Canonical URL: https://giftcard.news/research-trends/gift-cards-feature-in-52-of-planners-programmes-in-northstar-survey-2969b65a09f2/ --- description: A 2026 survey of 207 incentive and corporate planners places gift cards among the most-used gifts, with price the leading selection factor. title: Gift cards used by 52% of planners in Northstar survey image: https://giftcard.news/images/social/v1/gift-cards-used-52-planners-northstar-survey-072f96eac78f8226af381b39b2de4934.jpg --- 1. [Home](https://giftcard.news/) 2. [Research & Trends](https://giftcard.news/research-trends/) # Gift cards used by 52% of planners in Northstar survey A 2026 survey of 207 incentive and corporate planners places gift cards among the most-used gifts, with price the leading selection factor. By [Suzie Elis](https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/) August 20, 2026 3 min read Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fresearch-trends%2Fgift-cards-feature-in-52-of-planners-programmes-in-northstar-survey-2969b65a09f2%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=Gift%20cards%20used%20by%2052%25%20of%20planners%20in%20Northstar%20survey "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fresearch-trends%2Fgift-cards-feature-in-52-of-planners-programmes-in-northstar-survey-2969b65a09f2%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=Gift%20cards%20used%20by%2052%25%20of%20planners%20in%20Northstar%20survey%20https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fresearch-trends%2Fgift-cards-feature-in-52-of-planners-programmes-in-northstar-survey-2969b65a09f2%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "WhatsApp") ![Official cover of Northstar Meetings Group’s 2026 Gift Trends research report](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/gift-cards-feature-52-planners-programmes-northstar-survey-official-cover-meetings-group-w500.webp) Official cover of the 2026 report, sponsored by Citizen Watch America. Photo: Northstar Meetings Group Gift cards were offered by 52% of respondents in [Northstar Meetings Group](https://giftcard.news/company/northstar-meetings-group/)’s 2026 Gift Trends survey, behind apparel at 69% and food and beverage at 54%. The findings describe the choices of incentive and corporate planners, rather than a consumer preference poll. [\[S02\]](#article-source-2) ## Where gift cards sit in the mix The data behind the story ### Gifts offered by surveyed planners Northstar Meetings Group survey of 207 qualified incentive and corporate planners, June 15 to July 15, 2026. Respondents % Tap or hover for details. All values are also available in the data table. **Source:** [\[S02\]](#article-source-2) Northstar Gift Trends 2026 report Selected categories from the report. Multiple responses were possible. Percentages are not spending shares or recipient preference scores. Explore the data table Scroll left or right to see all columns __Gifts offered by surveyed planners (%)__ | Category | Respondents | | ----------------------- | ----------- | | Apparel | 69% | | Food and beverage | 54% | | Gift cards | 52% | | Electronics | 50% | | Luggage / leather goods | 45% | | Office accessories | 42% | The distinction matters commercially. A product can be widely used without taking the largest share of a programme’s budget. A planner may offer several categories for different occasions, groups or award levels. The chart therefore shows breadth of use, not a market-share ranking. ## Price leads the buying decision The data behind the story ### Factors influencing gift selection Northstar Meetings Group survey of 207 qualified incentive and corporate planners, June 15 to July 15, 2026. Respondents % Tap or hover for details. All values are also available in the data table. **Source:** [\[S02\]](#article-source-2) Northstar Gift Trends 2026 report Selected factors. Multiple responses were possible. The survey does not establish that any factor caused a particular purchase. Explore the data table Scroll left or right to see all columns __Factors influencing gift selection (%)__ | Category | Respondents | | ---------------------- | ----------- | | Price | 82% | | Perceived value | 56% | | Popular trends | 48% | | Ease of fulfilment | 46% | | Recipient demographics | 46% | | Programme goals | 42% | Price led the selection factors at 82%, while 46% cited ease of fulfilment. Looking ahead, 62% expected their per-person gifting budget to stay unchanged in 2027\. [\[S02\]](#article-source-2) For gift-card suppliers, these measures pose two separate questions: what value does the recipient perceive, and how much work does the organiser need to deliver it? A flexible catalog addresses only part of that decision. Ordering, delivery and exception handling belong in the comparison as well. ## How to read the research Scroll left or right to see all columns __How to read the research__ | Research detail | Reported methodology | | --------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Respondents | 207 qualified incentive and corporate planners | | Fieldwork | June 15 to July 15, 2026 | | Producer | Northstar Meetings Group | | Sponsor | [Citizen Watch America](https://giftcard.news/company/citizen-watch-america/) | The report states that research and analysis were conducted without sponsor involvement. It does not establish a nationally representative consumer sample or provide a sampling margin of error. [\[S02\]](#article-source-2) [\[S03\]](#article-source-3) The findings support a clear, limited conclusion: gift cards were a mainstream option within this surveyed planner group. They do not prove that gift cards outperform merchandise, that recipients prefer them in every setting, or that issuing more cards improves employee performance. The most useful procurement conversation follows the actual programme: its objective, recipients, budget and delivery needs. These results provide a benchmark for that discussion, while leaving individual programme effectiveness to be measured separately. ## Sources and documents ExpandCollapse * [\[S01\] Original source](https://www.usegiftcards.org/IMA/News/Industry-News/2026/First-Look-Research.aspx?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news) — www.usegiftcards.org * [\[S02\] Full report and charts](https://www.usegiftcards.org/common/Uploaded%20files/IMA/News/2026/Final-Northstar-Gifting-Survery-26.pdf?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news) — Northstar Meetings Group * [\[S03\] Research description and methodology](https://www.northstarmeetingsgroup.com/Planner-Guides/First-Look-Gift-Trends-Incentive-Programs-Events?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news) — Northstar Meetings Group * [\[S04\] Original publication date, August 20, 2026](https://www.northstarmeetingsgroup.com/Incentive?sf34775423=1&utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news) — Northstar Meetings Group ## In this article ### Companies * [Citizen Watch America](https://giftcard.news/company/citizen-watch-america/) * [Northstar Meetings Group](https://giftcard.news/company/northstar-meetings-group/) Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fresearch-trends%2Fgift-cards-feature-in-52-of-planners-programmes-in-northstar-survey-2969b65a09f2%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=Gift%20cards%20used%20by%2052%25%20of%20planners%20in%20Northstar%20survey "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fresearch-trends%2Fgift-cards-feature-in-52-of-planners-programmes-in-northstar-survey-2969b65a09f2%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=Gift%20cards%20used%20by%2052%25%20of%20planners%20in%20Northstar%20survey%20https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Fresearch-trends%2Fgift-cards-feature-in-52-of-planners-programmes-in-northstar-survey-2969b65a09f2%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "WhatsApp") ![Portrait of Suzie Elis](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/suzie-elis-editorial-portrait-w320.webp) About the author ## [Suzie Elis](https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/) Journalist — Gift Cards & Digital Gifting Suzie Elis covers gift card products, digital gifting and distribution for Gift Card News. From reading to building ## Your next move in gift cards. Tell us what you’re building. We’ll help you explore suitable providers. [Find a provider ](https://giftcard.news/find-a-provider/) ## Related articles [Research & Trends](https://giftcard.news/research-trends/) Analysis ### [MENA’s Digital Gift Card Markets: A Country-by-Country Research Atlas](https://giftcard.news/research-trends/mena-digital-gift-card-markets/) [Oliver Reed](https://giftcard.news/author/oliver-reed/) September 18, 2026 66 min [Research & Trends](https://giftcard.news/research-trends/) Analysis ### [India’s Digital Gift Card Market: Growth, Consumers and Regulation](https://giftcard.news/research-trends/india-digital-gift-card-market/) [Oliver Reed](https://giftcard.news/author/oliver-reed/) September 18, 2026 30 min [Research & Trends](https://giftcard.news/research-trends/) Analysis ### [AI Can Shop for You. 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