Gen Z aren’t the easiest bunch to decipher: their purchasing habits tend to be a little bit
different than previous generations and, when it comes to travel, that certainly rings true.
How do you reach new heights with this tricky bunch? It starts with showing them you care,
so understanding their needs and motivations is crucial. Luckily, if winning with Gen Z is your
goal, you’ve reached your dream destination.
The UNiDAYS Q3 Student Insight Report contains everything you need on your checklist to
earn students’ loyalty. Download the report to find out:
And so much more. Ready? Let’s talk about the travel fanatics, what makes Gen Z so
unique and how you can become their next favourite brand.
Throughout the student calendar, there’s not a lot of respite. Gen Z are constantly busy and
Q3 is no different: from sun-soaked summer holidays to the return to university, travel is a
big deal in this period, so there’s a huge opportunity that brands should be rubbing their
hands to get a hold of.
Just how significant is this opportunity, we hear you say?
In other words, there’s a lot of money to be spent, yet plenty of students have yet to secure
their bookings. That means brands who step up and incentivise Gen Z to shop with them
now could stand to unlock lifetime loyalty from this generation that extends far beyond their
university years.
Students travel differently
Gen Z are fuelled by wanderlust and there’s an understandable reason for that: many
students spent their late teens in lockdown, which has spurred them on to grab their chance
to get out there and see the world.
The summer holiday is the perfect time to do this and over 75% of Gen Z use the long break
as an opportunity to head abroad. However, they’re much more likely to be travelling for
cultural exploration and visiting family than any other generation. City breaks, beach holidays
and visiting friends are also prevalent reasons for travel plans.
Gen Z are the most likely generation to have already booked:
And they’re most likely to be considering:
Priorities and inspiration
Price is the number one factor when it comes to making travel bookings and this is true
across all generations, although 90% of Gen Z agreed with this, making it very clear they’re
looking to find the best deals.
Gen Z are naturally more reliant on recommendations from family and friends regarding
travel services and destinations as, due to their age, many won’t have been on too many
trips.
Additionally, they’re the generation most likely to rely on visual social media platforms, like
Instagram and TikTok, for travel inspiration. This is a key theme with Gen Z and, at risk of us
sounding repetitive, that means targeting their favourite channels with short-form, engaging
video content is key to building a positive relationship with students.
Gen Z haven’t yet formed brand loyalty in the travel industry, which means your travel brand
should be working hard to earn their trust. We know how to reach them and what’s important
to them, so offering a compelling student discount is the best place to start on the journey to
unlocking students’ lifetime loyalty.
Map out your route to Gen Z success
Despite their turbulent calendar, a cost of living crisis and growing up during a global
pandemic, Gen Z are resilient and are still willing to spend money on the things they deem
important.
Become a UNiDAYS partner to seize the student opportunity, with a constant stream of
actionable insights to set your brand apart from the rest, plus a verified student audience of
more than 29 million UNiDAYS members.
To learn more about what students are feeling and purchasing in Q3, as well as tech and
wellbeing, earning & learning insights, grab the Q3 Student Insight Report today.
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