Events · Sustainable Gifting

A gala gift that lets
attendees do good

For the NEC APAC 2023 Business Excellence Awards Gala Dinner, Smilie created a solution allowing attendees to choose between a physical gift or donating the equivalent value to a partner charity - with 20% of the gifting budget successfully diverted to charitable causes.

Client
NEC Asia Pacific
Use Case
Gala Dinner Sustainable Gifts
Events · Sustainability
20%
of the gifting budget successfully diverted to charitable donations
Choice-led
attendees chose between a physical gift or donating the equivalent value to charity
NEC APAC 2023
Business Excellence Awards Gala Dinner
The Challenge

Meaningful gala gifts that
reflect NEC's values

NEC Asia Pacific's event management team needed to provide meaningful gifts for their annual Business Excellence Awards Gala Dinner - while supporting NEC's sustainability commitments and reducing the waste that typically accompanies large-scale event gifting. They wanted attendees to feel valued and appreciated, while also having the option to contribute to social good if they preferred.

  • Goal: provide meaningful gifts while supporting sustainability and charitable causes
  • Gifting occasion: NEC APAC 2023 Business Excellence Awards Gala Dinner
  • Desired outcome: memorable event experience with positive social impact and reduced unwanted gift waste
The Approach

Physical gift or
charitable donation - your choice

Smilie created a unique solution that allowed attendees to choose between receiving a physical gift or donating the equivalent value to partner charities. This approach enhanced sustainability efforts by reducing unwanted gifts while ensuring attendees felt valued and appreciated - and gave those who chose to donate a tangible sense of positive impact.

  • Option A

    Physical Gift

    Attendees who preferred a physical takeaway could choose and receive a curated event gift - delivered or collected at the event.

  • Option B

    Charitable Donation

    Attendees who preferred to give back could donate the equivalent gift value to a partner charity - turning their gift into a contribution to a cause they cared about.

  • The Impact

    20% Diverted to Charity

    20% of the total gifting budget was successfully directed to charitable donations - a meaningful, measurable result of the choice-led approach.

  • The Platform

    Smilie's Choice-Led Gifting System

    The Smilie platform managed the entire process - gift selection, donation processing, and fulfilment - without additional event management overhead.

smilie.io NEC Gala Dinner Sustainable Gifts
The Result

Sustainability built into
every gift given

The choice-led approach resulted in 20% of the gifting budget being directed to charitable donations - a tangible sustainability outcome. Attendees felt valued regardless of which option they chose, and NEC was able to demonstrate its commitment to social responsibility through a concrete, measurable result.

  • 20% of the gifting budget successfully diverted to charitable donations
  • Enhanced sustainability efforts - reduced unwanted physical gifts
  • High attendee satisfaction with the choice between gift and donation
  • NEC APAC 2023 Business Excellence Awards Gala Dinner delivered with positive social impact

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