WHAT THE DATA SAY: 70% of Millennials would give up dining out for travel

By: Ray Day

CONTACT:

Ray Day
ray.day@stagwellglobal.com 

We wanted to share our latest consumer and business insights, based on research from Stagwell. Among the highlights of our weekly consumer sentiment tracking:

MORE TRAVEL IN 2026

Half of Americans will spend more on travel in 2026 and less on material goods, according to our Harris Poll survey with Marriott Bonvoy.

• 91% of Americans plan to travel in 2026.
• 49% say they want to travel more than they did in 2025.
• 67% plan to prioritize experiences, such as travel, over material goods.
• 57% say carving out time to rest and recharge is the most meaningful benefit of travel.
• 70% of Millennials would rather give up dining out for six months than give up a vacation.
• See also: Big ideas that will define 2026

GEN Z LEADS WITH AI

Gen Z’s rapid adoption of AI is already enhancing their leadership and management skills, according to our Harris Poll research with Google Workspace.

• 82% of young leaders say they use AI tools at work.
• 93% of Gen Z use two or more AI tools a week, compared with 79% of Millennials.
• 75% actively recommend tools to colleagues.
• 70% use AI to draft emails, handle difficult messages or overcome language barriers.
• 50% say automating routine work frees them for strategic priorities.
• 47% see it enhancing team-wide communication and problem-solving.
• 86% feel AI can help current executives become better leaders.
• 98% expect AI to affect their industry or workplace within the next five years.
• See also: Gen Z is defiantly ‘giving up’ on ever owning a home

SEASON OF GIVING

Americans have donated more to charities this year than last, according to our Harris Poll research with Vanguard Charitable.

• 75% of Americans gave to charities this past year.
• Average giving reached $1,394 this year – a 29% increase from 2024.
• Donors who plan gifts with a budget are more likely (43%) to increase their donations than those without a budget (17%).

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• Nearly 70% middle-aged Americans say caring for parents is stretching their finances
• Most Consumers Don’t Feel ‘Known’ By Their Financial Institution
• Inside Time Magazine’s AI Overhaul