The success of a national conference rests on your sanity. And your sanity on the road sometimes depends on what’s in your suitcase.
I’ve learned that certainty in travel starts with your own gear. To eliminate on-site surprises, these three things never leave my bag.
1. The Power Strip
I was in a hotel last week with zero plugs near the nightstand. No USBs, nothing. A simple power strip turns a “tech desert” into a functional space. It’s 2026, people!
2. The “TP Roll” Hack
I stuff 6 to 8 grocery bags into an empty toilet paper roll. It takes up almost no room, and the bags are perfect for room trash that overflows those tiny wastebaskets, or for keeping dirty shoes away from clean shirts.
3. The Roku
When I’m done for the day, I want my Prime and my YouTube TV. I’ve become a pro at “hacking” hotel TV inputs to make the room feel like home, and a Roku is the easiest way I’ve found to get around those ridiculous hotel TV systems.
Its hotel Wi-Fi mode lets you finish the “room number and last name” sign-in page on your phone, so you’re not stuck typing it on a TV remote. Bonus: when the TV has no USB port to power the stick, the power strip saves the day here, too.
Why it matters: the planner who controls the small stuff shows up rested, charged, and ready for the day that actually counts.