Gift exchanges are a hallmark of the holiday season. Individuals spend weeks making lists and shopping for items they believe recipients will appreciate. However, this holiday season shoppers may want to change up their gift-buying strategy to focus less on material offerings and more on experiences.
A recent survey from Get Your Guide found 92% of Americans prefer to receive an experience over a physical gift during the holiday season. In addition, Deloitte’s 2024 survey of more than 4,000 consumers in the United States found that spending on experiences during the holidays is expected to rise by 16% year-over-year, reaching an average of $735.
Experiential gifts place value on memories and emotional connections rather than objects. As people increasingly are drawn to these special moments, here’s a look at experiential gifts for everyone on a holiday shopping list.
Parents and grandparents
Experiential gifts for older adults are beneficial because they won’t add to the clutter or belongings such individuals have already accumulated throughout the years. Useful ideas include memberships to museums, entry to botanical gardens, culinary tastings, travel vouchers and subscriptions to wellness classes.
Teens and young adults
Teens are big on experiences over material gifts. According to TD Bank’s 2024 survey, Gen Z leads the trend in experience-first gifting, with 68% preferring experiences. Examples of good experiential gifts for this demographic include escape room experiences, concert tickets, adventure sports like indoor rock climbing, subscription services to streaming music or movie passes.
Children and families
Families already may be out and about, and parents of young children may appreciate experiences more than additional toys and games that are already filling the house. Annual passes to zoos, museums or aquariums can keep families occupied year-round. Children might like a science or art workshop, while movie night gift cards and tickets to family shows also are viable gift options.
Special partners
The Amex Trendex 2024 survey found that 38% of people plan to give an experience to a significant other. Experiences can strengthen relationships and intimacy. Possible gift ideas include spa days, cooking classes for two, a weekend travel getaway, or tickets to a theater performance or concert.