Stratus
Annual employee party, Washington, D.C.
The Ask
Stratus partnered with one of their clients on a large annual holiday event for the client’s employees, with attendees staying on-site at a hotel for the duration of the program. Stratus was looking for a room-drop welcome gift that would immediately set the tone — elevating the experience and making the hotel feel more like a destination resort.
Because the client’s name includes “Locust,” the concept naturally leaned into a playful White Lotus reference. The brief called for something in the spirit of a hangover-recovery kit, but significantly more elevated — thoughtful, travel-oriented, and worthy of a major employee event.
Our Approach
We leaned fully into the fictional resort concept, designing a gift that felt like it belonged in a high-end hotel suite. Rather than novelty items, we curated products that balanced indulgence, recovery, and travel — the kinds of details you’d expect at a Four Seasons–level property.
Every element reinforced the narrative, from the product selection to the custom packaging and monogrammed details. The goal was to create an immersive, tongue-in-cheek experience that felt intentional and luxurious, not themed for theme’s sake.
What We Delivered
- A custom-curated welcome gift inspired by a fictional “White Lotus”–style resort
- White Lotus–themed chocolate bars by Compartés
- Custom shortbread cookies stamped with “Welcome to the White Locust”
- Custom silk sleep masks branded for the fictional resort
- Mandarin Crush hand mist by Element Brooklyn
- Hydrogel eye masks and electrolyte packets for recovery
- Leather luggage tags monogrammed with each guest’s initials
- Custom-designed mailer boxes based on the event’s visual materials
- Kitting and bulk fulfillment to two hotels for room drops
Results
The welcome gifts became an immediate extension of the event itself. Stratus was thrilled with how seamlessly the gifts fit into the overall experience, adding polish, personality, and a strong sense of arrival for employees from the moment they checked in.
Client Feedback
"The Four Seasons aesthetic is perfect — exactly the look we were going for. We truly appreciate the quick turnaround on this!"
Stratus Team
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