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Lonely Planet is reported to have cut 100 staff from its Melbourne HQ, which more changes expected in their London and Oakland offices. It is not yet known how many roles are at risk in London.
The Australian newspaper said all editorial staff including writers, editors and cartographers had been made reduntant, and quoted an anonymous worker who said the publisher's owners, NC2, had: "made it clear we are no longer in the business of content creation."
A statement from the company said: "Lonely Planet today announced to staff and contributors a series of changes to its operations in response to a challenging external environment and to position the company for continued success. Unfortunately, as a result of these changes a number of positions at our offices around the world have the potential to be affected and we are in consultation with individuals whose roles may be impacted."
It added: "These changes will enable Lonely Planet to be well positioned for ongoing success and investing in the future in line with our 40 year heritage."
Chief operating officer Daniel Houghton was quoted in the Sydney Morning Herald saying that 70 to 80 roles would be made redundant worldwide. He said: "There are roles being made redundant, but new ones have been created and redeployment opportunities exist. Everyone who we can contact has been notified within the last 24 hours."
The travel publisher, originally founded by Tony and Maureen Wheeler as a backpacker's guide, was sold by owners BBC Worldwide to Nashville-based NC2 earlier in the year.
Lonely Planet saw the biggest revenue growth of any of the top 20 publishers in the UK during the first six months of the year, growing revenue by 7% to £4.3m.