Locu, maker of the popular menu dashboard for local merchants, today announces partnerships with TripAdvisor, the world’s largest travel site with more than 60 million unique monthly visitors, and Citysearch, the leading online local guide that enables consumers to stay connected with access to neighborhood restaurants, bars, shopping, beauty and professional services. These partnerships are being rolled out in the coming weeks, each adding significant consumer exposure for Locu merchants.

Two months ago, Locu announced and launched a partnership with OpenTable and, according to CEO Rene Reinsberg, has seen “hundreds of publishers, developers and companies tap into its real-time repository of local business information” since the official API launch last September.

“As the world’s largest travel site, TripAdvisor provides its users with the most up-to-date restaurant information, and we are excited to partner with Locu on this mission,” says Ravi Mehta, TripAdvisor’s senior director of consumer product. “Our users will be able to browse full menus, daily changing specials, and wine lists for their favorite local restaurants.”

“Citysearch is focused on providing valuable local business content to our consumers and adding real-time menus on thousands of restaurants nationwide will help users select the best restaurant to satisfy their cravings,” said Harpreet Ahluwalia, Senior Director of Product, Citysearch. “We are excited to partner with Locu to ensure our content is fresh and updated on a timely basis.”

Distribution via its extensive network of partner sites and applications is only one component of Locu’s offering to local merchants. Locu provides design tools and customizable templates to create beautiful menus for restaurant websites, mobile sites, Facebook pages and even for printing. The intuitive interface has been designed so that no technical skills are required and after the one-time setup, all menu updates appear instantaneously everywhere and are promoted and distributed via Locu’s API to partners.

Research shows that menus are a defining factor in customer decision-making. “Menus are currency for our customers; getting them in front of their patrons is critical,” says Rene Reinsberg, CEO at Locu. As expectations of web and mobile continue to grow, small businesses struggle to find the time and resources necessary to keep up. “These partnerships make it simple to go from dish to distribution. In addition to our existing services, Locu customers now have a complete, easy-to-use menu publishing tool and the ability to move to real-time menu updates, syncing online and offline.”

Locu’s basic service is free to restaurants, with additional features, services and support available for a low monthly subscription. More than 10,000 local merchants have signed up for the service in the last three months.

About TripAdvisor

TripAdvisor® is the world's largest travel site*, enabling travelers to plan and have the perfect trip. TripAdvisor offers trusted advice from real travelers and a wide variety of travel choices and planning features with seamless links to booking tools. TripAdvisor branded sites make up the largest travel community in the world, with more than 60 million unique monthly visitors*, and over 75 million reviews and opinions. The sites operate in 30 countries worldwide, including China under daodao.com. TripAdvisor also includes TripAdvisor for Business, a dedicated division that provides the tourism industry access to millions of monthly TripAdvisor visitors.

TripAdvisor, Inc. (NASDAQ: TRIP) manages and operates websites under 19 other travel media brands, and together the sites attract more than 74 million unique monthly visitors**. TripAdvisor, Inc.'s travel media brands include www.airfarewatchdog.com, www.bookingbuddy.com, www.cruisecritic.com, www.everytrail.com, www.familyvacationcritic.com, www.flipkey.com, www.holidaylettings.co.uk, www.holidaywatchdog.com, www.independenttraveler.com, www.onetime.com, www.seatguru.com, www.sniqueaway.com, www.smartertravel.com, www.tingo.com, www.travel-library.com, www.travelpod.com, www.virtualtourist.com, www.whereivebeen.com, and www.kuxun.cn.

*Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor Sites, Worldwide, July 2012

**Source: comScore Media Metrix for TripAdvisor, Inc. and its subsidiaries, Worldwide, July 2012

© 2013 TripAdvisor, Inc. All rights reserved.

About Citysearch

Citysearch is the leading online local guide that enables consumers to stay connected with access to neighborhood restaurants, bars, shopping, beauty and professional services across every zipcode in the US. When you are on the road, Citysearch offers mobile applications for iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry, Android and Palm. Citysearch is a property of CityGrid Media, the online media company that connects web and mobile publishers with local advertising organizations by linking them through CityGrid, its local content and advertising network. CityGrid Media is an operating business of IAC. For more information, visit www.citysearch.com.

About Locu

Locu's vision is to better connect local merchants with consumers. Locu reduces the cost and headache of menu and price list updates and helps local merchants build business by staying connected to current and prospective customers. Locu's API gives developers access to the world's largest real-time, structured repository of local business offerings data. The data comes directly from merchants using Locu’s dashboard at Locu.com and Locu's patent-pending technology platform that digitizes and structures real-world content. Locu was started by MIT graduates and is backed by General Catalyst Capital Partners, Lowercase, Lightbank, SV Angel and angel investors. Locu has offices in San Francisco, CA and Cambridge, MA.