August 16, 2017

Thank Millennials for Saving the Travel Industry

IÕll admit: Sometimes, it hurts.
As a millennial, it seems like my generation is always getting blamed for everything.

It all started with overwrought think-pieces that blamed us for not getting well-paying jobs and still living with our parents without really admitting young people had nothing to do with the financial crisis thrust upon us.

Then, the conversation devolved into the kind of Òkids these daysÓ and Òget off my lawnÓ nonsense that every generation thinks and writes about the generations that come after it.

Lately, the pearl clutching has centered around blaming millennials for various failing industriesÑgolf, retail, chain restaurants, movie theaters, even napkins! For some reason, the conversation never seems to be centered around why ÒBig NapkinÓ isnÕt changing to meet the times, but why millennials canÕt just suck it up and live the exact same lives as the generations beforeÉeven though that is not a thing that has ever happened.

That brings us to travel, which is in a serious love affair with millennials right now.

Whether itÕs the fact that most millennials are still priced out of homes or the allure of social media that creates some serious FOMO (thatÕs Òfear of missing outÓ or Òwanderlust" for millennials), young people are increasingly deciding to spend their money on travel rather than what traditionally served as status symbols for building a life: cars, homes, ÒstuffÓ in general.

Travel agents, in particular, are learning to love millennials as well.

Yes, the generation that very literally grew up online and helped launch the sharing economy is also helping the travel agent resurgence that weÕre currently experiencing.

It makes sense because millennials love cruising and love big international vacations. Most of all, millennials really love having someone else plan things for usÑespecially if we can save money in the process.

Trust me when I say this trend isnÕt going to change as millennials become a larger and larger share of the U.S. economy with a larger portion of its wealth.

Understand: Millennials are, at our core, experiential.

The same values that keep millennials away from ChiliÕs and TGIFridays in favor of Òthat new Thai place that just opened up,Ó are what make that same age group decide to just pick up and go to ThailandÑbecause itÕs something new and they can.

Sometimes itÕs thrill seeking, but it can also just be the narcissist desire to show your Instagram crowd the perfect selfie from a new location. (Oh, and baby boomers, donÕt pretend thatÕs any different than all the slide shows and Polaroids you used to haul out at family gatherings.)

Millennials also grew up in a world that is much smaller than what our parents know. Social media makes it possible both to make real connections and have real travel goals a world away. Places that previous generations only read about in books are now literally at our finger tips, shared by people our age who went there rather than just wanting to go there, Òone day.Ó

Expediency in the travel industry has made it all the easier to just pick up and go. Plus, we grew up with a bunch of baby boomer ad execs telling us to ÒJust Do It.Ó

So, sometimes we just do it because we want to do it.

Maybe we millennials do follow directions.


Copyright 2017 travAlliancemediaª. All rights reserved. From http://www.travelpulse.com. By Michael Schottey.

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