Yescapa and Goboony, two major players in the campervan rental industry, have announced a multi-million euro merger that will revolutionise outdoor tourism. This transformative union creates Europe’s largest online motorhome sharing platform, with 30,000 vehicles spread across Europe, positioning them among the top three companies globally. Founded in 2012 and 2015, both platforms share a passion for adventure and a vision to make everyone experience the ultimate freedom of campervan travel. Yescapa and Goboony are now preparing a new round of fundraising, after another recent investment of €7 million led by iXO Private Equity and existing shareholders.
With record-breaking summer seasons and impressive 2022 sales growth of over 50%, this merger propels both companies forward in the European and global markets: “As we unite our forces, we envision consolidating multiple companies in the motorhome rental industry, connecting several amazing brands and functionalities to one gateway in the coming years. This merger is a game-changer for anyone who enjoys outdoor holidays, as it will make it much easier to plan and book a hassle-free getaway all over Europe,” said Mark de Vos, CEO of Goboony.
The decision to merge Yescapa and Goboony happened as a response to the increasing demand for motorhome travel post-COVID and to better serve the booming demand for slow and local travel close to nature. Overall it was driven by a shared goal of growth and a vision to shape the future of outdoor tourism.
“Being in close contact since 2018, the friendship between Yescapa and Goboony reinforces trust in this exciting journey together, built upon shared values as our solid foundation. With this transformative merger, we are thrilled to shape the future of outdoor tourism for unforgettable campervan adventures and increase by a lot the value provided to our community,” added Benoit Panel, CEO of Yescapa.
By combining their strengths, the companies aim to provide an extensive and future-proof offering to their customers and elevate the motorhome sharing experience to new heights. As a starting point to materialise this union is the creation of a holding company that will be the ruling structure for both Yescapa and Goboony. All 4 co-founders, Mark de Vos, Foppe Mijnlieff, Benoit Panel and Adrien Pinson will be joined by Sergio Branco. He will serve as the CEO of the group. Sergio’s solid experience in mergers, acquisitions and business strategy, at Homeaway (Expedia) or Instapro (ANGI) will be instrumental in ensuring the success of the newly merged entity.
The roadmap of this horizontal merger includes a multi-year strategic outlook that prioritises seamless collaboration, common management techniques, finance strategy and data analysis. Both Yescapa and Goboony are committed to delivering the best products and services globally by eventually building a unique technical platform operated by a talented international team.
According to the companies, this ambitious move is just the beginning, as Yescapa and Goboony plan to expand further into new countries and make outdoor travel more widespread and accessible. With a deep sense of responsibility, they are committed to raising awareness, sharing tips and setting vacation standards when it comes to sustainable travel alternatives. Together, they aim to inspire the global campervan community, inviting everyone to experience the freedom of travel while cherishing the beauty of European roads and landscapes.
Testament to both companies’ growth has also been the successful acquisitions they have made in recent years. Yescapa’s acquisition of German SHAREaCAMPER, Spanish AreaVan and French locationdecampingcardeparticulier.com and Goboony acquiring assets from Camptoo, active in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Belgium.
Read the orginal article: https://www.eu-startups.com/2023/08/utrecht-based-goboony-and-bordeaux-based-yescapa-merge-to-become-europes-largest-campervan-rental-platform/
