by Lacey Pfalz
Last updated: 11:35 AM ET, Thu March 13, 2025
Special souvenirs and multi-gen family trips are only two of the four major travel trends identified in Amex’s 2025 Global Travel Trends Report.
The report, which breaks down the year’s trends by generation, surveyed over 8,000 travelers across the globe who make over $50,000 a year to discover what they’re focusing on.
“Travelers, especially Millennial and Gen Z, are motivated to book thoughtful, meaningful trips this year,” said Audrey Hendley, President of American Express Travel. “The report shows that people feel passionately about their vacations. We understand what travelers are looking for and as demand continues, we can use our expertise to create dream itineraries.”
Seventy-seven percent of travelers are looking to head out of the country this year, either more or as many times as they did last year. They’re also looking to enjoy the journey, with 70 percent of Millennials and Gen Z travelers noting that how they travel is as important as where they go.
Fifty-nine percent of travelers will take one to three international trips this year, with 74 percent noting they’d take at least one to three domestic trips.
Let’s look at the four biggest trends Amex found among travelers this year.
Memorable Momentos
Travelers are shying away from typical souvenirs and leaning more towards special, usable goods with cultural or personal value. Eighty-two percent of young travelers search for unique goods. Fifty-eight percent of travelers buy designer items, 46 percent buy high-end beauty products and 43 percent buy houseware or decor items.
Most travelers also prioritize shopping locally while traveling, with 73 percent choosing small businesses to buy from on vacation.
Multi-Generational Trips on the Rise
Eighty-nine percent of Millennials and Gen Z-aged parents desire more quality time with their extended family members while traveling, with 72 percent willing to take their kids out of school to travel.
Those who are empty nesters say they travel more than ever now that they are no longer raising children (67 percent).
Loyalty and Credit Card Rewards
More than ever, travelers are taking advantage of loyalty rewards programs and credit card offers for travel, with 75 percent of younger and 62 percent of older travelers feeling rewarded when they use their credit card points to book travel.
They’re also getting more creative with how they use them, with 58 percent of travelers noting they like to stack benefits from different programs to get upgrades and 66 percent combining credit card rewards with other loyalty perks for international trips. Half of all travelers plan on using travel points this year.
Travel-Assisting Technology
Travelers also use newer travel technology to help them plan and enjoy their trips. Amex found that 83 percent of younger and 64 percent of older travelers use at least one form of Gen AI technology when booking travel.
Younger generations typically use it to get recommendations on what to do while in a destination, how to budget for a trip, and for translation services in a foreign country.
Younger travelers are also much more likely to use travel planning apps or social media to plan their travels, with 80 percent noting their convenience.
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