Goboony and Yescapa are permanently joining forces as they seek to revolutionize the outdoor travel industry.
The peer-to-peer RV sharing marketplaces announced that they are merging and creating what Goboony is calling “Europe’s largest online motor home sharing platform.” The pair added they have begun a round of additional fundraising after receiving a recent investment of €7 million.
Mark de Vos, CEO of Goboony, which was founded in 2015 and is based in the United Kingdom, said that the companies have a longer track of consolidation in mind.
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“As we unite our forces, we envision consolidating multiple companies in the motor home rental industry, connecting several amazing brands and functionalities to one gateway in the coming years,” de Vos said. “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.”
The news comes on the heels of a growth period, according to Goboony’s release, which cites a 2022 sales growth of more than 50% and “record-breaking summer seasons.” The merger will mean the Goboony-Yescapa platform will include 30,000 vehicles in 10,000 cities across Europe.
Increased demand for motor home travel following the COVID-19 pandemic led to the decision to merge the two companies, which share a vision.
“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,” said Benoit Panel, CEO of France-based Yescapa.
To kick off their permanent union, the companies have created a holding company that will serve as the “ruling structure” incorporating co-founders de Vos, Foppe Mijnlieff, Panel and Andrien Pinson. Sergio Branco, who has demonstrated experience in merger strategy with his past at Homeaway (Expedia) and Instapro (ANGI), will join as the group’s CEO.
Panel called the merger “transformative,” adding, “we are thrilled to shape the future of outdoor tourism for unforgettable camper-van adventures and increase by a lot the value provided to our community."