Five of the best attendee gifts we ever put together for Bali events

Attendee gifts, event merch, swag – whatever you call it, it's controversial.

We've had many hours of conversation with clients who swear they don't want to give attendees anything, that it will be a waste, and then as the event creeps closer, panic and have to choose from the same old selections. Sound familiar?

Look, we get it. You've seen the conference tote bags left behind, the branded pens that end up in hotel room trash cans, and the USB drives gathering dust in desk drawers. But here's the thing – when done right, attendee gifts become conversation starters, Instagram moments, and genuine reminders of an incredible experience. And in a place like Bali, we are spoiled for choice. We can have the most incredible custom pieces created that are amazing brand ambassadors long after the event is over.

After 15+ years of producing events in Bali, we've learned that the best attendee gifts aren't about your logo (shocking, we know). They're about creating a connection between your guests and the place they're visiting, giving them something with actual utility, or sparking joy in unexpected ways.

P.S. water bottles? You’d be surprised how well received they are in this climate and when you can’t drink the tap water!

Before we dive into five attendee gifts that had people genuinely excited to take them home and why they worked so well, let us plant some ideas in your head.

Working with Local Artisans: What Event Planners Need to Know

One thing we've learned: working with local artists and craftspeople requires a different approach than ordering from corporate suppliers. Here's what to expect:

• Timeline: Add 4 weeks to what you think you need

• Communication: Be prepared for different business practices and response times

• Samples: Always order samples early – handmade means variations

• Minimums: Many artisans have higher minimums than expected

• Payment: Many require significant deposits upfront

But the results are worth it. The authenticity and uniqueness you get from working with local creators can't be replicated by mass-produced alternatives.

The Sustainability Factor

More and more corporate groups are asking about the environmental impact of their events, including gifts. Here's how to make attendee gifts part of your sustainability story rather than a guilt factor:

• Choose items with longevity: Things people will use for years, not months

• Support local economies: Keep money in the destination community

• Avoid single-use items: Even if they're branded beautifully

• Consider experiences over objects: Sometimes the gift is the experience itself

• Tell the impact story: Let attendees know how their gift made a difference

  The Future of Attendee Gifts

Based on what we're seeing with corporate groups, here's where attendee gifts are heading:

• More experiential: Classes, workshops, and activities rather than objects

• Hyper-personalized: Mass customization technology making individual touches affordable

• Impact-driven: Gifts that create positive change in the destination

With that, these are the 5 gifts that made us most proud to be a part of curating and producing.

1/ A branded edition of our Snakes and Ladders game

This was a special gift for attendees of an asset managment group. How fitting is the message of Snakes and Ladders for that crowd? A special reminder of their time in Bali and something they could share with their family once they got home.

2/ Custom banded notebooks for guests to invite them to journal, sketch, dream.

Basically slow down and be present in Bali. Featuring artwork by a Balinese artist Maya Kerthyasa of the gorgeous Balinese landscape. A budget-friendly gift with a big impact and strong ties to the island. The notebooks are also hand-bound and made of recycled paper by a group of women right here in Bali.

3/ A hand loomed scarf with a live weaving demonstration

We organized custom white scarves (for an all white party) from Bali’s oldest handloom fabric studio. Instead of just giving them to attendees, we set up a full loom with a live demonstration of the weaving process during the sunset cocktail hour. And if they got chilly after a long night of dancing? Perfect for the ride home.

4/ A Balinese Tridatu blessing bracelet with sterling silver charm

This is such a simple but powerful gift to give people arriving in Bali. We pair this with a simple ceremony led by a priest to welcome attendees and ask for blessings for the event. The bracelet has a simple silver charm with an event symbol on it and a extender to cover all wrist sizes.

5/ Cookbook signed with personal message from author

This was an amazing room drop. a cookbook featuring recipes from two of Bali’s most respected writers and chefs. Even more incredible as the guests ate the food from the cookbook two times during their event during meals cooked by the authors!

Making It Happen

The best attendee gifts don't happen by accident. They require early planning, cultural understanding, and connections with local creative communities – exactly the kind of relationships that large DMCs struggle to maintain but boutique planners like us specialize in.

If you're planning a corporate event in Bali and want attendee gifts that people actually keep, start the conversation early. The most meaningful gifts can't be rushed, but they're worth the extra planning time.

Your attendees will thank you. Your client will love the positive feedback. And six months later, when someone wears their batik shirt to a dinner party or cooks a recipe from a cookbook for friends, they'll remember exactly how your event made them feel.

Behind the design: Custom gifts and merchandise for events and brands

We’ve been lucky to work with several brands and events over the past years to create custom and branded gifts for their clients or event attendees. Elami Productions transforms moments into lasting memories through immersive event experiences in Bali. Building on our expertise in event design and production, we now extend our vision to bespoke gifts and merchandise that tell your Bali story. Whether for a special room drop, event gift bag, or an attendee present that is part of the event experience, we can make suggestions to find your perfect match.

We offer a few different options, including branding our existing designs, or starting from scratch. Below is an example of an existing design branded by a Uluwatu hotel called Asa Maia for guests gifts.

Working with Bali's finest artisans, we create customized pieces that honor local craftsmanship while meeting contemporary design sensibilities for corporate gifts.

Above all we value:

- Authentic cultural connections

- Sustainable production practices

- Artisanal quality

- Innovative design

- Community impact

Below is a Balinese tridatu bracelet made with sterling silver clasp and charm with a stamped company logo. This was handmade by traditional Balinese silversmiths to give to guests attending an incentive event.

From concept to creation, each piece reflects our deep understanding of Bali's rich artistic heritage and our clients' contemporary visions. Whether designing for an intimate gathering or a grand corporate event, we ensure every element – from the event experience of receiving the gift to the take-home pieces – weaves together seamlessly.

Our merchandise range include:

- Custom-designed and branded event keepsakes

- Limited edition collaborative pieces

- Branded merchandise that tells your story

- Event-specific commemorative items

Below is a handmade paper and wood fan with original prints featuring a company-specific pattern and branded on the edge of the fan with the company logo.

It’s not just the gift, but how it’s presented to the guest. below is a traditional weaving loom set up at an event where guests could see how the traditional Balinese scarf they received was made in front of their eyes, making it more meaningful and memorable.

Drawing on our established relationships within Bali's creative community and our experience working with international brands, our merchandise and gifts resonate with both local and global audiences. Each project is approached with our famed attention to detail and commitment to sustainability, ensuring that every item not only delights its recipient but also honors Bali's artistic legacy and natural resources.

With Elami Productions, your event story continues long after the last guest departs, living on through thoughtfully crafted pieces that capture the essence of your special moment in Bali.

Behind the design: Room4Dessert merchandise

We were excited to create a line of merchandise for Room4Dessert based on Chef Will Goldfarb’s recipe notes, written in the back of a copy of A Moveable Feast. The quick sketches, loops of the pen, and the English and French words that jumped out of the scribbles, like pamplemousse, chocolate milkshake, citron and creme brulee, made us fall in love.

We created a t-shirt, water bottle, apron, tea towel, notebook and shopping tote based on an image that appeared in Chef Will’s cookbook taken by Martin Westlake. All are available to buy at The Powder Room by Room4Dessert.

Behind the design: Uluwatu Surf Villas Artist Series

In our work with the incredible Uluwatu Surf Villas, we produced different merchandise as part of their Artist Series, collaborations with illustrators and artists from Indonesia and abroad.

The first artist we worked with to transform their artwork from digital to screen-printed fabric was the talented Christina Budi, an Indonesian batik illustrator based in Amsterdam. Christina is known for her modern batik print designs.

Christina received a list of Uluwatu Surf Villa icons like the kingfisher birds, monkeys, local fishing boats, Balinese offerings and temple gates, and the fish that patrol the waves. She also received a color palette of classic batik shades of blue and brown. She then created an incredible design and pattern. We took it from there to create a pattern and make it screen print ready for production.

The second artist we had the honor of working with was Niluh Pangestu, a Balinese artist working with linocut and digital illustration. Niluh offered up icons from several of her recent works to be turned into a series of cards, t-shirts, notebooks and tote bags for the property.