The holiday season is more than just a time of celebration; it’s also a crucial moment for organizations to show appreciation to employees, clients, and partners. Choosing the right gift can be challenging, especially when you need something that appeals across a wide range of preferences. That’s why gift cards have become the go-to solution for corporate holiday gifting: they’re flexible, memorable, and consistently ranked among the most effective rewards in business today.
Trusted by Top Performers
According to the Incentive Research Foundation’s Top Performers Study (2025), 94% of top-performing companies use gift cards in their reward and recognition programs. These organizations—defined by growth, customer retention, and talent attraction—know that gift cards strike the right balance between flexibility for the recipient and simplicity for the giver.
If the best companies in the world rely on gift cards to fuel engagement and loyalty, there’s a good reason to follow their lead.
A Preferred Reward That Drives Impact
Gift cards aren’t just convenient, they’re preferred. Alongside incentive travel, they are among the most frequently used rewards by top-performing organizations. Why? Because they deliver value across different employee demographics, business units, and even client relationships.
Employees also confirm this: when surveyed, workers ranked gift cards (5.7/8) on par with extra time off (5.7/8) as one of their most desired non-cash rewards—trailing only cash bonuses. That places gift cards in rare company as both a practical and emotionally satisfying choice.
The Science Behind Tangible Rewards
The value of gift cards goes beyond perception. Research grounded in Affect Valuation Theory shows that tangible rewards like gift cards create a stronger emotional connection than cash. While cash rewards often trigger a calculative, transactional mindset, tangible rewards inspire motivation across both measurable and less tangible aspects of performance.
In fact, studies reveal that employees given tangible rewards (like Starbucks gift cards) perform better even in areas not directly tied to compensation. This means gift cards can boost engagement in ways that cash simply cannot.
Budgets Point Toward More Recognition
Looking ahead to 2025, organizations are signaling optimism and growth:
- 59% of North American companies expect to increase their recognition program budgets.
- 55% specifically anticipate growing their gift card budgets.
- Gift cards already account for 43% of all incentives in North America.
Even as average annual per-person spending on non-cash rewards shifts downward—from $1,090 in 2023 to $921 in 2024—the $100–$500 per-person range is now the sweet spot. This trend reflects a move toward more inclusive and frequent recognition, where gift cards shine as the most scalable, accessible option.
Why Gift Cards Are the Best Holiday Gift
When you put it all together—preference, performance, and budget strategy—the evidence is clear: gift cards deliver more than just convenience. They provide flexibility, emotional impact, and broad appeal that other rewards can’t match. That’s why they continue to dominate corporate holiday gifting and recognition programs.
And this year, the Engage2Reward™ Holiday Choice Card makes it even easier to recognize your teams and clients. With a curated collection of 150 top brands, no issuance fees, and a special 2% rebate on orders over $5,000*, it’s the stress-free, budget-smart way to say thank you this holiday season.
Ready to Simplify Your Holiday Gifting?
Make gift cards the centerpiece of your corporate holiday program. Whether you’re rewarding employees, thanking clients, or surprising partners, the Engage2Reward™ Platform makes it simple, secure, and rewarding for everyone involved.
👉 Order Your Engage2Reward Holiday Choice Card Today
Check out the infographic below to see why gift cards are the perfect reward for everyone on your office holiday gift list.
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