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Fortune
Fortune
Nick Filatov

Millennials invented the experience economy and Gen Z is reinventing travel itself

gen z (Credit: Antonio Perez/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)

Millennials and Gen Z have grown up in environments defined by permanent connectivity, fast-moving technology, and constant exposure to global information. For them, digital tools are not optional add-ons, they are embedded in how decisions are made. Access, choice, and immediate feedback are assumed by default, shaping expectations for any service, including travel.

This shift did not emerge in a vacuum. It coincided with the rise of the experience economy, often associated with millennial consumers who prioritized moments over possessions and flexibility over long-term commitments. While the behavior has now spread across age groups, it was this generation that helped normalize travel as an ongoing lifestyle choice rather than a rare, fixed event.

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