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Economic slow-down hits Lonely Planet: Guidebook publisher to lay off 10% of workforce
It's not exactly General Motors laying off 60,000, but for most travel writers, this piece of news hits closer to home. The massive guidebook publisher Lonely Planet has just announced that, because of the recent economic down-turn, the company will be sacking 10% of its workforce.
Sure, it's only 50 people that are being let go, but the news will no doubt have guidebook and other travel writers wondering if they might be next.
Stephen Palmer, the acting CEO of Lonely Planet, said of the move: "I recognize that this is a terribly difficult time, particularly for those whose jobs will be made redundant. I would like to reiterate that I would not have taken this action if there was any way I could have avoided it."
The cuts will be divided among LP's offices in the UK, the US, and Australia, and will mostly affect the production of the publisher's online content-- not the production of its guidebooks.
Filed under: Arts and Culture, Business, News
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Jason Halberstadt Feb 25th 2009 1:59PM
This is surprising.
We at http://www.vivatravelguides.com are seeing strong growth in guidebook sales and website visits over the last months.
Reports from several tour operators show that the luxury and upscale market is seeing dramatic drops, but that the budget and backpacker markets are strong. (Lot's of people using their severance checks to get out and explore the world on a budget?)
I bet Lonely Planet is kicking themselves for abandoning the budget traveler market now.