M&C's Hot Idea of the Day delivers tips of all sorts to planners' inboxes every business day. (Subscribe at bit.ly/11Cmn3V; it's free!) Topics range from career advice and décor to F&B and more. Herewith are the most popular 25 for the year 2014. Find lots more at mcmag.com/hot-ideas.
LOW-CAL MEALS. Chefs often can customize meals based on caloric counts. For one group, the Baltimore Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards created a menu that limited breakfast to 400 calories, lunch to 500 and dinner to 700. Ask your F&B contact if they can offer the same service.
WEB UNIVERSITY. The Muse, a website dedicated to the art of job hunting, launched Muse University this year, a suite of free classes that tackle everything from mastering Microsoft Excel to networking. Users can sign up anytime to start the email-based classes, which last from a few days to a few weeks.
DIY TRAVEL TOOTHPASTE. Refill travel-size tubes of toothpaste with the genius Toothpaste 2 Go cap, which attaches to regular-size tubes to enable an easy transfer. Cost: $5.99.
FITNESS PACK. FitKit's portable packs of fitness gear include an exercise band, a resistance tube, a jump rope and a stability attachment, along with access to a handy online library of exercises developed by famed fitness expert Amie Hoff. Cost, $34.99; customization and bulk discounts are available.
HERBAL CENTERPIECE. For a recent farm-to-table event, Vancouver, British Columbia-based Culinary Capers Catering filled the middle of a chef's table with handsome stone planters containing parsley, basil and chervil that guests could pull from to garnish their entrées.
CLEAN PACKING. Take packing to a new level of sophistication and order with Hudson+Bleecker's line of protective garment and shoe bags, available in a choice of stylish graphic prints. Cost: shoe bag, $60; garment bag, $128.
SMART LUNCH CARRYALL. Cuppow's lunch-box adapters for canning jars (or mason jars) are perfect for storing salad fixings and dressing, crudités and hummus, or any other food items that require separate liquid and dry compartments. Cost: $16.99 for the jar and adapter, $8.99 for just the adapter.
Pluggz shoes help alleviate planner's foot-itis.
HAPPY FEET. Comfy Pluggz "grounding shoes" come in a variety of stylish models and hues. The trade-show- friendly flats have supportive padded arches and moisture-wicking, antimicrobial insoles. Cost: from $129.
MOISTURE TO GO. Attach the Satechi USB Portable Humidifier to a bottle of water and it becomes a refreshing mister or hotel-room humidifier. Cost: $29.99.
The Cronut gets star treatment in this station
created by Abigail Kirsch Catering. CRONUT STATION. Abigail Kirsch Catering offers an interactive take on the "Cronut," the croissant-donut hybrid invented by a New York City bakery. A Cronut station (featuring Abigail Kirsch's version of the treat) lets guests adorn their dessert with a selection of "dunks" (spiced chocolate, salted caramel, vanilla bean, peanut butter and mocha glazes), "drizzles" (Nutella, white chocolate pistachio, caramel rum, raspberry ginger, apricot amaretto and port balsamic) and "dusts" (coconut, chocolate nibs, scotch chips, praline, dried strawberries, candied bacon and cookie crumbs).
BUDGET BLOSSOMS. Baby's breath is a staple of corsages and bouquets, but when arranged in dramatic, voluminous sprays, the effect of these affordable blossoms can be stunning. Lauren Fox and Anne Bradshaw of Charleston, S.C.-based A Fox Event use the flowers for a variety of unique designs, including a beautiful wildflower-studded version. Cost: around $8 per bunch; varies by market and season.
You'll never wonder where your
luggage went, thanks to the Trakdot. BAG FINDER. Curious as to where your luggage might wind up? Place the small Trakdot, which works via cellular network, inside your bag, and it will automatically notify you of its location via text -- a godsend if the suitcase winds up in New York City and you just landed in Minneapolis. Cost: $49.99, plus a first-year service fee of $19.99.
QUICK-CHARGE STATION. PlugBug World dually charges both a MacBook and another iOS device from just one outlet and up to four times faster than the factory power adapter would. Includes five AC plugs for use outside the U.S. in Australia, China, Continental Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore and the U.K. Cost: $44.99.
FLOATING FLORALS. Flower arrangements aren't just for tables; the Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa in Jupiter, Fla., uses floating floral arrangements to beautify poolside receptions.
Not for kids only: swanky cookies and milk MILK AND COOKIES. For evening galas and receptions, Toronto-based L-eat Catering creates popular milk-and-cookie stations. To make the classroom treat even more adult-friendly, add mini spiked hot chocolates to the offerings.
STEP COUNTER. Cassie Brown, chief experience officer at TCG Events, likes to give out pedometers at the start of a meeting; the participant who walks the most during the entire event gets an award. Cost: about $1.20 each for a minimum order of 150 customized pedometers. motivators.com
Neet Feet's logoed flip-flops
make a definite impression. LOGOED FLIP-FLOPS. The soles of Neet Feet's classic flip-flops can be imprinted with company names and logos. Bonus: If they're given out during a beach event, the firm's name is left stamped in the sand everywhere attendees walk. Multiple color combinations and customization options available. Cost: from $8.99 per pair for orders of 250.
UPSCALE BADGE HOLDERS. Attendees will appreciate these reusable magnetic badge holders by Lisa Bess that come in a variety of themes (beach, nature and flags, to name a few). Cost: $22 each.
JEWERY-PACKING TIP. To prevent losing tiny earrings while on the road, pin the pairs through the holes of a button; they'll be easy to locate when you dig through your packed jewelry cases.
SMART TAXI. Planning to take a taxi? First input where you want to go and when, and the TaxiMe app spits out a cost estimate, based on traffic, time of day, available taxi companies and other factors.
Great for keeping that cup of joe at
a drinkable temp, the Brookstone Beverage
Warmer is a quintessential "hot" idea. LIQUID WARMER. Brookstone's Beverage Warmer keeps hot drinks warm and toasty all day long. Cost: $24.99.
CAREER YOGA PANTS? Most of the time, the expressions "yoga pants" and "office-appropriate" don't belong in the same sentence. But this blend of a yoga pant and dress slacks from Betabrand seamlessly blurs the line between boardroom chic and loungewear. Cost: about $90; bulk discounts are available.
CARRY-ON TOTE. A convenient sleeve lets Bulletline's Chattanooga Convention Tote slide right over carry-on luggage handles. Cost: from $2.07 each for orders of up to 750.
"S" is for setup, as configured here. CURVACEOUS DISPLAY. This serpentine table layout, photographed during an event organized by production firm Ovando, ups the elegance factor of any basic space with its dramatic sweep.
LIGHT-UP FLORALS. Save On Crafts' Skeleton Bodhi Leaf Flower String Lights ($15 for an 8-foot cord) and Bodhi Leaf Rose String Lights ($14 for an 8-foot cord) add a wonderfully ethereal touch to seasonal tablescapes and event décor.