Lonely Planet has been voted the 8th most powerful brand in the Asia-Pacific region in Brandchannel website`s 2005 Readers Choice Awards for Brand of the Year. The awards measure the brands that had the most impact on readers during 2005, and were voted for online during November and December 2005.

Lonely Planet has consistently ranked in the top ten most powerful Asia-Pacific brands since the awards began in 2001. The number one brand for Asia-Pacific was Sony, while Google was first choice for brand impact globally.

Established in Australia in 1973, Lonely Planet is the world`s most successful independent travel information company. The company has been providing travellers with compelling, reliable and independent travel advice for over 30 years. With offices in Australia (head office), the UK and the USA, Lonely Planet books are sold in over 200 countries via a global distribution network. Lonely Planet publishes over 600 titles and more than 6.5 million Lonely Planet books are sold annually.

Confirming its commitment to the Asia-Pacific region, Lonely Planet also recently annouced a new publishing partnership with SDX Joint Publishing Company, one of China`s most respected publishing houses. The first set of Lonely Planet guidebooks translated into simplified Chinese script will be launched in June 2006. Launch titles will include guidebooks to key outbound destinations such as Australia, Germany and Britain. The new Chinese guidebooks will be available in Xinhua and private bookstores in major cities throughout mainland China.