Every year, a marketer somewhere gets another generic mug.
It’s not that we don’t appreciate it. We do. But if you really want to light up your favorite marketer — especially the ones working in casinos, juggling promotions, player development, events, hosts, and analytics — some gifts can genuinely change their day-to-day lives.
When I first wrote this guide, my goal was simple: Help the people who love marketers (and the leaders who manage them) choose gifts that feel thoughtful, useful, and a little bit magical.
Since I first wrote this, the world of marketing—and casino marketing in particular—has changed dramatically. We’re juggling AI that’s actually useful now, new channels that pop up faster than we can staff them, privacy rules that keep shifting, and a constant parade of promotions, campaigns, and events. The tools have gotten better. The pressure hasn’t eased up.
So it felt like time for a complete refresh, with gifts that match what marketers actually need right now.
And yes, one of the best suggestions I received this year was still:
“A new office chair with a heated massage overlay.”
So we’re starting there.
Gift Idea #1: The “CEO Chair” – Comfort + Heated Massage
Marketers spend a lot of time in their chairs—strategy meetings, Zoom calls, comp reviews, creative reviews, budget meetings— often in a chair that should have been retired five years ago.
Build their dream chair setup:
- A well-designed ergonomic chair with proper lumbar support, adjustable arms, and a headrest.
- A heated massage overlay with programmable settings and zones so they can dial in relief on long campaign days.
- Optional add-ons:
- An under-desk footrest or heated foot pad for those long days when leaving the desk feels impossible.
- A cozy blanket or shawl for those late-night “just one more email” sprints.
Why it’s a standout gift
This isn’t just a chair. It’s a daily reminder that their comfort and health matter just as much as the numbers on the spreadsheet. It says, “I see how hard you’re working, and I want you to be comfortable while you carry the whole marketing calendar on your back.”
Perfect for:
- Marketing directors glued to back-to-back Zoom calls.
- Casino marketers bouncing between the floor and their desks.
- Anyone who ends the day feeling like their spine has been through a slot drop.
Gift Idea #2: Desk Zen & Wellness Kit
Casino marketing is a 24/7 world. The lights don’t dim, the promotions don’t stop, and the deadlines don’t magically disappear.
A Wellness & Desk Zen Toolkit says, “I see how hard you work — and I want you to last.”
What to include:
- Mind-wellness apps: Subscriptions to meditation or sleep apps with short sessions that they can realistically use between promotions or after a late event.
- Focus & productivity helpers: Apps or tools that encourage deep work, gentle stretch reminders, or ambient sound to help them tune out the noise.
- Ergonomic touches
- A laptop stand or monitor riser.
- Wrist rests, an ergonomic mouse, or a small standing desk converter.
- Blue-light glasses for late-night email and design reviews.
- Calming desk elements: A small plant, subtle water feature, soft desk lamp, or a grounding object like a smooth stone, mini sand tray, or fidget tool.
- “Marketing Spa Day” idea: Pair the toolkit with a floating “wellness day” or a half-day off each quarter for rest, recovery, or personal appointments.
- A soft “In Strategy Mode – Do Not Disturb” desktop sign that gives them permission to close the door (literally or figuratively).
This isn’t about turning their office into a spa. It’s about giving them micro-moments of calm in between chaotic days—a small reset button they can press without leaving their desk.
Gift Idea #3: AI Sidekick Subscription Bundle
AI has moved from “interesting experiment” to “daily essential” for marketers. But many still don’t have the budget to explore beyond the free tier or whatever corporate locked them into.
Consider gifting an “AI Sidekick” bundle:
- A premium AI assistant subscription (ChatGPT Plus, Claude Pro, or similar) for drafting briefs, brainstorming campaign concepts, writing offers that don’t sound like every other casino’s offers, and getting unstuck when the blank page wins.
- Access to an AI image generator (Midjourney, DALL-E) or presentation tool (Gamma, ai) for quick mockups, mood boards, and decks that don’t look like templates.
- Optional: a short AI-for-marketers mini-course or private training session so they actually know how to prompt these tools well, not just use them like a fancier Google search.
This gift is really about time, confidence, and creative firepower. You’re giving them a partner that helps them battle blank-page syndrome, build testable ideas faster, and feel more prepared for the future rather than anxious about it.
Gift Idea #4: Content Creation Power Pack (Design + Writing)
We started with Canva years ago, paying for images one at a time. Upgrading to a Pro-level subscription and collaborating as a team changed everything: templates, stock, Magic tools, resizing, and AI-powered brainstorming became everyday essentials that let us move at the speed our business actually operates.
But great content isn’t just about how it looks—it’s also about how it reads. Clear, compelling writing is still a marketer’s unfair advantage, whether they’re writing offers, emails, scripts, strategy decks, or the hundredth version of “why guests should visit us this weekend.”
A complete content creation toolkit today might include:
For visual content:
- Canva Pro (or Adobe Express, or similar) with brand kits, shared templates, and AI background removal so they can make assets look professional without waiting three days for design.
- A simple video-editing tool (CapCut, Descript) for quick social content, employee videos, or repurposing webinar footage into digestible clips.
- A presentation tool that makes decks look polished without a designer on speed-dial—especially valuable when leadership wants “just a quick deck” by tomorrow morning.
For written content:
- Hemingway Editor or similar apps that highlight dense sentences and passive voice to improve readability (because marketing copy shouldn’t require a law degree).
- Grammarly Premium or ProWritingAid—full-featured grammar and style checkers that also coach tone, clarity, and help them sound like themselves, not like AI wrote it.
- Claude, ChatGPT, or similar for rewrite suggestions when they’re stuck on the fifteenth draft of an email to leadership and can’t see the words anymore.
This doesn’t replace a talented designer or a gifted copywriter. It gives marketers a way to move faster on everyday assets, keep brands more consistent, and “translate” big ideas into visuals and words quickly—especially in lean teams where “marketing” is also “design,” “social,” “events,” and “probably website updates too.”
Instead of just “fixing typos” or “making things pretty,” these tools help marketers communicate more confidently—with leadership, with guests, and with their teams. The voice and vision are still theirs. The tools just help them get there faster.
Gift Idea #5: Curated Stack of Marketing (and Leadership) Books
Books remain one of the most powerful, personal gifts you can give a marketer. They’re portable, they don’t require a login, and they sit on desks as reminders that someone believes in their growth—not just their output.
Instead of grabbing a random title from an airport bookstore, put together a curated stack with a theme and a story behind it. For example:
Customer experience & loyalty:
- “The Power of Moments” (Heath & Heath)
- “Unreasonable Hospitality” (Guidara)
Writing & content:
- “Everybody Writes” (Handley)
- “On Writing Well” (Zinsser)
Leadership and team culture:
- “The Culture Code” (Coyle)
- “Radical Candor” (Scott)
Casino- or hospitality-focused:
Industry memoirs, leadership stories, or books on reinvention and resilience
Or build your own combination—a title that sharpens their thinking about customer experience, something that deepens their understanding of superfans and loyalty, a book that challenges how they see brand building and differentiation, and one that speaks to leadership and culture (essential for marketers who manage others or work cross-departmentally in casinos).
Here’s what makes this gift land:
Slip a short note inside each book:
- “I thought of you when I read this because…”
- “I hope this supports you as you grow into…”
- Or simply share your favorite quote and why it stuck with you.
It turns pages into encouragement. It transforms “a book” into something much more personal—proof that you see not just what they do, but who they’re becoming.
Gift Idea #6: Learning & Certification Fund
Marketing doesn’t sit still, and neither can marketers. GA4, AI, new ad platforms, changing privacy rules — it’s a constant cycle of upgrades.
Yet courses, certifications, and deeper learning often get deprioritized in the budget.
That’s what makes a Learning & Certification Fund an exceptional gift.
Potential inclusions:
- Access to platforms with marketing, analytics, leadership, or creative courses.
- SEO, content strategy, or AI certifications that make them more valuable to their team and more confident at the table.
- Cohort-based programs where they learn alongside other professionals rather than alone.
- Casino-specific training that ties everything back to the realities of the casino floor, the database, and the player journey.
Add a touch of structure:
- A note or calendar invite for a 30- or 60-day follow-up to hear what they learned.
- Time blocked on their schedule so learning doesn’t just become “one more thing they do at night.”
You’re not just handing them a login. You’re investing in their future.
Gift Idea #7: Conference or Boot Camp Registration
Professional events are more than name badges and cocktail receptions—they’re where many marketers finally get to:
- Step away from daily fires long enough, actually, to think.
- Hear what others are seeing, trying, and struggling with (and realize they’re not alone).
- Rebuild their energy and confidence by remembering why they got into this work in the first place.
Great options include:
- Industry-wide marketing or social media conferences (Social Media Marketing World, Content Marketing World) to get big-picture trends and inspiration.
- Gaming and trade shows that layer marketing education on top of operational content (G2E, IGA, regional gaming shows), where hallway conversations are as valuable as the sessions.
- A small, hands-on program like a Casino Marketing Boot Camp, where they can roll up their sleeves, work on their own promotions or marketing plan, and leave with usable outputs and new peers.
If you lead a team, gifting conference attendance says: “I believe in you, I trust you to represent us well, and I want you in rooms where you’ll grow.” That message lands harder than any plaque.
Sometimes the best gift is a seat in the right room.
Gift Idea #8: Personal Brand Glow-Up (Headshots + Profiles)
Marketers spend their careers building brands and often neglect their own. Their LinkedIn photo is from 2017. Their bio still says “passionate about marketing” because they haven’t had time to write something better.
Give them a personal brand refresh:
- A session with a professional photographer for updated headshots—fun, casual, and professional looks, so they have options for every context.
- A LinkedIn or website bio rewrite, so their profile actually matches who they’ve become, not who they were three job titles ago.
- Optional extras: a simple one-sheet template if they speak or teach, or branded Canva templates for social covers and posts that make them look as polished online as they are in real life.
This is especially meaningful for marketers who are:
- Stepping into leadership roles and needing to look the part.
- Starting to speak, teach, consult, or build a side presence outside their day job.
- Or just ready to show up online with a little more confidence and a lot less imposter syndrome.
Gift Idea #9: “Deep Work Day” or Strategy Spa
Most marketers I talk to say the same thing:
“I just need one quiet day to think and get ahead. Just one day without Slack, without someone needing something right now, without back-to-back meetings.”
Give it to them.
Create a Deep Work Day:
- A coworking day pass, hotel day-use room, or Airbnb space for a few hours so they can escape interruptions and actually focus.
- A small budget for lunch, coffee, and snacks—nothing fancy, just fuel so they don’t have to think about it.
- An agreement that, for that day, they’re off the meeting treadmill. No “quick questions.” No “got a sec?” messages—just space.
You can even name it: “Strategy Spa Day”—time set aside purely for planning, thinking, writing, and designing the future instead of reacting to the present. For high-output marketers drowning in urgency, this might be the most valuable gift on the list.
You can even tuck in:
- A nice notebook, pens, and sticky notes.
- A simple prompt card:
- “What do we need to stop doing?”
- “What do we need to double down on?”
- “If we had to design next year’s marketing from scratch, what would we keep?”
What you’re really giving them is mental space — and that’s where the best strategies are born.
Gift Idea #10: Content Creator On-the-Go Kit (For the Marketer Who Actually Loves This Stuff)
Some marketers create content because it’s in their job description. Others create content because they genuinely love it—they’re the ones building a personal brand on LinkedIn, running a side blog or newsletter, documenting their travels, or just obsessed with capturing moments in ways that feel authentic and beautiful.
If you know a marketer who lights up when they talk about storytelling, who has strong opinions about lighting and composition, who’s always thinking “this would make great content”—this kit is for them.
Pack a travel content kit:
- Compact/folding phone tripod with Bluetooth remote for stable shots anywhere—coffee shops, conferences, hikes, their favorite thinking spots.
- Clip-on travel mic (with a tiny windscreen for outdoor audio) so their voice comes through clearly, whether they’re recording thoughts on a walk or capturing an interview with an inspiring person.
- Small LED light or clip-on ring light for decent lighting in any environment—because good lighting makes everything feel more intentional.
- A zip pouch or small case labeled “Content Kit” (or something more personal like “Capture Everything”) to keep it all together and ready to grab.
This makes it easy for them to capture:
- Quick video essays or voice notes when inspiration hits.
- Interviews with interesting people they meet at conferences or in their community.
- Behind the scenes of their own creative process—how they think, plan, and build campaigns.
- Personal brand content that’s polished enough to post without needing a full production setup.
- Life moments they want to remember and share—not just work stuff, but the things that make them who they are.
This gift says: “I see that creating content isn’t just your job—it’s part of how you make sense of the world. And I want you to be able to do it well, wherever you are.”
Gift Idea #11: Team Celebration or Experience
Sometimes, the best gift isn’t for one marketer—it’s for the entire team that has been running on adrenaline, caffeine, and sheer willpower all year.
Think experiences that let them connect as humans, not just coworkers:
- A private group class (cooking, painting, improv, escape room) where laughing together is the whole point.
- A thank-you dinner or tasting—something nicer than the usual lunch-and-learn setup.
- A fun offsite where “talking shop” is optional, not required, and people can just enjoy each other’s company.
This is a fantastic option for leaders who want to show appreciation for hard work on big campaigns, grand openings, rebrands, system conversions, or just surviving another year of “doing more with less.”
It says: “You matter to me, not just as employees, but as people.”
Gift Idea #12: Subscription Boxes as Little Monthly Joys
Subscription boxes used to feel like a trend. They’ve matured into a great way to send your marketer a small, recurring reminder that you see them—not just once, but month after month.
Depending on their personality, consider:
- Coffee or tea subscriptions for long planning days and early mornings before player events.
- Snack boxes that make late-night promotions and month-end inventory nights more bearable.
- Creative or maker boxes (art supplies, puzzles, DIY kits) that give them a non-work outlet for their creativity—because marketers need to create things that aren’t campaigns sometimes.
- Self-care packages (skincare, bath products, wellness items) to encourage real downtime, not just “catching up on emails from the couch” time.
These are best when they’re clearly tailored: “I know you live on cold brew during month-end reporting, so I picked this for you” lands way better than “I got you a generic subscription.”
And One More Thing (Because Lagniappe is a Love Language)
That’s twelve solid gift ideas—plenty to choose from, plenty to mix and match. But I’m from New Orleans, and down here, we believe in lagniappe: that little something extra you weren’t expecting, the bonus gift that shows someone was thinking about you even after they’d already done enough.
So here’s your thirteenth idea, just because.
Gift Idea #13: The Gift of Support, Mentoring & Community
Some of the most potent gifts don’t always arrive in a box.
Some of the most meaningful gifts I hear marketers talk about are:
- A leader who invested in them with regular mentoring time.
- A membership in a professional organization that opened doors.
- A coach who helped them navigate a big transition.
- A peer group where they weren’t “the only one” in their role.
You can:
- Pay for memberships in professional organizations or communities that offer mentoring, networking, and peer support.
- Sponsor a few sessions with a marketing or leadership coach—someone who can help them think through challenges, career moves, or just how to manage up more effectively.
- Introduce them to a peer group or mastermind where they can process the real stuff—politics, budget battles, imposter syndrome—with people who get it.
- Offer your own time as a mentor, and put it in writing with a note or card: “I’m setting aside time each month to support your growth. Let’s make it official.”
For marketers who often feel like they’re “the only one” in their role or property, this can be more valuable than any gadget. It says, “You’re not alone. I believe in you, not just in what you do for us right now, but in who you’re becoming.”
Wrapping It All Up (Literally)
Marketers spend their days thinking about the customer journey, the guest experience, the campaign, and the brand. They’re the ones obsessing over details, fighting for budgets, defending strategies, and somehow keeping twelve spinning plates in the air without dropping one.
Marketers are the ones who:
- Remember everyone else’s birthdays and anniversaries.
- Design the campaigns that drive revenue.
- Make your casino, brand, or business look and feel like “you.”
Sometimes, they are the last to be invested in.
Whether you choose:
- A heated massage chair overlay so their body doesn’t hurt as much at the end of long weeks,
- An AI tool that saves them hours and makes them feel competent instead of overwhelmed,
- A conference seat that changes their perspective and reminds them why they love this work, or
- A mentoring experience that changes their career trajectory entirely. You’re doing more than checking a gift off your list; you’re saying: “I see your effort. I value your brain and your heart. I want you to have what you need to keep doing great work—and to be still standing when the year is over.”
If you’re the marketer, feel free to forward this with a simple subject line: “If you’re shopping for me, start here…
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