Amex Trendex reveals latest holiday trends
Amex Trendex survey reveals travel with family is a big holiday trend
What’s on your wish list this festive season? Many Australians are prioritising travel and spending time with loved ones, Amex Trendex has found. Regardless of who the holidays are spent with, the festive spirit is alive with plans for travel, special activities and gift giving. What are the other major trends in shopping, travel, and entertainment this holiday season? Read on to find out.
What is the Amex Trendex?
Visiting family and ‘Me-Cations’ are top travel priorities
According to Amex Trendex1, 68% of Australian adults travelling this holiday season are doing so to visit family. ‘Me-cations’ are also popular though, with over half of the Australian adults surveyed (59%) travelling to focus on themselves. This increases to 60% among Gen Z and 67% among Millennials.
Additionally, among the Australians planning on travelling this holiday season, 58% plan to travel with family, 42% with their partner or significant other and 22% with friends.
While ‘me-cations’ are one of the top items on Australians’ holiday wish lists, almost one-third (30%) of Australians plan to host a holiday party or gathering this year, which increases to 33% among the Gen Z age group. Experiences both with loved ones and solo are clearly a trend this year.
Australian gift giving trends this holiday season
How are people spending their money this year? According to the survey1, this holiday season:
- Compared to 2023, Australians are planning to spend more on travel (38%), hosting (25%), entertainment or experiences (21%) and gift shopping (17%).
- Gen Z & Millennials (53%) are more likely than Baby Boomers and Gen X (39%) to buy their friends a gift.
- 38% of Millennials are planning on buying themselves a gift.
- 24% are planning on buying a gift for their pet.
Unique and small business gifts are popular choices1
Australians are looking forward to shopping for their loved ones this holiday season with many looking for unique gifts (75%). On the receiving end, most agree they would prefer receiving sentimental gifts to traditional gifts (71%), small business gifts (69%), and even receiving live experiences or events rather than physical gifts (63%). Good to know as you start your shopping. Additionally:
- When it comes to gift giving, over two-thirds (73%) prefer giving sentimental gifts to traditional gifts.
- 74% agree they would rather share a fun experience or trip with friends than exchange gifts.
Top gifting experiences this holiday season include:
- Entertainment experiences such as concert tickets or sporting events (59%).
- Food and drink experiences such as a cooking class, wine class or dinner reservation (51%).
- Luxury experiences such as spas or manicures (45%).
Unique and small business gifts are popular choices1
Australians are looking forward to shopping for their loved ones this holiday season with many looking for unique gifts (75%). On the receiving end, most agree they would prefer receiving sentimental gifts to traditional gifts (71%), small business gifts (69%), and even receiving live experiences or events rather than physical gifts (63%). Good to know as you start your shopping. Additionally:
- When it comes to gift giving, over two-thirds (73%) prefer giving sentimental gifts to traditional gifts.
- 74% agree they would rather share a fun experience or trip with friends than exchange gifts.
Top gifting experiences this holiday season include:
- Entertainment experiences such as concert tickets or sporting events (59%).
- Food and drink experiences such as a cooking class, wine class or dinner reservation (51%).
- Luxury experiences such as spas or manicures (45%).
And just like that, finding exactly the right gifts for all your loved ones just got a little easier.
1. Amex Trendex Methodology
This poll was conducted between June 21 – July 17, 2024 among a sample of: 2002 US Adults, 1009 Japan Adults, 1006 Singapore Adults, 1004 UK Adults, 1003 Australia Adults, 1002 Germany Adults, 1002 Italy Adults, 1002 Mexico Adults, 1001 India Adults, 1001 Spain Adults, 1000 Canada Adults, 1000 France Adults and 501 Hong Kong Adults, who have at least a $50k+ income equivalent and typically travel at least once a year. The interviews were conducted online. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 2-4 percentage points. Some geographies may be weighted with fewer variables depending on local census data availability.