In late 1997, Morris Communications Corporation purchased Best Read Guide, a quality tourist magazine in some of the country's best tourist destinations. At the time of purchase, there were 17 franchise editions being published in seven states. Best Read Guide then underwent a huge transformation, with new markets opening all over the United States.

Morris Communications also entered the travel book publishing and distribution market in 1997 by acquiring The Globe-Pequot Press. In late 1997, Morris purchased Gateway Books, which was absorbed into the Globe-Pequot operation. The Globe-Pequot division includes more than 80 travel titles covering popular destinations throughout the world. Also during 1997, the company acquired The MILEPOST travel guide.

The company also publishes such high-quality magazines as Alaska Magazine, Savannah Magazine, Augusta Magazine, Athens Magazine and Destination Alaska.

In its first international venture, Morris Communications bought London-based Cadogan Guides in early 1998 and set up Morris Publications Ltd., a UK subsidiary in London. In late 1998, Morris purchased three tourist publications in London. Also in 1998, the BestReadGuide.com Web site was established to support the print version.

Sporting a vast array of online travel content spanning 41 locations, BestReadGuide.com became an instant hit with travelers around the world. In particular, Ask the Guide, a service provided by the site to answer travel-related questions, became a huge success.

In late 2000, the Excursia plan to unite the companies' diverse travel interests was approved by Morris senior management. To accomplish this, the BestReadGuide.com Web team underwent a metamorphosis and became Excursia.com. By advancing to the Excursia brand, we now can use the extensive network of travel-related magazines and books owned by Morris while still supporting Best Read Guide as its online publisher.