Travel + Leisure, one of the best-known travel magazines and once a flagship publication for American Express has been bought by Wyndham Destinations, which develops and manages timeshare properties.
The former owner, media company Meridith Corp., will continue to publish the magazine as a contractor for the new owners, similar to the way airline magazines are produced. Meredith acquired the title in 2018 when it bought Time, Inc. which bought it from Amex in 2013.
Wyndham, which is the former parent of Wyndham Hotels, will change its name to Travel + Leisure. CEO Michael Brown told reporters that “As new stewards of the Travel + Leisure brand, we are committed to ensuring that the integrity and independence of its trusted, authoritative journalism remains uncompromised.”
But since he also said that the goal is to “grow … membership travel-club businesses, offer new travel services and expand licensing agreements,” it seems questionable that the magazine’s upscale audience will be seeing ‘trusted authoritative journalism.’
