Travel gizmos, a portable manicure station and a wrinkle-free (and cute!) dress are among M&C's 2017 Hot Ideas of the Day that really resonated with our audience. Following is a compilation of the year's 25 most popular items. To receive a piping Hot Idea in your inbox every workday (it's free!), go to mcmag.com/subscribe. Note: Prices were current at press time.
1. See It, Pack It: Use your smartphone to snap pictures of each item you pack in your suitcase (one snapshot of shoes, one of jewelry, etc.). Check the photos when you repack to make sure you're not leaving anything behind in the hotel.
2. Instant Nail Salon: Pamper your participants with mani-pedis alongside the pool, in a trade-show booth or at a break with the portable mani-pedi cart from Dazzle Dry. The package includes four stools and an umbrella that can be co-branded with the name of an organization or facility. Cost: $4,000, more for nail products.
3. Hide in Plane Site: It might look a bit bizarre, but the Ostrich Pillow is the closest thing you'll get to a snooze and some privacy during a long flight. Take a power nap anywhere in this cozy cocoon. Cost: $99.
4. Luggage that's Smarter Than You: Raden's rolling bag can weigh itself and connects to an iOS app that provides weather, traffic and proximity alerts. The suitcase, available in a range of colors, also has a built-in battery with two charging ports. Cost: $395.
5. Don't Burst This "Bubble": At the Hyatt Centric Times Square New York's Bar 54, groups of up to 20 can enjoy the rooftop space, even during the chilly months, by congregating in the "bubbles" -- translucent, heated igloos with 1950s-inspired mod furnishings. Cost: Contact property for pricing.
6. Your New Wardrobe Essential: Ex Officio's chic, comfy and packable Wanderlux dresses defy wrinkles; available in a range of styles and colors. Cost: From $37.50.
7. Finally, a Cure for Airplane Hair: Dry plane air can lead to frazzled, static-prone hair. Give your 'do its bounce back with a spritz of this dry shampoo, which won't leave any weird residue behind. It comes in a handy 1-oz size, perfect for tucking in a carry-on. Cost: $10.
8. Lost Luggage Finder: Wouldn't it be great if your bag could tell you where it wound up? Now it can, with the
Trakdot luggage tracker. This little battery-powered gizmo uses cellular technology to let you know where your bag is if it gets lost. Cost: About $40.
9. Any USB Port in a Storm: The HooToo TripMate Elite Wireless Travel Router packs two USB ports and a backup battery into this pocket-sized device, so you can have a secure WiFi connection anywhere. Cost: $30.
10. Lighten Up: Brumark's Magnitude flooring system features LED lights that illuminate the perimeter of a raised floor, creating a special effect that really makes your booth stand out. Cost: Contact company for pricing.
11. Closet on Wheels: The packing cubes that stack into this sturdy (you can sit on it!) aluminum-framed luggage make living out of a suitcase easy work. Cost: $295.
12. How to Look Dry-Clean Fresh: The Conair portable steamer is lightweight and dual-voltage, so you can be
wrinkle-free even when you're overseas. Cost: $23.
13. Selfie Schtick: Help your selfie-obsessed attendees look their best with this compact, customizable LED light that creates flattering illumination and includes a mirror for pre-shot preening. Cost: $3.49 for a minimum order of 100; discounts are available for larger orders.
14. Inside-Out on Purpose: Attendees will be sure to remember the company or event when they reach for this umbrella, branded with your name or logo and which folds up inside-out to keep you dry even when the umbrella is wet. Cost: $19.90 each per minimum order of 25.
15. A True Signature Cocktail: Thanks to their proprietary imaging process, Grand Bevy can put any image or company logo on top of a signature cocktail created for your event. It's just one offering from the firm, which provides beverage/bar services for private events. Cost: Contact supplier for pricing.
16. Happy Head Shots: A green-screen photo lounge from 3D Media Group gives your attendees the perfect setting (including your logo/branding) for photos they can share with their own social networks. Cost: Contact vendor for pricing.
17. Water Never Tasted So Good: Elevate humble H20 with this dispenser that delivers delicious flavors like peach, lemon or raspberry, in addition to plain water. Cost: From $500.
18. Waffles and Wings: What's better than chicken and waffles? Here's what's better: Chicken and waffles in a cone, slathered in a sauce (kick'n ranch, yella BBQ, cinna-maple, buffalo blue or traditional BBQ). Chick'nCone's catering delivers this cutlery-free version of a comfort-food classic in the New York City area, with plans to expand via franchise to the rest of the U.S.
19. Cotton Candy Goes Upscale: The "foie gras cotton candy" at Bazaar Meat by José Andrés at the SLS Las Vegas is to die for: The house-cured foie gras is given a veil of spun sugar and then served on a skewer.
20. What's Your Handle?: Conceal your contact info and protect your palm with the IdentiGrip Luggage ID, which wraps around the handle of your roller bag. Tuck an address label inside the soft foam cylinder before attaching it to your bag. Cost: $7.
21. Shake Up the Swag Bag: RSVP Skinnies can be branded with any name or logo; the tiny packets of low-cal cocktail mixers -- New York Cosmo, Baja Margarita, Maui Mai Tai and London Gimlet -- make easy-to-pack swag. Cost: $13 per 12-pouch box; contact company for pricing on bulk and custom orders.
22. Pocket Keyboard: Trying to type anything much longer than a two-word email on a tiny touchscreen keyboard is hard work. Yumqua's roll-up universal Bluetooth silicone keyboard keeps you typing, minus the bulk and hassle of a traditional keyboard. Cost: $27.
23. Chalk It Up: Chalk artist Kate Turner creates mural-size designs for events -- like this sweeping view of the Atlanta skyline for a Delta Air Lines-sponsored beverage station. Cost: $200-$700.
24. Arts and Crafts for Grownups: With Technochic's ingenious kits, groups can create colorful paper flowers adorned with tiny LED lights for extra sparkle. Display the lovely designs around a break or buffet table. Cost: $25 per kit.
25. A Pencil With a Mind of Its Own: This is no student pencil: The Rotring hybrid mechanical pencil-stylus has an ergonomic barrel, advanced lead-feed technology and a soft stylus tip if you prefer to write or draw on a screen. (Bonus: Its signature hexagonal shape won't roll off a desk or table.) Cost: About $56.