Solstice Media adds leading travel publisher to growing stable
Solstice Media has acquired a major shareholding in Australia’s number one independent travel media publisher, adding to its growing portfolio of quality titles.
Solstice Media, the publisher of InDaily, SALIFE, The New Daily, CityMag and more has purchased an 80 per cent stake in Australian Traveller Media.
It gives the independent media company a major stake in the number one independent title in the Australian travel media market. The remaining 20 per cent will be purchased over time.
Australian Traveller Media is the publisher of Australian Traveller and International Traveller magazines and digital titles.
The acquisition follows Solstice Media – founded in Adelaide 21 years ago by managing director Paul Hamra – acquiring The New Daily in 2024 from Industry Superfunds and the 7am Podcast from Schwartz Media earlier this year.
Australian Traveller magazine was established by Quentin Long and Nigel Herbert over 20 years ago to provide inspirational content for Australians looking to travel within Australia.
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It has since expanded to include International Traveller magazine for Australians travelling overseas, and has broadened its digital offerings for both titles.
The publisher has a combined print, digital and social audience of more than 3 million per quarter.
Hamra said Solstice Media had been looking to broaden and grow its offering of categories and types of media products for its existing news audience of more than 2 million readers nationally.
“In those categories, we started by looking for companies and products who have shared values with Solstice – based on independence and quality journalism,” Hamra said.
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“Travel is still a very strong category among every demographic – with audiences seeking out not only information about where to travel but also what to do around their own locations – everything from ticket pricing to experiences, trends and the best of each location.
“Australian Traveller Media is a profitable travel publishing company operated by two industry professionals who have been working with Solstice Media on campaigns over the past year, we’ve got to know the team and really like their approach.”
Australian Travel Media will continue to operate as business-as-usual post-acquisition, Hamra said.
“But now with the benefit of being part of a bigger publishing ecosystem and growth options with additional resources and audience access,” he said.
Australian Traveller Media co-founder Quentin Long said he and his business partner Nigel Herbert “had a strict criteria for any potential partner” ever since the businesses began in 2005.
“They had to be great for all stakeholders which we defined as our readers, our staff, our advertisers and all shareholders,” Long said.
“Solstice Media met all these criteria and then some.
“To be part of their wider ecosystem is such a great opportunity for our brands and people.
“Having worked together for 12 months we were able to establish the important alignment of values which was a bonus. It may be a cliché but it is truly a goldilocks deal for us and Solstice.”
