Google has sold Frommers travel guides back to the original owner, in a move that will see the publications revert back to print editions.
Google had acquired Frommer’s from Wiley in 2012 for $22 million. Last month, it decided to stop publishing them as print editions, according to a report in Skift.
Now Arthur Frommer, the 83-year-old founder of the brand, has bought Frommer’s back from Google and will continue publishing the travel guides in print and digital editions. The purchase price was undisclosed.
The AP reported the news Wednesday night and quoted Frommer saying, “It’s a very happy time for me. We will be publishing the Frommer travel guides in ebook and print formats and will also be operating the travel site Frommers.com.” Google confirmed the news to Engadget, saying, “We can confirm that we have returned the Frommer’s brand to its founder and are licensing certain travel content to him.”
Frommer’s had published over 300 guidebooks since its founding in 1957.