After 11 years, 36 titles, 21 apps and nearly 1.5 million copies sold worldwide, LUXE City Guides is delighted to announce the acquisition of LUXE Ltd by a private investment group.

The group is headed by travel entrepreneur Simon Westcott, Co-founder and Chairman of boutique hotel collection Mr & Mrs Smith in Asia Pacific. Simon has invested in his private capacity and becomes CEO of LUXE City Guides, while fellow investor Julian Knights, Founding Partner of Ironbridge Capital, will take on the role of Chairman.

Simon takes the reins with an incomparable travel industry pedigree, including seven years as Global Publisher of the world’s largest travel publishing empire, Lonely Planet; Julian is a seasoned investor with international experience across media, luxury goods and other lifestyle sectors. Together, they bring a syndicate committed to realising the full potential of LUXE through new investment in digital content and services, and the rapidly growing outbound travel markets of South East Asia and, most importantly, China.

“It's a huge privilege to be involved in LUXE City Guides – they are the best travel truffle-hunters in the world, and laugh-out-loud smart in the process.” – Simon Westcott

With the formation of a new LUXE Editorial Board, former Publishing Editor Grant Thatcher will continue to be closely involved with the brand throughout 2014 and beyond.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to be considered the style barometer for the travel and lifestyle cognoscenti, but I believe with Simon and his team’s extraordinary expertise LUXE City Guides is entering an unparalleled new Golden Age.”– Grant Thatcher

LUXE City Guides begins this next era with a renewed commitment to new destinations. In May, LUXE Kuala Lumpur will be the first new guide to be released in over two years, followed by a trio of South American beauties – LUXE Buenos Aires, LUXE Rio de Janeiro and LUXE São Paulo - in October.

The fun will really begin, though, as LUXE moves to a radically increased updating cycle in the second half of 2014, streaming monthly updates across its near 40 destinations to a new-look website and app. “Fabulous curation and unparalleled lifestyle currency will allow LUXE City Guides to really live up to its potential as the ultimate ‘pocket concierge’,” said Westcott.  

Longer-term aspirations include the provision of proprietary LUXE services and partnerships with other travel providers, offering LUXE travellers a fully bespoke trip-planning service. Taking this newly expanded product and services portfolio into the fast-changing market of mainland China is also part of the near-term LUXE plan.

LUXE leaves the mediocre, touristic blah to the other guides and goes straight to the jugular of a destination, so whether you have a few hours or a few days, LUXE really is all you need.

About LUXE City Guides:

Famous for their super-svelte format and snappy reviews, LUXE City Guides are free from unnecessary padding, photos and graphics, leaving you with curated, highly opinionated quickfire speed reads from resident editors and contributors who REALLY know their city, so you can spend time enjoying your trip, not buried in a book. Packed from concertina cover to cover with snazz, snark and snap, if it's in LUXE, it's IN.

Want more from LUXE? Please contact Sarah-Jane Radcliffe at LUXE City Guides for information on products, custom publications and syndication opportunities.

E: sarah-jane@luxecityguides.com / p: +852 2819 8592 / m: +852 9361 0055