Frommer's

Frommer's
Founded 1957
Founder Arthur Frommer
Country of origin United States
Distribution Worldwide
Official website www.frommers.com

Frommer's is a travel guidebook series created by Arthur Frommer. Frommer's has expanded to include more than 350 guidebooks across 14 series, as well as other media including the website Frommers.com. In 2007, Frommer's celebrated its 50th anniversary of guidebook publishing.[1] Since May 2007, Arthur Frommer has been actively blogging about travel[2] on the Frommers.com website.

History

In 1957, Arthur Frommer, a young corporal in the U.S. Army, wrote a travel guide for American GIs in Europe, and then produced a civilian version called Europe on $5 a Day.[3] The book ranked popular landmarks and sights in order of importance and included suggestions on how to travel around Europe on a budget. It was the first travel guide to show Americans that they could afford to travel in Europe. Arthur Frommer returned to the United States and began practicing law. During that time, he continued to write and also began to self-publish guidebooks to additional destinations, including New York, Mexico, Hawaii, Japan and the Caribbean. In 1977, Frommer’s trademark was sold to Simon & Schuster, Inc. Pearson bought the reference division of Simon & Schuster in 1998 and sold it to IDG Books in 1999. John Wiley & Sons acquired IDG Books (renamed Hungry Minds) in 2001. Arthur’s daughter, Pauline Frommer, is now writing her own series of travel guidebooks and continuing the Frommer’s travel legacy.[1][4]

On August 13, 2012, it was announced that Google will be acquiring Frommer's for an undisclosed sum of money, and will be merging operations with Google's Zagat business.[5]

On March 2013, it was reported that Google ended the manufacturing of Frommer's guidebooks.[6]

On April 2013, it was announced that the Frommer's brand has been sold back to Arthur Frommer.[7] He scheduled October that year to release the next batch of guidebooks. As of July 2013, Arthur Frommer struck a deal with Publishers Group West to distribute and promote Frommer's books.[8]

Guidebook series

More than 75 million books have been sold since Frommer’s inception in 1957. Over 350 titles are available in the following series:

In popular culture

Frommer's guidebooks are represented in the 2004 comedy EuroTrip when one of the main characters, Jamie, uses it to guide a group of teenagers around Europe. Jamie later gets a job with Frommer's at the end of EuroTrip. In the opening scene of 2003's Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle, Cameron Diaz enters a Mongolian beer shack holding a Frommer's guidebook. A copy can also be seen near the beginning of the 2008 film Jumper. Complete references from the Frommer's Guide book for Traveling around the world can be seen in the movie Last Stop for Paul.

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 Harpaz, Beth J. (2007-05-13). "Arthur Frommer guidebooks 50 years old". Oakland Tribune. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  2. ↑ "Arthur Frommer Online". Retrieved 8 August 2009.
  3. ↑ Leo, Jen. "On the Spot: Arthur Frommer’s tips on finding cheap airfares". Los Angeles Times/Travel. Retrieved 2009-06-09.
  4. ↑ Jewish Women International: "Travel Tips from an Expert: Pauline Frommer" By Laurie Heifetz November 2011
  5. ↑ "Google to Buy Frommer's Travel Brand" August 2012
  6. ↑ Clampet, Jason (21 March 2013). "Google Is Quietly Pulling The Plug On Frommer’s Print Travel Guidebooks". Business Insider. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  7. ↑ "Google 'sells Frommer's guides business back to founder'". BBC News. 4 April 2013. Retrieved April 5, 2013.
  8. ↑ Bosman, Julie (14 July 2013). "Sold Back to Its Founder, Frommer’s to Publish Anew". The New York Times. Retrieved 4 August 2015.

External links

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