Latest news with #digitalNomadism
Forbes
16-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
The New Digital Nomads: How Gen Z Is Redefining Remote Work In 2025
Remote work is no longer novel, but Gen Z is redefining it. For this generation, working from anywhere is not about vacation selfies or digital detoxes. It's a lifestyle built on autonomy and values-first decision-making. According to Deloitte's 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey, a majority of young professionals today prioritise work-life balance and purpose over traditional career ladders. Many aren't looking to lead departments or chase promotions. They're aiming to build sustainable lives, and remote work is how they're doing it. Across TikTok, LinkedIn, and Reddit, 'digital nomadism' is being reframed. It's no longer a fringe identity, it's a toolkit for navigating rising costs and urban burnout. And Gen Z is leading the movement. Gen Z has different expectations for what work should look and feel like. According to Deloitte, just 6% of Gen Z professionals are focused on reaching senior leadership. Instead, the majority are seeking jobs that offer flexibility and mental health protection. Garen Staglin of Forbes notes that Gen Z workers increasingly expect flexibility and mental health support as standard features of modern employment, not optional extras. However, that doesn't mean they all want to work in isolation. A McKinsey study found that fewer than 29% of Gen Z would choose fully remote work by default. Many cite loneliness, lack of feedback, and weaker professional development as concerns. Instead, hybrid models with intentional structure are becoming the sweet spot. Some favour 'async-first' environments where meetings are rare and deep work is prioritised. Others work three days from home and two from co-working spaces or cafes. Gen Z's approach to location independence is less spontaneous and more strategic. According to MBO Partners' 2024 State of Independence, over 18 million Americans now identify as digital nomads – a 147% increase since 2019 – and Gen Z is the fastest-growing segment. But many are not flying to Bali or Lisbon. They're moving to smaller cities with lower rent, extended family networks, or built-in creative communities. Others are travelling domestically in 'seasons', spending a few months at a time in new places, often timed around visa policies or peak work periods. Affordability and intentionality are driving forces. For some, the motivation is to break out of burnout loops. For others, it's about proximity to nature, hobbies, or mental health resources. Instead of chasing constant novelty, many Gen Z digital nomads are embracing what MBO Partners calls 'slowmading' – staying in fewer places for longer (an average of nearly six weeks per location), highlighting a desire for stability, deeper community and intentional living. Many Gen Z professionals are designing careers that prioritise flexibility, mental health, and ... More location independence over traditional office life. Behind this lifestyle shift is a carefully chosen tech stack. Gen Z workers use tools not only to communicate and collaborate, but to build entire career ecosystems. Platforms like Notion, Slack, and Trello allow them to structure workflows and team updates asynchronously. Discord, originally built for gaming, has become a virtual co-working space for creators and solopreneurs. Fiverr, Upwork, and Contra provide flexible freelance income with low overhead. For financial management, many rely on Revolut, Wise, or Monzo to handle international banking, especially while on the move. And when it comes to staying online, eSIM providers like Airalo offer reliable, contract-free mobile data in over 200 countries. As noted in Digital Nomads World's guide to eSIMs, these tools are no longer optional, they are foundational. By combining platforms for communication, payments, and mobility, Gen Z remote workers are building lean, location-independent careers that scale with their lives. Freedom alone doesn't guarantee wellbeing. As Gen Z navigates self-directed work, they're also confronting its downsides, namely blurred boundaries and digital burnout. Harvard Business Review warns that isolation is a common side effect of remote work, leading to reduced productivity and long-term disengagement. McKinsey's research echoes this: Gen Z remote workers are particularly vulnerable to isolation and burnout when they lack structure or mentorship, with 81% of under-35s fearing loneliness in long-term remote roles and a quarter worrying they'll struggle to find guidance without in-person interaction. In response, Gen Z is adopting a range of strategies. Time-blocking tools like Sunsama help them set realistic daily goals. Many schedule 'calendar detox' days where meetings are off-limits, or adopt quiet Fridays to catch up on personal tasks. Some even follow content creators who promote 'mindful hustle', working with intention, not intensity. Return-to-office mandates are facing growing resistance. According to a recent HRO Today report, two-thirds of employees (66%) said they would quit their job if forced to return to the office full‑time. Gen Z is the most vocal about this shift, viewing flexibility as a non-negotiable. Companies are beginning to adapt. A Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research (SIEPR) and Atlanta Fed Survey finding reports that only 12% of executives with hybrid or fully remote teams plan any return-to-office mandate in the next 12 months. Most are embracing hybrid models, not just for retention, but for performance. Employers who want to attract Gen Z talent need to think beyond location. Some of the most forward-thinking companies now offer: What Gen Z is asking for isn't radical, it's realistic. And companies that ignore these shifts risk losing the next generation of leadership before it arrives. Gen Z isn't running from offices. They're rethinking the entire concept of how, where, and why work happens. Their approach blends autonomy with accountability, flexibility with structure, and freedom with purpose. As more businesses adjust to retain this generation, Gen Z's vision of work may well become the default model by the end of the decade. By 2030, 'remote work' might no longer be considered remote at all. It might just be… work.
Skift
30-05-2025
- Business
- Skift
What's Next for Short-Term Rentals: Regulations, Airbnb, AI
The evolution of the short-term industry shows no signs of slowing down, and we examine how trends in travel and tech will impact the sector. Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko talk travel every week. Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit and Head of Research Seth Borko talk travel every week. Learn More This episode of the Skift Travel Podcast featured a discussion with Vered Raviv Schwarz, president and chief operating officer of Guesty, a property management platform for the short-term rental industry. Raviv Schwarz, Head of Research Seth Borko, and Editor-in-Chief Sarah Kopit delved into the current state of short-term rentals, the role of technology in the sector, and the impact of Airbnb's relaunched experiences, among other topics. Listen Now Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Five Key Points Market Trends Favoring Short-Term Rentals: The rise of blended travel, digital nomadism, and extended stays have favored the short-term rental sector. Travel Tech and Short-Term Rentals: Raviv Schwarz says investors remain bullish on travel technology, recognizing it as ripe for innovation and disruption, especially compared to more legacy sectors like airlines and hotels. The short-term rental segment, being younger and more tech-forward, is seen as a gateway to broader transformation in hospitality tech. Regulation Is Inevitable but Not Necessarily Harmful: While regulation of short-term rentals is growing globally, Raviv Schwarz views it as an opportunity for greater professionalism, consistency, and guest satisfaction. The key, she says, is education and advocacy by host communities to shape favorable policies that recognize their economic contributions. AI Is Transforming Hospitality Operations: AI adoption among Guesty customers has risen from 40% to 70% in a year. AI is being used for guest communication, dynamic pricing, and review analysis, helping hosts provide faster, more intelligent, and personalized service—bridging the gap between tech efficiency and human touch. The Hospitality Landscape is Diversifying: Raviv Schwarz emphasized that there's room for both hotels and short-term rentals, as travelers seek different experiences for different occasions. The industry isn't shifting to one dominant model but rather expanding to accommodate a range of preferences, from standardized hotel stays to unique, personal short-term rentals. Episode Summary Borko, Kopit, and Raviv Schwarz discussed Guesty's global scale, its offerings for both small and large rental operators, and its role in managing operations for hundreds of thousands of properties in over 80 countries. Guesty has surpassed $100 million in annual recurring revenue, backed by prominent investors like KKR and Innovia. The three also touched on short-term rentals in depth, questioning whether they still count as 'alternative accommodations' given their mainstream growth. Raviv Schwarz said she's seen a continued blurring of the lines between short-term rentals and hotels, predicting that in five to 10 years, those accommodations may become indistinguishable. Despite economic uncertainty, the global short-term rental market remains stable with slight growth, especially in drive-to destinations and affordable stays. And Airbnb's recent push into experiences is seen as a major industry move that could enhance the appeal of short-term rentals.
