By Lavinia Rajaram, on March 6, 2017

Authentic Experiences and Social Shareability Among Key Travel Demands for Millenials in Singapore – Expedia Study

The study also uncovered the impact of social media on Millennial travels, with 44 percent agreeing that the holiday photos they see on social networks influence their choice of travel destination

SINGAPORE, 7 MARCH, 2017 Expedia.com.sg® today released findings from the 2017 Expedia Millennial Traveller Report, which revealed that authenticity of travel experiences and shareability on social media are two integral components for travel among the Millennial generation. In fact, 32 percent of Millennials surveyed globally find authentic travel experiences and social shareability to be equally important for their travels, compared to 26 percent of Generation X and 18 percent of Baby Boomers sharing the same sentiment.

The 2017 Expedia Millennial Traveller Report, which surveyed 21,000 consumers from 21 markets, also uncovered the unique motivations and aspirations driving the demand for travel among Millennials in Singapore and around the world. Known for their distinctive attitudes towards spending, Millennials born between 1982 and 1999 tend to place higher value on investing in experiences such as travelling, than on owning high-value possessions. According to the study, seven in 10 (72 percent) Millennials expect to go on a dream holiday in the future, while a smaller proportion – six in 10 (64 percent) Millennials expect to buy a brand new car in the foreseeable future.

In addition, Millennials in Singapore are more likely to invest in travel experiences compared to the older generations. 84 percent of the Millennials surveyed travel at least once a year, compared to a smaller proportion – 82 percent of Generation X, and 73 percent of Baby Boomers doing the same. With a stronger desire to enrich their lives through travel, Millennials today also expect a higher level of personalization from their travel brands of choice.

Expedia Study - Millenials Travel

Natural Affinity with Technology and Social Media

As digital natives, Millennial travellers are extremely mobile and active on social media, even when they are on holiday. More than half (55 percent) of Millennials surveyed globally said that they have posted photos or videos of their holidays on social networks, compared to only 34 percent of Non-Millennials. Millennial travellers are also more inclined to log their globetrotting trips on social media, with four in 10 Millennials using social media to record the most important moments of their lives, compared to only two in 10 Non-Millennials.

When it comes to the expectations for comments on social media, Millennials tend to hold social media comments with higher regard compared to Non-Millennials. 38 percent of Millennials in Singapore agree that it is important that people comment on the holiday photos they post on social networks, compared to just 31 percent of Non-Millennials.

Authentic Travel Experiences Matter

For Millennials, authentic travel experiences come in various forms: cultural appreciation and living like a local; independence and finding those hidden gems; originality and balancing the iconic with those experiences that are more off the beaten track. Six in 10 (59 percent) Millennials in Singapore concur that experiencing the authentic culture of a destination is the most important aspect of travelling. As much as uniqueness is crucial to authenticity, Millennials are also a risk-adverse bunch. Travel activities or itineraries that are untested are not particularly attractive. Instead, Millennials seek authentic experiences that are verified by others, and rely on peer-led reviews for such verifications. 

Taking Inspiration from Social Media and Fellow Consumers

As Millennials take to sharing their holidays on social media, holiday-seekers also turn to social media platforms to seek inspiration for their next travel destinations. 44 percent of Millennials surveyed globally said that holiday photos posted by their contacts on social media play a part in influencing their choice of destination for the next holiday, compared to 30 percent of Generation X and 18 percent of Baby Boomers sharing the same sentiment.

When it comes to doing research for travel and booking their holidays, Millennials are more likely to reach out to a wide variety of sources and consult fellow consumers and close contacts for information. 54 percent of Millennials consult fellow consumers on review sites, blogs and travel forums during the research stage for their travels, versus 42 percent of Non-Millennials. Similarly, 52 percent of Millennials turn to friends, family or social network contacts for travel information, compared to a smaller proportion (40 percent) of Non-Millennials who would do the same.

Expedia Study - Millenials Travel

Demand for Personalised Travel Experiences

With a number of varying demands to factor into consideration, the study identified several improvements that Millennials want for an enhanced travel experience, all revolving around a common theme – personalization:

  • 77 percent are interested in a service that could provide surprise holiday recommendations based on their budget;
  • 68 percent are interested in a service that could provide surprise holiday recommendations based on their personalities.

Expedia Study - Millenials Travel

“Millennial travellers are a dynamic bunch – they simply love to travel and enjoy experiencing global destinations in their unique ways. While authenticity of experiences and social shareability are key components of their travels, personalisation is also getting increasingly important as technology plays a crucial role in how Millennials book their holidays. As the travel industry continues to evolve to meet the demands of the Millennial generation, we also want to be ahead of the curve to anticipate their needs, and roll out new products and services that cater better to their dynamic needs. These are extremely exciting times for us, and we look forward to leveraging the insights from the Millennial Traveller Report, to better serve our customers in Singapore and around the world,” said Simon Fiquet, General Manager for Southeast Asia and India, Expedia group.”

“Millennials are a unique group of travellers. Besides desiring authentic experiences and personalization, they are also a value-conscious group that demands convenience for their current lifestyle. At Air France KLM, we focus on attending to the individual needs of our passengers, and this includes providing maximum customer convenience from the point of booking to check-in to the entire flight experience. A simple example is that KLM was the first airline in the world to introduce Facebook Messenger as a one-stop shop and customer service channel. But there is more, we also want to inspire travellers, wherever they are. KLM’s Emoji Messenger now helps travellers find what they are looking for, be it an Italian restaurant or ATM machine, just by sending us an Emoji. With the understanding that every customer is unique, we hope to bring high level of personalized service to Millennial travellers, to really be their airline of choice on their travels,” said Gijs van Popta, General Manager, South East Asia and Oceania for Air France KLM

“As one of Asia Pacific’s best hospitality groups, Park Hotel Group endeavours to create memorable travel experiences that bring joy to our guests. To this end, we consistently evolve our portfolio to build distinctive brands and offerings that cater to changing customer needs. With Millennials having distinctive preferences for authentic experiences, our hotels are in some of the best locations that allow for discovery of local areas. We also recently revamped our global website that provides an enhanced user experience through more compelling content and social media integration amongst other new features to better cater to this unique group of travellers,” said Tejveer Singh Bedi, Group Revenue Director, Park Hotel Group.

More findings from the global Millennial Traveller Report can be found here.

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About the Study

Drawing on established and emerging trend research tracked by Foresight Factory, this report further explores the key trends that pose changes and pressures for the Millennial vacation and booking process. A 10 minute questionnaire was undertaken online in March 2016 with a sample of 1,000 consumers per country, 18-64, UK, Germany, France, USA, China, Australia, Brazil and South Korea. A similar 10 minute questionnaire was undertaken online in November 2016 to include a further 13 countries – with a sample of 1,000 consumers per country, 16-64, UK, Germany, France, USA, China, Australia, Brazil, South Korea, Italy, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, India, Hong Kong, Spain, Thailand, Mexico and Canada. In parallel, qualitative research was undertaken via Foresight Factory’s global network of Trendspotters.

About Expedia.com.sg®

Expedia.com.sg® offers travelers a wide selection of hotels, activities and travel services at attractive rates. With hundreds of thousands hotel partners worldwide and comprehensive choices of flight inventory made readily available on Expedia.com.sg®, travelers can book everything they need for a holiday – rooms to meet every budget, activities of every kind and travel services to complement.

About Foresight Factory

Foresight Factory (FF) is a consumer analytics business and a global leader in consumer trends prediction, working with some of the world’s leading companies to help them ‘Own the Future’. Globally headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Singapore and Stockholm, FF are focused on deeply understanding consumer behaviour across the globe, spotting trends and disruption before they happen.

For more information, please contact:

Lavinia Rajaram                                          Julie Toh

Expedia brand                                                   IN.FOM (Partnering agency for Expedia.com.sg®)

(65) 8428 0079                                                 (65) 9782 5190

lrajaram@expedia.com                                    julie@infom.asia