Tech giant Google has announced it will acquire the highly-regarded travel and food rating service Zagat.
According to a post on the official Google blog, the company will provide access to Google Maps and search to Zagat services as well as use Zagat's reviews and other content to beef up their local offerings.
"With Zagat, we gain a world-class team that has more experience in consumer based-surveys, recommendations and reviews than anyone else in the industry," says Marissa Mayer, Google's vice president of Local, Maps and Location Services, in the post.
Zagat was founded in 1979, and has grown to become one of the most trusted resources for reviews on restaurants, hotels and other attractions.
"The merger of our resources, expertise and platforms with those of Google will give us the opportunity to greatly expand," reads a statement from Zagat co-founders Nina and Tim Zagat. "We have spent enough time with Google senior management to know that they fully share our belief in user-generated content, and our commitment to accuracy and fairness in providing consumers with the information necessary to make smart decisions about where to eat, travel and shop."
Along with Maps, Google also offers the social-based Places where users can rate and share businesses.
According to a post on the official Google blog, the company will provide access to Google Maps and search to Zagat services as well as use Zagat's reviews and other content to beef up their local offerings.
"With Zagat, we gain a world-class team that has more experience in consumer based-surveys, recommendations and reviews than anyone else in the industry," says Marissa Mayer, Google's vice president of Local, Maps and Location Services, in the post.
Zagat was founded in 1979, and has grown to become one of the most trusted resources for reviews on restaurants, hotels and other attractions.
"The merger of our resources, expertise and platforms with those of Google will give us the opportunity to greatly expand," reads a statement from Zagat co-founders Nina and Tim Zagat. "We have spent enough time with Google senior management to know that they fully share our belief in user-generated content, and our commitment to accuracy and fairness in providing consumers with the information necessary to make smart decisions about where to eat, travel and shop."
Along with Maps, Google also offers the social-based Places where users can rate and share businesses.
