Demand for payment optionality surging among travelers: New Research from HTS

MONTREAL, Canada —

As young travelers build wealth and invest in travel and experiences more than their older counterparts, alternative and custom payments optionality are set to become table stakes for travel providers. Led by GenZ and Millennials, travelers are increasingly using alternative payment methods and demanding payment customization in lieu of traditional methods. 

Rise of Alternative Payment Methods 

20% of GenZers and 24% of Millennials used an alternative payment method when they booked their most recent travel; choosing options like Apple Pay, PayPal and Buy Now Pay Later. These two generations use alternative payment methods 2x more than older generations, signaling a generational shift to modern payment solutions.

For the youngest generation of travelers, debit cards still play a significant role in travel purchasing, with about half of purchases made using a debit card. This is no surprise as historically younger…