Google Acquires Frommer's Brand From Wiley

Posted on August 15, 2012

Google has acquired the Frommer's brand from Wiley. The brand is best known for its numerous travel guides. Google will be able to incorporate the travel information from Frommer's travel guides into its online services, such as Google Maps.

Wiley posted a very brief press release about the transaction: "On August 10, 2012, Wiley entered into a definitive agreement to sell all of its travel assets, including all of its interests in the Frommer's brand, to Google. Proceeds from this sale, and others that may arise from the sale of other consumer assets, will be redeployed to support growth opportunities in Professional/Trade; Scientific, Technical, Medical, and Scholarly; and Global Education businesses."

CNN reports that the price of the acquisition is not known. CNN quotes a Google representative as saying, "We can't wait to start working with them [the Frommer's staff] on our goal to provide a review for every relevant place in the world."

Google now has both Frommer's and Zagat. Google bought restaurant review giant Zagat in September, 2011.