Luxury Hoteliers Magazine 2nd Quarter 2018 | Page 64

WELLNESS & HEALTH: GEN Z EXPECTATIONS & IMPACT Gen Z (1995-Present) is already exerting its influence on the marketplace—and some haven’t even been born yet: Gen Z already makes up around 24 percent of the US population. This generation moves seamlessly between digital behaviors and real life. They are already highly proactive participants in health and wellness and they know a lot (or think they do), and they think a lot about being ‘balanced.’ More so than any other generation, Gen Z looks to exercise as a way to treat or prevent illness, and it is particularly relevant for emotional and stress-related issues. For Gen Z, technology is fun, entertaining and useful. These young consumers are learning about what is healthy from their parents and from school. They are engaging with technology across all parts of everyday life. Outside of direct family, Gen Z is more likely than all other generations to look to their online social networks for advice and bragging about health and wellness. 64 ILHA