Janelle Roa Cabrera-Paraiso earned her college education from the University of the Philippines Los Baños, where she completed a BA in communication arts. She first forayed into the entertainment industry as a professional actor, studying acting and screenwriting at the New York Film Academy before becoming a staff writer at ABS-CBN Corporation’s Metro.Style two years ago. She’s also served in the government sector and was a communications officer for festival affairs at the Film Development Council, the Philippines’ official film agency. Currently, she’s contributing to local publications such as The Post and Familist.

When author Kyle Chayka explored 2010s minimalism in Longing for Less, a very different world existed. Today, a polycrisis-ridden and digitally saturated society finds people yearning for more. Whether you chalk it up to post-pandemic release or a general sense of impending doom, people are now looking for a new maximalism of feelings, dimensions, and possibilities to reinvigorate them and make their lives feel full.

While people are craving memorable, visceral, and immersive experiences, there's no longer a singular definition of what this might look like. Some are embracing maximalist hedonism through clubbing, extreme tourism, and different kinds of sensory overload, while others are tapping into more gentle, inward-looking, and contemplative experiences like listening bars and communal spas. It signals the emergence of the' Introvert Economy' of cosy, home-adjacent spaces and activities or seeking soothing and quasi-spiritual encounters through hobbies like birdwatching and forest bathing.

The desire for deeply captivating and emotionally engaging experiences extends beyond the physical world – social media, VR, AR, and even image-based interactions must now resonate to the same degree, creating truly memorable moments and environments.

In this consumer and cultural universe driven by exploration and immersion, the boundary between experiences and material goods continues to blur. We're less likely to see them as a dichotomy, as people are increasingly interested in experiential qualities of things and consuming commodified 'thing-like experiences'. This discovery-oriented mindset is opening up new avenues for fulfilment, gratification, and transformation.

Experience Hunters

We’re witnessing the ‘wellnessification’ of absolutely everything. Beyond boosting their physical health with fitness and nutrition, people are looking for a path to being well in all aspects of their lives, including their finances, careers, activism, spirituality, home design, tech usage, and so much more. The global health and wellness market is expected to reach over $8,945.3 billion by 2032, while self-improvement and the quest for reprieve and relaxation have become integral to all areas of our lifestyles.

Wellness was once for the elite, expressed through a Goop-like look and lifestyle. But now a more fragmented definition of wellness is on the rise, encompassing people’s diverse backgrounds and distinct needs. In a society ruled by high stress and burnout, what was once considered a baseline are now status symbols: sleep is a luxury, glucose monitors signal exclusive healthcare, and sob parlours offer curated spaces for catharsis. People are embracing more radical forms of wellness, employing minor plastic surgery and weight-loss drugs as a means of control over their lives.

Wellness is rapidly reaching new demographics across generations. Exhausted by the permacrisis, Gen Z is rejecting more traditional, buttoned-up wellness movements in favour of little treats, girl dinner, ‘bedrotting’, or ‘rat snacking’ as forms of self-care with a sense of release. At the same time, longevity is becoming a priority as Gen X and Boomers rethink wellness to suit their needs. Some are taking up clubbing as a way of keeping an active lifestyle, while others are looking for nuanced approaches like menopause diets to support the changes that come with age. A desire for more bespoke wellbeing is driving an increase in health hacking – whether through technology or prioritising socialising with peers.

Being+

Julian Guerrero earned his college education from the University of the Philippines Los Baños. He is based in Melbourne, Australia, and has been working in tourism, starting in the niche as a guest service attendant in a hotel and previously held a position as night manager. Currently, he works as a concierge.

Australia

Hotels and holidays

Restaurants and takeaways

Delicious

Karryon

Australian Financial Review

South Australia Department for Environment and Water

Forbes

MyTravelResearch

Australian Trade and Investment Commission

The Sydney Morning Herald

Tourism Australia

The Tailor

Australian Tourism

Tourism Analytics

National Indigenous Times

Interview with Julian Guerrero conducted by the author

The Lake House in Daylesford, a family-founded hospitality business, offers a cutting-edge culinary experience, spa culture, and country stays fit for a tastemaker. Featuring townsfolk produce and a farm-to-table menu, it has become a movement for tourists who honour tradition and heritage.