A smarter way to energize teams before they unplug
The days are longer. The meetings are fewer. The inbox is quieter, but anticipation is loud. As summer vacation season approaches, your employees are mentally booking out. And who can blame them?
But here’s a common trap: engagement often dips before out-of-office messages go up. This is a critical moment for managers and HR professionals—not to demand more, but to give more. Strategic recognition just before the summer exodus can amplify morale, increase loyalty, and inspire a stronger return.
What’s the secret weapon? Experience gifts.
Forget last-minute bonuses and generic gift cards. Experience gifts are personal, meaningful, and scientifically proven to spark excitement. Here’s why they work—and how to use them to energize your team before they head off on well-earned breaks.
The Pre-Vacation Dip: Why Morale Matters Now
Late spring and early summer are filled with distractions: school holidays, wedding season, sunny weather, travel planning. Your people are juggling responsibilities, booking flights, and mentally checking out.
This creates a perfect storm for disengagement:
- Slower response times
- Lack of motivation for big projects
- Lower collaboration and team focus
Rather than fight the season’s rhythm, lean into it. Use this natural pause to express gratitude and reinvest in team energy.
Recognition right before vacation sends a clear message:
“We value you—not just for what you do, but for who you are.”
And that’s where experience gifting shines.
The Science of Anticipation
A landmark study published in the journal Psychological Science found that anticipating an experience creates more happiness than anticipating a material purchase. Experiences stimulate emotional and cognitive engagement before they even happen.
For teams, this means:
- An employee who receives an experience gift gets a psychological boost immediately.
- That excitement builds as they look forward to the event.
- The memory continues long after the experience itself.
So, you’re not just gifting a moment—you’re gifting anticipation, joy, and storytelling.
Why Experience Gifts Work So Well in the Workplace
Experience gifts feel more thoughtful than their material counterparts. They show you care about what your employees feel, not just what they own. And they align perfectly with modern work-life values:
- Personalized: From skydiving and wellness retreats to wine tastings and luxury hotel stays, Tinggly offers something for every personality.
- Flexible: With no expiration date and global availability, employees can book experiences when and where it works for them.
- Planet-friendly: Tinggly gifts are carbon positive, tree-planting, and guilt-free.
- Conversation-starting: They naturally create buzz among teams, boosting workplace culture.
It’s about giving joy now, and memories for later.
Tips for HR and Managers: How to Use Experience Gifts Before Vacation Season
1. Make it a Moment, Not Just a Transaction
Don’t just send a link. Present the experience gift as part of a mini-ceremony:
- Announce it in a team meeting.
- Add a personalized thank-you message.
- Use Tinggly’s beautifully designed gift box or e-voucher to make the gesture tactile and memorable.
Framing matters. When employees receive a thoughtful, well-presented gift, the emotional impact is amplified.
2. Tie It to Achievements—Big or Small
Whether it’s a shout-out to a project well done, a sales target crushed, or simply surviving a stressful quarter, attach meaning to the gift.
You’re not just saying “go have fun”—you’re saying “you earned this.”
3. Use Experience Gifting to Kick Off PTO
Imagine receiving a spa day voucher or gourmet cooking class the day before your summer holiday begins. The excitement is contagious. The sentiment lingers. And the employee returns with even more brand affinity.
Experience gifts create a “halo effect” around vacation time, improving perception of leadership and workplace culture.
4. Involve the Whole Team
Make it a shared celebration. For example:
- Let teams vote on which themed collection they’d prefer (Adventure, Gourmet, Relaxation).
- Share past experience photos or stories from other colleagues.
- Create an internal Slack channel or bulletin for experience reviews and shoutouts.
It builds buzz and keeps the energy up as people start to check out.
5. Budget for Impact, Not Expense
Experience gifting doesn’t have to break the bank. Tinggly offers flexible options for every company size:
- Individual experiences starting under $100
- Experience collections grouped by interest (perfect for mass gifting)
- Hotel stays for two (ideal for top performers)
Even a modest gift has outsized impact when it’s meaningful and well-timed.
What Employees Really Want: Meaningful Recognition
A Gallup report found that only 1 in 3 U.S. workers strongly agree they received recognition in the past seven days. And yet, frequent and personalized recognition boosts engagement, retention, and even profitability.
Here’s the key: People want to be seen. They want to feel that their contributions matter—not just to metrics, but to human beings.
Experience gifts say exactly that. They say:
- “Take time for yourself.”
- “We see your effort.”
- “You deserve joy.”
It’s not a perk. It’s a signal of value.
Tinggly: Your Partner in Summer Recognition
Tinggly isn’t just a gifting platform—it’s a storytelling engine. With more than 100,000 experiences across 100+ countries, our gifts unlock memories and reinforce emotional connection to your brand.
✔️ No expiration dates
✔️ Beautiful physical or digital formats
✔️ Planet-positive: 200% CO₂ offset + tree planting
✔️ Custom branding and personalization
✔️ No minimum order or setup costs
It’s easy for HR teams, unforgettable for employees, and sustainable for the planet.
The Bottom Line: Give a Boost Before the Break
Before your team heads out for vacation, give them more than a pat on the back. Give them a moment of anticipation. A spark of joy. A memory in the making.
With experience gifts, you build a bridge between the hard work and the reward. You make your appreciation tangible, personal, and unforgettable.
So as summer kicks in and out-of-offices pile up, ask yourself:
What story will your gift tell?