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April 23, 2012
Morris Visitor Publications Acquires Houston GuestLife Magazine
AUGUSTA, GA - Morris Visitor Publications, LLC (MVP) announced today the acquisition of Houston GuestLife Magazine from Palm Springs, California based Desert Publications, Inc. Houston GuestLife now joins MVP’s Texas portfolio of print and online publications that include Where® magazines in Dallas, Ft. Worth and San Antonio; GuestBooks in Dallas, Ft. Worth, San Antonio and Houston; San Antonio QuickGuides; several local maps and the website www.wheretraveler.com
The addition of Houston GuestLife will allow MVP to strengthen its ability to provide timely and relevant information to Texas residents, visitors and aspirational travelers through extensive in-room hotel, concierge and other prominent distribution locations in and around Houston. The 2012 GuestLife issue will be co-branded with Where GuestBook.
The Where® brand, owned by Augusta, Georgia based MVP, is celebrating its 76th anniversary of providing local information about entertainment, restaurants, shopping, lodging and places of interest to travelers and locals alike since 1936. MVP owns worldwide rights to the Where® trademark, with licensees in Australia, Europe, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia. Where® publications are the premier source of local information for travelers across the United States and around the world, delivering over 264 million print impressions annually. From dining and shopping to tours, events and top local attractions, Where® provides an insider's knowledge of more than 100 destinations worldwide in both print and digital formats.
Where® branded products and online services offer targeted distribution over multiple platforms to reach travelers during all phases of the travel cycle. From pre-destination travel planning on the web and mobile platforms, through in-destination publications and mobile applications and guidebooks to social network sharing of their travel experiences, Where® curated information is designed to enhance the travel experience for tourists worldwide, as well as local residents.
“We are excited to add Houston GuestLife to our Texas portfolio”, said Donna Kessler, President of Morris Visitor Publications. “This strategic acquisition will allow us to better serve our readers, advertisers and hotel partners in Houston. Our goal is to provide credible, curated content to inspire our readers. We aspire to be the premier trusted source of entertainment and shopping information for local residents. The addition of Houston GuestLife gives MVP the opportunity to provide trusted and valuable travel information to yet another astonishing Texas travel destination.”
http://www.wheretraveler.com/classic/us/tx/houston/
About Desert Publications, Inc:
Desert Publications, Inc. was formed in 1965 by Milton W. Jones to continue publication of the desert area’s monthly magazine, Palm Springs Life and to encompass the ownership of Milton W. Jones Advertising and Public Relations Agency. Milton W. Jones is President of Desert Publications, Inc. He and his son, Frank, are the sole stockholders of the corporation.
The magazine’s first issue was in 1958. It contained a total of 12 pages with a single one-third-page advertisement. Some two years later, Palm Springs Life bought The Villager, a magazine that had been published in the desert since 1948.
Palm Springs Life has become one of the largest regional publications in the nation...a lifestyle-leisure magazine that reflects both the full-time and seasonal resident of the Palm Springs area. Included in every issue of Palm Springs Life is the Desert Guide, a reprinted publication that covers local events and entertainment and is distributed by the Palm Springs Desert Resorts Convention and Visitors Authority to every conventioneer who is serviced by the Bureau. Also published as freestanding publications from Palm Springs Life are special sections; such as, Weddings and Honeymoon Planner, Medical Guide, Desert Homes/Commercial Real Estate, McCallum Theatre Program, HealthSmart and Dining Guide magazines.
In 1978, the company began publishing annual, hardbound, prestige hotel room magazines under the title GuestLife. GuestLife magazines focus on attractions, historical sites, shopping and more in their respective regions, including advertising/editorial spreads on fine restaurants and galleries. They are placed in guest rooms of prestigious hotels for visitors’ convenience. These publications cover markets in Santa Fe, New Mexico; Monterey Bay, CA; El Paso and Houston, Texas.; and Vancouver, B.C. The GuestLife family of annuals continues to grow, with future prospective markets being negotiated year-round.
In 1993, the company contracted with the Greater Houston Convention and Visitors Bureau to publish its Official Visitors Guide and the Meeting Planners Guide.
About Morris Visitor Publications: MVP is a division of Morris Communications Company, LLC, and publishes Where® Guestbook, Where® magazine, Where® QuickGuide, IN New York and IN London magazines, plus a host of other maps, guides and directories for local, business and leisure travel in major cities throughout the United States, in London and in Paris. For a more complete listing of the cities covered by MVP or its licensees, visit the website www.wheretraveler.com
Morris Communications Company, LLC is a privately held media company with diversified holdings that include digital publishing and online services for newspaper publishing, visitor guide publishing, magazine publishing, radio broadcasting, book publishing and book distribution. For more information visit www.morris.com
Regional Media Advisors acted as advisor to Desert Publications, Inc.
For information contact Donna Kessler at 706-821-6648.
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