2026
9
US Gen Z vs Millennial Travelers 2026
2026-06-19T14:01:46+00:00
REP88092D8E_C8C3_457E_892D_8EC8C3657ED7
3695
194224
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en_GB
Despite mounting economic pressures due to inflation and the Iran War, 89% of Millennials and 95% of Gen Z plan on taking a leisure trip in the next 12 months.
US
Travel
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US Gen Z vs Millennial Travelers 2026

Despite mounting economic pressures due to inflation and the Iran War, 89% of Millennials and 95% of Gen Z plan on taking a leisure trip in the next 12 months.

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  1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    • What you need to know
    • Outlook for Gen Z and Millennial travel
    • Opportunities
    • Target wellness travel along lifestage, not monolithic “younger travelers”
    • Focus on community to build rapport with Gen Z travelers
    • Market to Millennials’ minds while accommodating their ageing bodies
  2. THE MARKET

    • Pessimism and higher prices can curtail travel spending for some time
    • Graph 1: Consumer Sentiment Index, 2023-26
    • Spiking travel prices will cause Gen Zs and Millennials to scale back options
    • Job market fuels Gen Z’s worries
    • Graph 2: unemployment and underemployment rates, 2022-26
    • Lower birthrates mean Gen Z will be less family vacation-focused
    • Graph 3: live births (000), 2020-24
    • Pricing pressure and credit card debt can make travelers rethink plans
    • Graph 4: credit card debt balance, 2019-26
    • Gen Z may be on the precipice of defining themselves as travelers
  3. THE CONSUMER

    • Travel plans
    • Costs could alter existing international, family trip plans
    • Graph 5: vacations planned in the next 12 months, by generation, 2026
    • Improve affordability for Millennials, provide guidance and assurances for Gen Z
    • Graph 6: negative effects on travel plans, by generation, 2026
    • Provide financial options for the trips Gen Z are willing to take on debt for
    • Graph 7: attitudes toward travel debt – any agree, by generation, 2026
    • Educate Gen Zs on local discovery to help make travel happen
    • Graph 8: causes of changes to travel plans, by generation, 2026
    • Motivations and preferences
    • Position travel as a way to achieve goals, not to run from one’s stressors
    • Graph 9: vacation motivations, by generation, 2026
    • Brands across verticals have options in appealing to Gen Zs and Millennials
    • Indulge Older Millennials transitioning out of their “roughing it” phase
    • Graph 10: vacation preferences, by generation (Millennials split out), 2026
    • Millennial non-parents’ definitions go deeper
    • Influences and barriers
    • Brands must cement an authoritative rapport as they age to stay relevant in the future
    • Graph 11: influences on travel decisions, by generation, 2026
    • Interweave partnerships with actionable travel information
    • Dovetail travel offerings with Gen Z’s desire to express themselves
    • Graph 12: attitudes toward travel values – any agree, by generation, 2026
    • Explore Minnesota highlights values, not venues
    • Simplifying planning and booking can make Gen Z feel better about spending
    • Graph 13: top three barriers to taking a vacation – net any rank, by generation, 2026
    • Attitudes toward travel
    • Be clear to Gen Z how wellness travel benefits them and their time
    • Graph 14: attitudes toward wellness travel – any agree, by generation, 2026
    • Shou Sugi Ban House markets well to wellness, luxury-minded Gen Z
    • Connect activities with Gen Z’s social needs
    • Graph 15: attitudes toward travel activities – any agree, by generation, 2026
    • Gen Z may welcome more direction in event discovery, but will Google let them see the options?
  4. MINTEL TRENDS IMPACTING GEN Z AND MILLENNIAL TRAVELERS

    • Total Wellbeing
    • The Affection Deficit
    • Anti-Algorithm
    • Thriving with Age
  5. APPENDIX

    • Report scope
    • The consumer
    • Consumer research questions
    • Consumer research methodology
    • Consumer research methodology, cont.
    • US generation groups
    • Abbreviations
Download Report Summary

"Millennial habits are set, but changing with age. Meanwhile, the economy is poised to cause Gen Z to define their travel identity for the future."

Mike Gallinari, Senior Travel & Leisure Analyst

Mike Gallinari, Senior Travel & Leisure Analyst

Despite mounting economic pressures due to inflation and the Iran War, 89% of Millennials and 95% of Gen Z plan on taking a leisure trip in the next 12 months. This, however, will likely lead them to spend less per-trip, and adjust the logistics of their travels while still trying to achieve their underlying travel goals.

Millennials are largely a known commodity within travel. The shock of the Great Recession during much of the generation’s early professional careers led them to value experiences over material things, which prioritized not only travel but immersion and authenticity. These still hold for the generation, but while their digital literacy let them take advantage of the emergence of OTAs and budget airlines, the tradeoff in the form of hardship experienced has become more acute. They want to take it a little slower, but still impart their travel values to their kids.

Gen Z may be similarly shaped if the current economic situation is prolonged and worse. Tech like AI is now as much a liability as an asset as they feel overwhelmed by the volume and spuriousness of information. This pressures them to make the “right” decision and scrutinize the value of travel, with wellness rising in importance. The focus on value and wellbeing will likely be defining characteristics of Gen Z in the future.

This Report Looks at the Following Areas:

  • Economic factors affecting Gen Z and Millennial travelers
  • How Gen Z’s identity as travelers is currently being written
  • The ways in which these groups are altering their plans amid economic conditions
  • Motivations and travel preferences for each generation
  • The factors influencing and impeding travel decisions
  • Attitudes toward travel that help explain Gen Z and Millennial thinking
  • Trends that shape Gen Z and Millennial travel

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