Boating Industry Intelligence You Can Profit From
OAKVILLE, Ontario, Canada – The magazine arm of Torstar’s Metroland Printing Publishing & Distributing Ltd., Halton Division, Formula Media Group, has acquired PORTS Cruising Guides, the company reported in a recent statement.
Available at marine stores and boat shows and by direct order, PORTS guides are published in three editions: Lake Ontario & the Thousand Islands; Georgian Bay, the North Channel & Lake Huron; and The Trent-Severn Waterway & Lake Simcoe. In addition to boating and navigation information, labeled aerial photographs, and cruising tips, each includes information for tourists — local street maps; essential phone numbers; directions to banks, supermarkets and pharmacies; plus listings on eating out, shopping, local attractions, things to do with the kids and special local events.
Over the past few years, PORTS has grown exponentially, said founding publisher Steve Manley of Toronto-based Overleaf Design Ltd, and he realized it had reached a plateau.
“I could continue to publish PORTS at its current level, but the myriad details of management were preventing what I really wanted to do: expand into new areas, and build up the PORTS brand,” explained Manley. “Metroland has the needed infrastructure. They also have the access to the strong boating tourism market through their papers and magazines, and with Formula, of course, a long and strong reputation with boaters. In other words — a very good fit for PORTS, and the opportunity for PORTS to grow and expand as it deserves.”
Established in 1969 and acquired by Metroland in late 2003, Formula’s boating division includes consumer book Boatguide and trade title Boating Business. Under contract it also produces the Toronto International Boat Show Guide and Vancouver International Boat Show Guide.
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