Lonely Planet has acquired Elsewhere, a travel planning startup that launched during the first year of the coronavirus pandemic.
Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Elsewhere, created in the United States in November 2020, gives users tools to find tailor-made experiences ahead of a trip.
The service has what it says is a “highly vetted network of local, in-destination travel partners” to assist with building itineraries for users.
The acquisition signals a further shift away from user-generated content as a means for Lonely Planet’s users to discover more information about destinations and find recommendations.
Lonely Planet axed its legendary Thorn Tree forum last September, saying that it was a “difficult decision” to completely close the community but promising that an “all-new Lonely Planet” was in development.
BBC Worldwide sold Lonely Planet to NC2 in 2013 for an £80 million loss.
