Runa has outlined six ways travel and experience gift cards can broaden a rewards catalogue beyond flights and conventional hotels. Its September 2023 guide connects the options with recipients who want to spend reward value on a trip or activity rather than a physical item.

Cruise and rail cards are one category, particularly where the journey is itself the experience. Holiday rental cards provide another route, allowing a recipient to choose a property and use it as a base for a longer stay.

The guide also describes adventure packages centred on an activity such as ballooning, a driving experience or a guided visit. Depending on the product, the package may include accommodation, food or a guide as part of the booking.

Spa and relaxation choices offer a different type of experience, from a single service to a resort visit. Ticketing gift cards can support concerts, sporting events and other entertainment that recipients may travel to attend.

For outdoor travellers, Runa discusses booking options for camping and recreational-vehicle stays. In each case, the value is directed towards a category of experience while the recipient chooses the destination or date within the product's conditions.

The article cites a 2021 Accenture survey in which 40% of respondents identified saving for a holiday as a financial priority for the following year. That research predates the September 2023 guide and is used as background to the discussion of experience-based rewards.

For loyalty and recognition programme operators, Runa's recommendation is to consider a wider selection of travel uses when choosing reward content. The guide describes categories rather than announcing six newly launched Runa products.