INTERVIEW: Lonely Planet’s new boss on the future of the travel brand
Photo Caption: Lonely Planet logo with headshot of incoming Chief Operating Officer Daniel Houghton.
Skift Take
Lonely Planet deserves a partner that sees the brand's potential and isn't hampered by the layers of bureaucracy that came with BBC ownership.
Earlier today BBC Worldwide confirmed it would sell the Lonely Planet travel brand to Nashville, TN-based upstart NC2 Media for AUS$75 million. The British public broadcaster's commercial arm had completed its acquisition of LP in 2011 for more than twice that amount, signaling to many that the future of the travel brand was half what it used to be.
The new buyers obviously don't share the same pessimistic outlook.
Skift spoke by email with incoming Chief Operating Officer Daniel Houghton earlier today for his first interview since the sale was announced. In the email exchange Houghton shares insight into why NC2 chose LP, how the deal happened, and why much of its future is in digital.
Q: Why? What about Lonely Planet was appealing to you?
A: Lonely Planet is the world’s most succe
