1-in-4 Gen Z Aussies Will Travel Solo on Their Next Trip - New Research from SiteMinder

SiteMinder, the world’s leading hotel distribution and revenue platform, has today released SiteMinder’s Changing Traveller Report 2025, revealing Australian travelers are the most likely to travel solo next year, including 24% of Gen Z travelers. The report reveals how these generations will shape the future of travel as the rise of the ‘everything traveler’ – a new traveler with a multifaceted blend of trending and traditional plans, reflecting the shifting dynamics within travel – gains momentum.

SiteMinder’s report analyses research conducted by Kantar in August 2024, drawing insights from the largest survey globally on accommodation, which surveyed over 12,000 travelers across 14 of the world’s largest tourism markets, including Australia.

The most popular domestic destinations for Aussie solo travelers will be Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. Meanwhile, their most popular international destinations will be the UK, US, Canada, New Zealand, Thailand and Japan. 

Aussies savoring experiences despite cost-of-living pressures

While the cost-of-living crisis will continue to impact many choices for Australian travelers, it won’t limit their plans to have meaningful experiences. Over a third (38%) intend to spend more on accommodation during their next trip compared to last year, especially Gen Zers, while 53% will spend the same amount. Breakfast (45%), early check-in/late check-out (31%), room size (31%), a room with a view (25%) and bed size (23%) are what travelers will pay extra for.

Events, too, will be a major drawcard for Aussies. More than half (59%) are now more likely to travel for events compared to last year, including family reunions/celebrations (31%), concerts/music festivals (23%), and sporting events (18%). Among those who will travel for a concert/music festival, three-fifths (60%) will book their accommodation immediately or within a week of buying their tickets. Additionally, 53% of Australians support hotels pricing their rooms based on demand. This support rises to 73% among Gen Zers.

In spite of this, Australian travelers also plan to enjoy experiences that don’t necessarily come with a high price tag, with 38% listing shower pressure as one of their top three hotel room features – the highest globally. Australians are also the most likely to camp, surpassing French travelers who topped the list last year. When it comes to solo travelers, these choices are perhaps unsurprising in light of almost half (48%) earning less than $30,000 a year.

Gen Z is leading the travel evolution

SiteMinder’s research shows Australian Gen Z travelers are looking for and building experiences in new ways, pushing accommodation providers to think differently about their services. A staggering 78% of Gen Zers are willing to pay more for eco-friendly accommodation, pushing hotels to adopt sustainable practices.

Three-fifths (65%) of Gen Z Australian travelers also intend to spend either a considerable amount or most of their time at their accommodation, favoring onsite experiences such as live music performances (34%), spa services (32%), cultural cooking classes (29%), and gourmet dining and wine tasting (27%).

When researching their accommodation for a trip, almost half of Australian travelers (45%) will use a search engine such as Google, and 14% will turn to online travel agencies like Booking.com. One-in-five (20%) Gen Z travelers will use social media, in comparison to only 9% of Millennials and 1% of Baby Boomers.

Bradley Haines, Regional Vice President of Asia Pacific at SiteMinder, said, “This year, we are seeing the rise of the ‘everything traveler’ – a new type of traveler who demands both cutting-edge tech and authentic human connection in their travel experiences. While they seek fair pricing, they’re willing to fork out for standout events and unique perks. Gen Z, in particular, is transforming the travel landscape, pushing hotels to be more transparent, accessible online and intentional in how they deliver meaningful experiences. It’s an exciting evolution for the industry.”