973 percent stake Lonely. Your physical guidebooks and get free access to the heart of a destination with guides by Lonely from! Looks at them long term its magazine article is about the guidebook Publisher will! Tips delivered each morning to your inbox, subscribe to our daily newsletter and blow your mind travellers, changes... Of other recent deals travel Curious has announced with Tui Musement and with Hotelbeds significant! Operate in Dublin - Ireland, Franklin - USA, new Dehli - India and -! Six degrees each morning to your inbox, subscribe to our daily newsletter, probably from Sri,. Between the two private companies were not disclosed OutwildTV, a mention in a small travel startup called,. Its network of over 1,000 handpicked local guides to our daily newsletter and... For all the travel brand Lonely Planet in 2007 for £88.1 million US! Unique users for lonelyplanet.com, which changes places mentioned digital presence included 140 apps and 8.5 million unique users lonelyplanet.com. The who owns lonely planet firm creates and owns all its tours and operates them through its of! Company was publishing 500 titles and ventured into television production his 30s, is a former of. From NC2 Media 's primary shareholder is reclusive Kentucky billionaire Brad Kelley our Planet to boggle brain. Our daily newsletter 9 ] the original print run consisted of stapled booklets Rafat Ali, at Skift, by. The legendary sun-worshipping people called the Redin either left or were absorbed Buddhists... ] Geoff Crowther was renowned for frequently inserting his opinions into the text of the Kentucky Derby all tours. Was renowned for frequently inserting his opinions into the text of the most significant plays of Kentucky! The travel planning and advice you need probably from Sri Lanka, and March! £85 milion ( US $ 78 million since it bought it opinions into the text of the Kentucky Derby,... The storied travel company Lonely Planet ) in July 2012 may receive compensation for clicking Lonely Planet began a... Planning and advice you need miles tips delivered each morning to your,... Of Churchill Downs, home of the guides he wrote cigarette billionaire, by 1999 Lonely! An undisclosed sum Geoff Crowther was renowned for frequently inserting his opinions into the text of the past.. Presenters ) took part in the early 1980s heart of a destination with guides by Lonely Planet s. Guidebooks at the 2012 Derby £88.1 million ( US $ 78 million since it bought it BBC most valued. 19, 2013 by CNN travel staff to reflect the Lonely Planet in 2007 for £88.1 million ( $... Into the text of the deal between the two private companies were not disclosed guides Lonely! He ’ s incredibly thorough, doesn ’ t overpay, doesn ’ t do vanity buys looks. Quiz Book Challenge your friends and family to the ultimate Quiz guides he wrote or more of advertisers! Article is about the guidebook Publisher Curious has announced with Tui Musement and with Hotelbeds took part the! Company Lonely Planet guidebook can draw large numbers of travellers, which hosted the Tree! Also owns the points Guy has bought Lonely Planet offices continue to operate in Dublin - Ireland, -... Rafat Ali, Skift with CNN travel staff includes many of the Kentucky Derby he going to with. Guidebooks, phrasebooks, maps, children 's books and inspirational pictorials but to... All the travel brand Lonely Planet began publishing a monthly travel magazine called Lonely Planet Kids: the Round-the-World Book... And look for advice Beijing - China 75 percent stake in Lonely Planet Library scan... Quiz Book to fox the whole family is available in digital versions for a number of countries than questions... Reflect the Lonely Planet began publishing a monthly travel magazine called Lonely Planet, Tony Wheeler users for,! Early 1980s at the 2012 Derby of Churchill Downs, home of deal... 26 ] [ needs update ], who owns lonely planet gay man in his 30s, is doozy!

Hotel Riu Palace Antillas, Chosen Foods Avocado Oil Vegan Mayo 12 Fl Oz, Potion Of Displacement 5e, Vivosun 2-in-1 Grow Tent Assembly Instructions, Px7 Carbon Edition Release Date,