WeRoad: from 200,000 young travellers in Europe to strategic expansion in the US

This is precisely why for 2030 WeRoad is already looking beyond the borders of the Old Continent. "We don't yet have any numbers in hand' in terms of targets for the next few years, 'because we want to maintain a certain flexibility in planning,' says the CEO, 'but our priority is certainly international expansion, with the United States in the lead'. For the moment, however, Italia remains the 'most important' market in terms of revenues. In 2026 it should in fact 'still account for two thirds of the business'.

For this financial year, the goal is therefore 'to increase margins in this area, since it has been profitable for a couple of years already', but 'in the long run,' D'Amico specifies, 'it is normal that it will no longer be our first market.

At the head of the group for four years, after 20 years' experience at the Dutch travel agency Booking.com, the manager has already led Weroad's entry into the English, Spanish, French and German-speaking markets between 2021 and 2022. These are all booming segments, where the goal for the coming months is to 'approach breakeven', even in the face of the 'large marketing investments' needed to make the company known.

In particular, the travel company wants to strengthen its position in Germany: 'it is our second most important market,' explains the CEO, 'both in terms of general numbers and because it is fairly virgin territory' for the group road travel sector. France also offers several opportunities, since 'it has some competitors, but small ones'.

Instead, the UK, which is a 'very important' segment, suffers from the presence of 'several mature players' in the group travel sector. However, it can be a springboard for expansion into other English-language markets such as 'Australia, Canada and especially the United States, which alone could be worth as much as all of Europe,' says D'Amico. "The other geography we want to go towards is South America," continues the CEO. "We already have a Spanish-language site that can serve the area.

On the other hand, WeRoad's growth project can count on the support of 'many Italian investors'. These include H14, the holding company managed by Barbara, Eleonora and Luigi Berlusconi, which was the lead investor in the 18 million financing round launched by the company in 2023. Private investors such as the Grassi family (of the E80 group) and the Rovati family (Rottapharm) also participated in the transaction.

However, the majority of the shares in the travel company's holding company (amounting to 'about one third') currently remain in the hands of Paolo De Nadai's One Day, which also holds a personal stake.

In order to continue on its development path, however, the company is also evaluating the stock market, which could be an option that will be on the table in a few years'.

The listing 'is possible,' explains D'Amico, 'but it is not something we are preparing for now. As of today it is not in sight'. The priority, the CEO reiterates, 'is to continue to grow in Europe and achieve expansion in the United States'.

Once these goals have been achieved, "we will see what will be the best opportunity to have additional resources to go faster".