Somewhere between the year-end reports and the last round of leave requests, you've been handed the job of choosing something for the whole team. That team includes a marathon runner, a new parent, a colleague who has never once told you what they like, and someone who'd happily lose a weekend in a kitchen. This is where experience vouchers for staff earn their place: one employee gift, plenty of ways to enjoy it, and nobody has to guess.
Gift season has a habit of arriving mid-spreadsheet. (For us, October to January is a blur: blink, and it's February.) Below are eight reasons experiences work well as corporate rewards at Christmas, followed by a shortlist of ideas to get you started.
Eight Reasons Experience Vouchers for Staff Suit Christmas
1. Everyone Chooses for Themselves
Your team members don't share one idea of a good day off, and personal preferences vary more than any single present can cover. With an experience gift voucher you pick the amount and each person picks the experience. One voucher can cover several experiences, and any balance stays on their account. If they change their mind, exchanges are free, and a pricier choice just means paying the difference by card.
2. Nothing to Manufacture, Box or Post
As an employee reward, an experience has no packaging, no shipping and no leftover stock. If your organisation is working on reducing waste, that's a tidy fit with your Christmas gifts, and the free exchange option means a voucher can be reshaped to suit the person rather than sitting unused.
3. It Feels Personal, Even at Scale
Each voucher can carry a personal message and your choice of design, and corporate vouchers can carry your company logo. The message does the heavy lifting. "For pulling the September launch together" says more than "thanks for everything", because recognition lands best when it's tied to something specific someone actually did. That's what helps employees feel valued, rather than just remembered on a list.
4. It Works for a Team Spread Across Countries
Sending parcels to colleagues in different countries means couriers, customs forms and a very uneven arrival date. Reward vouchers arrive by email, either straight away or scheduled for the date and time you choose, so everyone opens theirs together. With 19,000+ experiences in 100+ countries, a colleague can find something near home or save it for a family trip to Thailand or a honeymoon in Bali.
5. Good Days Come Back to Work With Them
Experiences get talked about. Expect a photo of the reef, a story about the climb, or a very proud account of a first attempt at something new, all shared at the first team catch-up of the new year. It's a simple way of rewarding employees for hard work, and the stories tend to be good for morale. (They won't fix an overloaded roster, but they're a kind way to say thanks.)
6. There's Something for Every Personality
Browse the catalogue and you'll find a diverse range: food and drink, water adventures, flying, spa days and plenty of high-adrenaline options, shark cage diving included. A quiet colleague might surprise you with a bucket-list pick they'd never book for themselves, while the competitive one may go straight for a paintball day.
7. A Break From the Screen Is a Gift Too
Spa days, fitness passes or a slow afternoon on a food tour give people a reason to switch off completely. Handing over a day away from the inbox says you've noticed how hard the year has been.
8. Ordering Is Straightforward, Even for a Big Team
Choose the amount per voucher and the same value can go to everyone. For larger orders of employee vouchers, corporate discounts start from 10% off at 10 vouchers and increase with quantity, and co-branded vouchers can carry your logo. With a smaller team you might prefer to pick particular experiences for each person, which works just as well.
Experiences to Put on Your Shortlist
Not sure where to start? Here are six that suit different people on the team.
Spa Packages gift ideas
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Relaxing Massage Experiance at Tsim Sha Tsui
Tédelúpulo Beer Spa Premium Experience in Buenos Aires
Amsterdam Nordic Sauna and Cold Plunge Experience
Snorkelling for the Water Lovers
Mask on, face down, and suddenly a whole reef is going about its day below you. A snorkelling experience is easy on the budget, so there's no need to go overboard. One honest note: visibility changes with the weather, so it helps if the recipient can choose a date that suits them. It's ideal for anyone who's happiest near the ocean.
Christmas experience gifts
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Kyoto: Small-Group Gion Geisha District Walking Tour
Barcelona's Coastline Helicopter Flight
Best of Niagara Falls Tour: Journey Behind Falls & Boat
Rock Climbing and Abseiling for the Quietly Brave
Chalky hands, a harness clicking into place, and that first step backwards over the edge. Rock climbing and abseiling experiences often welcome beginners, but check the age and fitness notes on each experience page. Expect tired forearms the next day. It suits the colleague who likes a challenge.
Adventure gift ideas
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Singapore Gardens By the Bay Ticket
Sunset & Sparkle Sydney Boat Cruise
Park Guell and Sagrada Familia Tour in Barcelona
Skydiving for the Thrill-Seeker
The door opens, the noise hits, and then there's that very long first second. A skydiving experience is weather dependent, so jump dates can shift. Check the cancellation policy on the experience page and suggest they book somewhere flexible. It's for the person who's been saying "one day" for years.
White Water Rafting for the Whole Crew
Everyone paddles to the guide's call, and everyone gets soaked. White water rafting is a good one to give to several people at once, since they can book the same day and go together. Pack a change of clothes and secure your glasses. It suits groups who like a bit of friendly chaos.
Food Tours and Cooking Classes for the Foodies
A food and drink experience might be a walk between tastings, a wine session or a hands-on cooking class. Come hungry, and maybe skip lunch. It's a good match for the colleague who always knows where to eat.
A Spa Day for Switching Off
Warm towels, a quiet room and no one asking for an update. A spa day suits almost anyone who needs a proper break. Check what each experience includes, and choose a voucher value that covers a full treatment. If they'd like a longer session, they can top up by card.
Handing Them Over on the Day
Vouchers are delivered by email only. Send them immediately, or schedule them for a date and time, such as the morning of your end-of-year gathering. You can also send one to yourself to print and hand over in person, and we have a few ideas for wrapping a printed voucher. Your team books live on Gifting Owl, and vouchers are valid for three years, so nobody has to rush over the holidays. The same approach works for other special occasions, like work anniversaries and farewells.
Sorting Your Team Gifts Before the Year Runs Out
Pick an amount, add a message and let your people choose their own adventure with gift vouchers made for it. For bulk orders and logo vouchers, head to our corporate page, or get in touch if you have questions. Happy gifting!
