Secaucus, N.J.—Northstar Travel Media is up for sale, according to a person familiar with the situation.
Northstar’s portfolio includes M&C (Meetings and Conventions), T&E, Travel Weekly, Travel Age West and Web sites hotelandtravelindex.com and omfg.com (Official Meeting Facilities Guide). It also includes Business Travel Planner 24, an online resource for business travel and hotel planning professionals, and Star Service Online, which offers commentary on 9,000 hotels worldwide.
“It’s a difficult time to bring a company like this to market because of the downturn in the economy and travel,” said an industry observer who asked not to be identified. He declined to estimate how much the company might sell for.
Private equity fund Boston Ventures bought Northstar from Reed Elsevier in 2001. “I’m not surprised that Boston Ventures is prepared to exit,” said one b-to-b media executive who also asked not to be identified. “But I think the timing is interesting giving the current market in financing.”
—Matthew Schwartz
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