Google deal to boost travel guide provision

Holidaymakers could soon be able to access a bank of reviews for every relevant travel destination across the globe, under a new deal secured by Google.

The internet search engine giant is buying the rights to the Frommer's travel guidebooks, adding to its £96.2m acquisition last year of the Zagat guidebooks.

Google said it would initially offer the reviews of hotels, restaurants and popular tourist attractions on the internet under the Frommer's brand name.

It will later move toward integrating this content with Zagat's own reviews of restaurants, hotels and nightclubs.

It is not known whether Google will continue to publish the guidebooks in print form.

Google said in a statement: "The Frommer's team and the quality and scope of their content will be a great addition to the Zagat team. We can't wait to start working with them on our goal to provide a review for every relevant place in the world."