As a growing cohort in the workplace, Gen Z travel preferences should be integrated into planning and policy.
With Gen Z due to make up 30% of the global workforce by 2030, it’s no wonder that Gen Z travel trends are already making an impact. Born between 1997 and 2012, this tech-savvy generation are digital natives. They’re also environmentally aware and value unique, authentic cultural experiences, with many choosing to extend their business trips for deeper enrichment.
Increasingly, businesses will need to consider Gen Z business travel wants and needs when dictating corporate policy. This impacts talent acquisition, with 54% of Gen Z reporting business travel opportunities as an important factor when choosing a job.
We’ve rounded up a selection of the latest Gen Z travel stats to identify core trends and motivations, so that your business can stay ahead of the curve.
Gen Z workers are frequent, enthusiastic business travellers.
1. The majority have travelled for business in the past few years. Up to 67% report an increase in corporate travel frequency, with just 17% travelling less. (Skift)
2. Most Gen Z professionals enjoy business travel. Over two-thirds (70%) state that they look forward to travelling for work. (Business Travel News)
3. Gen Z workers value business travel as a career opportunity. Many report corporate travel as a driver for career progression, with 94% believing it’s important to build client and colleague relationships. And 65% of those surveyed believe business travel will play an important role throughout their career. (Travel Weekly)
Gen Z business travellers are comfortable with online booking platforms, and they value a personalised, user-friendly experience.
4. Many travellers prefer to book direct. While 62% of millennials prefer booking accommodations through online travel agencies, over half of Gen Z prefer to book directly through the accommodation provider’s website. (Travheir)
5. They prefer to book hotels online. The majority (83%) of Gen Z travellers prefer to book their business hotel online, valuing the option to swiftly compare different hotel room amenities and locations to personalise their work trip. (SilverDoor)
6. They prefer to book flights early: When booking flights, over half (53%) of Gen Z travellers do so at least 30 days in advance to secure cheaper fares and select seats. (Skift)
7. Compared to earlier generations, they’re brand-neutral: Not only are Gen Z travellers less likely to take part in loyalty programmes, but they’re also more likely to use apps that allow them to select from multiple hotel brand and airlines such as Tripeden.com for Business. (Skift)
8. Hotels are the preferred accommodation type for business travel: The majority of Gen Z travellers across the US (60%), UK (70%) and Germany (62%) chose hotels over other options like B&Bs, holiday rentals or private residences. (Skift)
Gen Z workers have grown up surrounded by technology, making them the most connected generation. In fact, 62% of adults under 29 years old report they are almost constantly online. Online and mobile bookings are second nature, but increasingly Gen Z is turning to AI tools for improved efficiency and customisation.
9. Wi-Fi is the most sought-after hotel amenity for Gen Z. Younger professionals value a reliable connection more than other generations, with one study showing that 57% value Wi-Fi access over other business hotel amenities like free breakfast and gyms. (Hopper)
10. They have a high comfort level with AI: Of Gen Z workers surveyed, 44% stated that they felt ‘comfortable’ or ‘very comfortable’ using AI-powered travel services, and among Millennials, the comfort level is even higher at 57%. The majority of Gen Z professionals (53%) preferred receiving personalised travel recommendations from AI tools like ChatGPT, MindTrip, and Vacay. The highest value is placed on receiving activity recommendations (16%) and destination suggestions (17%) from virtual chatbots and itinerary builders. (Skift)
11. Traditional hotel check-in is still preferred: Although Gen Z business travellers are comfortable using digital tools for trip planning and preparation, 60% still prefer a traditional check-in method at the hotel’s reception desk, compared to 20% preferring mobile check-in. (Skift)
12. Travellers prefer live assistance during travel disruption: During delays, cancellations, or other forms of disruption, two-thirds of Gen Z travellers prefer live assistance over a chatbot or another virtual tool. (Business Travel News)
Growing up in the shadow of Covid-19 and climate change, it’s no wonder that social and environmental sustainability are of key interest to Gen Z. This interest in sustainability is apparent when looking at Gen Z travel stats.
13. The environment is a top priority in working life. Not only do 70% of Gen Z jobseekers consider a company’s environmental policies before accepting a job, nearly 1 in 4 actively research corporate sustainability policies. And while Gen Z professionals enjoy travelling for work, 89% worry about their carbon footprint while doing so. For businesses, this is something to consider when drafting a corporate travel policy. (Deloitte, Travel Weekly)
14. Gen Z professionals are open to slower travel methods. Nearly two-thirds, or 60%, of those surveyed stated they’d be open to options like rail if this reduced their business travel carbon footprint. This increased to 75% if their company actively supported them with clear policies encouraging low-carbon travel. (Travel Weekly)
15. Public transport is the preferred method of getting around. When travelling around cities on business trips, 67% of Gen Z workers prefer buses, metro and trains over cars as they not only are more sustainable, but offer an authentic local experience. (American Express)
16. Younger travellers look for sustainability initiatives in travel loyalty programmes. Over one-third reported that they’d be more likely to book travel if the loyalty programme offered sustainability incentives and rewards. (PMG)
Gen Z workers are interested in more than just a salary; they want meaningful experiences, opportunities for development, and a satisfactory work-life balance.
17. Gen Z workers express a high interest in digital nomadism. Up to 31% of those surveyed would consider temporarily relocating to another country to combine remote work with further exploration. (Skift)
18. They’re more likely to extend business trips: Gen Z workers are 87% more likely than their older counterparts to extend trips to work remotely, and 91% more likely to extend a business trip for leisure purposes. (Business Travel Magazine)
19. They highly rate flexibility in the workplace: This generation is less likely to work at home, preferring to carry out professional duties while travelling or in co-working spaces. McKinsey research also shows that Gen Z ranks location flexibility as their top reason to stay in a job. (Forrester, McKinsey)
20. Gen Z is interested in experiencing adventures during business travel. Whether this involves high adrenaline activities, long treks or cultural immersion in a far-flung destination, 56% report wanting an adventure experience. (Tripeden.com)
21. Authentic culinary experiences are a motivator. Nearly a third (32%) of Gen Z travellers rate this factor as ‘very important’ when planning a trip, and all-paid dining options are top of the list when it comes to business traveller wants. (Skift)
22. Gen Z travellers turn to social media for inspiration. A reported 45% look to influencers to help plan their itineraries, while 57% use social media channels like TikTok and Instagram to shape travel decisions. (Travheir, Skift)
While they share many similarities, what are key differences between Gen Z and millennial business travel behaviours?
23. Millennials are more likely to participate in loyalty programmes. Not only are they more likely to redeem airline loyalty points, but 71% report participating in airline loyalty programmes compared to just 42% of Gen Z travellers. Additionally, 59% of Gen Z travellers do not participate in any travel brand or credit card loyalty programme. (Skift, Hopper)
24. Millennials use business travel planning apps more frequently. Both groups have high technology adoption rates overall. However, when it comes to business trip planning, 55% of millennials report using travel apps and digital guides ‘daily’ or ‘several times a week’ as part of the planning process. While Gen Z uses the same tools, they do so with less frequency. Just 42% of Gen Z report daily or frequent travel planner app use in the run-up to a business trip, preferring occasional app use. (Skift)
This depends on the duration of the trip. Gen Z travellers are more likely to travel on extended trips of more than 10 days, while millennials take more short-term trips (31%) compared to 22% of Gen Z business travellers.
This highlights the difference in attitudes to remote work by each life stage. Gen Z workers often have fewer lifestyle and family constraints, which means they’re more likely to want to extend business journeys and work while travelling (39%).
When it comes to business travel, Gen Z and millennial workers are aligned. They also have similar motivators for work trips including flexibility, wellbeing, and a sense of purpose. Yet in the general workplace, millennials place a slightly higher value on salary, while Gen Z prioritises a meaningful work experience.
Understanding Gen Z travel preferences can help industry leaders tailor their solutions more effectively with a strong social media presence, use of AI tools, and personalised touch to customer service.
For business owners, these trends highlight the importance of flexible working and travel policies. Consider hybrid or remote models of working that leave room for bleisure trips and a flexible, improved work-life balance.
For travel bookers, provide Gen Z employees with autonomy, giving them the option to book direct according to their preferences – particularly ensuring that there are sustainable options when it comes to travel methods and hotels.
Integrating the right digital services into your workspace better suits Gen Z travel preferences for booking autonomy and customisation. For example, with business travel management solutions like Tripeden.com for Business, workers aren’t tied to a single hotel brand. Instead, they’ll be able to explore over 3 million properties from one platform. That way, travel managers will be able to give Gen Z business travellers the choices they prefer.
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