Exclusive: National Geographic Enters Hotel Business With Unique Lodges Collection


Skift Take

You many not be able to get much more old-school media than National Geographic, but the brand has innovated in ways that make it less vulnerable to the ebb and flow of advertising dollars than many of its younger peers.
The National Geographic Society will announce tomorrow the launch of National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, a curated collection of 24 boutique hotel properties on six continents. It joins a suite of travel products from the brand that includes Expeditions, Adventures, and National Geographic Traveler magazine, among other offerings. With the exception of the media properties, the brand's existing products are aimed mainly at experiential group travel, rather than independent ones. "The travel business is thriving," says Lynn Cutter, Executive Vice President, Travel and Licensing, for National Geographic. "We've seen a big growth in independent travel, so along with Unique Lodges we're launching Private Expeditions, independent getaways that in many cases include these lodges." "We are aiming to be the go-to place for authentic, meaningful, and