Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Jul 08, 2026

Gen Z is all about 'real moments' when traveling - and that means hotels are pushing to reinvent themselves fast

Gen Z is all about 'real moments' when traveling - and that means hotels are pushing to reinvent themselves fast

Young vacationers say they want a full experience when traveling, and that includes having a memorable place to stay.
Gen Z is on the move, and they're pretty particular about where they stay while on vacation.

As the generation born between 1997 and 2012 becomes the future of the travel industry, some hotels are catching on to their spending power and influence — and shifting to create the ideal Gen Z traveler experience.

Post-millennials are looking for more unique and memorable moments from hotel stays, according to a report from Skift. For them, it's about being real and relatable online rather than crafting an image, following a trend of viral content that speaks directly to viewers with fewer frills.

"When it comes to traveling, Gen Z prioritizes authenticity and living in the moment," said Sharon Silverstein, the head of US verticals at Snapchat parent company Snap. "They don't only share the most picture-perfect photos. They appreciate the funny, silly, real moments that make a trip truly memorable."

Hotels that offer more than just a late check-out and a complimentary breakfast are more likely to attract travelers that want to document memories made at the hotel.

Insider spoke to two young travelers who say they're willing to splurge for the right vibes.

Joshua Napier, a 25-year-old luxury retail client advisor, told Insider that his main concern is which amenities he can enjoy during his stay, but he's also interested to learn more about the history of the hotel and how it's changed over the years.

"I like to know the stories of the hotel. I want to know who stayed there, any past remodeling, and why they made certain design choices," Napier told Insider.

This, he told Insider is why he stays at Sixty LES when he's in Manhattan. He praised the establishment for its hands-on care.

"Hospitality is important for me. Sixty LES feels like a neighborhood as soon as you walk out the door, and the inside gives you the urge to leave your room and enjoy amenities like the pool, bar, and lounge area."

He added: "It has unique shared balconies for some rooms that helps me feel like being friendlier. Not to mention, a terrace in Manhattan is a luxury."

One Florida-based hospitality expert said hotels should consider Gen Z's connection to the digital world — for both work and pleasure — to better target young travelers.

"Hoteliers must learn to create an atmosphere that combines work and fun to appeal to this new mindset of travelers, with an emphasis on technology and social media moments," Daniel Berman, president and CEO of hospitality company AD1 Global wrote for Forbes.

Berman added: "Having a restaurant with a bar equipped with interactive TVs and phone chargers makes a very convenient stay for Gen-Zs. They can relax after their flight and invite their friends to spend virtual time together, having fun without needing to leave the hotel premises."

Publisher Morgan Lindsay, 23, echoed Napier's desire for amenities, but added that she doesn't want a hotel that feels like home. For her, vacation should feel more like a good dream than real life.

"I'm trying to vacation from my real life and my reality. I don't want to feel like I'm at home," Lindsay told Insider.

Seattle-based designer Andrea Dawson Sheehan told Skift that she takes design inspiration from her child, who is Gen Z; that generation wants "to personally be part of hotels' stories" when they stay.

"(Gen Z wants) to feel like they're doing something – that they're relevant — because they're living at home and can't afford to live otherwise. So Gen Z spends its money on experiences, but they want those experiences to be educational and have values that support their beliefs," Dawson Sheehan said.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Federal Financial Framework Shifts as Treasury Launches Universal Savings Program for Minors
French Court Allows Le Pen to Run for Presidency, but with an Electronic Tag: "I Will Appeal, and I Will Run"
$1.4 Trillion: The Lawsuit That Could Crush Meta
Europe's Growing Struggle with Extreme Heat and Air Conditioning
UK Daily Briefing: Legal Developments and Social Issues
Political Turmoil and Rising Costs
Anthropic Reengineers Agentic Architecture to Shift Autonomous Workplace Automation to the Cloud
Logic Flaw in Windows 11 Permission Architecture Silently Consumes Hundreds of Gigabytes of Local Storage
Apple Advances Late-Stage Operating Systems with Fourth Beta Deployments
Global Crisis Alert: Escalating Middle East Tensions and UK Political Upheaval
Deep Purple Has Released Its Best Album in Decades
Microsoft Lays Off 4,800 Employees and Xbox Suffers the Hardest Blow
Morocco and France Advance as 2026 FIFA World Cup Enters Quarterfinals.
Historic 2026 Tour de France Opens in Barcelona With Revamped Team Time Trial.
Global Mergers and Acquisitions Approach $4 Trillion Defying Geopolitical Tumult.
Negotiators Advance 20-Point Framework for Gaza Ceasefire and Demilitarization.
OECD Warns Middle East Conflict Will Depress Global Economic Growth.
Ukrainian Drones Strike Major Oil Terminal in St. Petersburg.
World Meteorological Organization Issues Urgent Alert Over Rapidly Intensifying El Niño.
United States Commemorates 250th Anniversary With Diplomatic Summits and Global Flotilla.
Iran Begins Days-Long Funeral for Supreme Leader Khamenei Amid Strait of Hormuz Standoff.
Technology giant reports surging carbon emissions driven by artificial intelligence infrastructure demands.
Artificial intelligence adoption accelerates workforce reductions across the technology and financial sectors.
Global technology and financial conglomerates collaborate to launch a new stablecoin standard.
United States regulators lift export restrictions on a major frontier artificial intelligence model.
Luxury bags take over the World Cup: style, status symbol, or just showing off?
×