Internet search titan Google has acquired restaurant review firm Zagat for an undisclosed amount.
Zagat, founded by Tim and Nina Zagat in 1979, provides people with a democratised, authentic and comprehensive view of where to eat, drink, stay, shop and play worldwide, based on millions of reviews and ratings.
“Google has acquired Zagat. Moving forward, Zagat will be a cornerstone of our local offering — delighting people with their impressive array of reviews, ratings and insights, while enabling people everywhere to find extraordinary experiences around the corner and around the world,” the online behemoth announced on its official blog yesterday.
However, the company has not disclosed the financial details of the transaction.
The Zagat purchase is Google’s second buyout this month, which takes the total number of acquisition by the Internet firm this year so far to 20.
Google plans to add Zagat’s online reviews to its Google Maps service and its basic search results.
“I’m incredibly excited to collaborate with Zagat to bring the power of Google search and Google Maps to their products and users and to bring their innovation, trusted reputation and wealth of experience to our users,” Google said.
Zagat said, “By combining their content, resources and platforms, this dynamic duo plans to optimise the potential of the Zagat brand while offering new ways for consumers to express their opinions and make informed decisions.”