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V O L . X X V N O. I I JA N UA R Y 2 1 , 2 0 1 9 6 B U S I N E S S M A I N E Business news from around the state Smiles are such simple gestures, yet they're so powerful for your small business. As the nation's leading dental insurance provider, Delta Dental is the perfect partner to keep your employees' smiles healthy with trusted experience, n atio n al a cce ss to th e la rg e st network of dentists and specialized expertise in oral care. Visit NortheastDeltaDental.com for your small business and choose a plan today. WHAT'S A BETTER RETURN THAN A SMILE? Move over millennials: Here comes Gen Z B Y M A I N E B I Z S T A F F A n increasing focus on technology and the prefer- ences of Generation Z will drive travel trends in the future, according to the 2019 "Travel Trends and Expectations" report from South Portland-based WEX. Gen Z has been defined as people born between the late 1990s and early 2000s. They're young, they're tech savvy and they're already shaping the economy, including travel and tourism. The report released by WEX, in partnership with Mastercard, shows younger travelers are more likely to use online travel agencies, travel with a purpose and pay for it with a debit card rather than a credit card. "Millennials (ages 21–34) represent the next wave of travelers, but it's the attitudes and preferences of Gen Z that will give shape to the longer-term future of the travel industry," the report said. "And while younger people are likely new to travel and therefore not yet guided by old habits, they're already making their preferences known." The youngest generation of travelers presents a big opportunity for online travel companies, the report says. Brand loyalty is important to this group, but so is grassroots intelligence gained from social media — and marketers need to be aware of that. "When picking a destination or activity, both Gen Z and Millennials report being more easily swayed by online advertisements, Facebook, Instagram and word- of-mouth than their elders," the reports says. "Technology is the thread connecting many of our travel findings and predictions for 2019," said Jay Dearborn, president of WEX Corporate Payments. "The influence of technology on the travel industry, and on both the imagination and preparedness of today's trav- elers, simply cannot be overstated. It is our hope that this report provides travel industry professionals with the insights they need to reach today's self-directed travelers where they're most likely to be: online." The findings The findings were gathered through self-administered surveys by 1,502 respondents between Oct. 3 and Oct. 22 who had taken three or more non-business- related trips in the previous 12 months. Key findings include: Some 21% of those surveyed said they would be comfortable using a travel bot, which allows travel booking by voice through Alexa or Google Home or another device. Generation Z (24%) — those aged 18 to 20 in the survey — and millenials (22%) booked trips through a chatbot. But nearly a quarter of those surveyed — 23% — said a digital assistant would probably improve the booking experience. Younger travelers "are driving the shift" to travel with a specific adventure as the goal. "From yoga retreats to international hiking trips, cycling adven- tures, volunteering or 'foodie' tours, all signs point to travelers being more adventurous in 2019," the release said. The two youngest age groups are also more likely than Gen X — and particularly boom- ers — to combine leisure travel with a purpose, such as volunteering, and to travel to take a class or learn a new skill. Of the youngest generation of travelers, 56% used a credit card, while the rest used a debit card or cash. Sharing economy services like Airbnb and Uber are preferred by Gen Z (62%) and millennials (56%). Millennials in particular (53%) say sharing economy services make travel affordable for them. Many respondents also reported that they use the ser- vices because they make them feel like a local. B R I E F Technology is the thread connecting many of our travel findings and predictions. — Jay Dearborn WEX Inc.