The $520B Shift in Travel: Gen Z, Creator Economy & AI

​The next generation of travelers has more inspiration than any generation before them. They're following creators, saving itineraries, and dreaming in destinations. And 62% of them still aren't booking.

​This isn't a discovery problem. It's a confidence problem, and creators are sitting at the center of it.

​Creators have become the most trusted voice in travel. They influence where people go, where they stay, and what they do when they get there. 87% of Gen Z say they'd book directly from a creator they trust. But the infrastructure to turn that influence into measurable, attributable commerce doesn't exist yet, and every stakeholder in the ecosystem is losing because of it.

​We're bringing together a curated group of creator economy operators, experts, investors, travel brands and leaders, and creators to talk honestly about what's broken and what needs to be built.

​The conversation will cover:

• ​Why creator influence has never been stronger, and why monetization still breaks before booking

• ​The inspiration-to-booking gap: What Gen Z's behavior tells us about where the funnel fails

• ​How AI is accelerating the shift, and why the infrastructure still isn't ready for it

• ​What it looks like when creators are finally equipped with the tools to convert their influence into income

• ​The infrastructure layer that benefits every stakeholder; creators, brands, operators, and travelers alike

​Creators moved first. The industry needs to catch up.

​This evening is informed by Globe Thrivers' 2026 Gen Z Travel Behavior Report, a study of 250+ college students across the country + supporting market data.