The US division of Swedish magazine publisher Bonnier will be shuttering several travel magazine print editions, according to a report from Keith Kelly at the NY Post. The magazines effected are Islands, Destination Weddings & Honeymoons, and Caribbean Travel & Life, which was made into a supplement of Islands a while ago. All three will see their last print editions published by the end of the year, a new digital version of Islands is planned for 2017.
Islands had a paid circulation of 221,483 as recently as 2013, with over 31,000 of that digital. But its circulation is now barely over 100K, according to its June AAM statement, with less than 5,000 being digital.
Kelly says that editorial director Shawn Bean and corporate brand manager Matt Hickman will be retained by Bonnier, while “about a half dozen staffers are being shown the door.” (Gotta love modern magazine management.)
Kelly also got a wonderful quote from Bonnier USA CEO Eric Zinczenko: “The brands were profitable but in decline. This move will ensure the path to sustained profitability. ”Yes, publishers are always looking to shutter their profitable print magazines… in order to “ensure the path to sustained profitability.”