You know that managing events for venues or restaurants is no piece of cake. That’s why relying on calendars, emails, and spreadsheets alone won’t cut it. With so many moving parts to address simultaneously, a lot of problems are bound to emerge… and they will.
But with the help of a meticulously prepared plan, a team of well-trained and highly-engaged managers and staff, and the correct tools at your disposal, success will not be that difficult to achieve. Today’s event management software, in particular, are quite advanced that they start to mirror project management systems, if indeed they are not one yet.
On top of the standard tools for registration, on-site processing, social media integration, and badge printing, you get advanced features such as mobile check-ins, event marketing, online promotions, budget management, analytics, and online payments.
You won’t need all these features, for sure. That’s why it’s important you get to compare the options. As a venue and restaurant owner, we know that you’re always busy which is why we took the time to prepare this review of the 12 best event management software for venues and restaurants so you don’t have to.
Best Event Management Software for Venues and Restaurants Table of Contents
Everywhere in the world, event management is a booming industry. In the US, the number of event, meeting, and convention planners and organizers is expected to increase 11 percent from 2016 to 2026, faster than the average for all types of jobs. While in the UK, 1.3 million business events on the average are being held annually, with a total event spending of 42.3 billion pounds. The need for professionally planned events is anticipated to be sustained as organizations, both profit and non-profit, are expected to host events frequently.
Source: Cvent.
It’s also not a secret anymore that behind every event ninja is an efficient event app. In fact, more than half of B2B and B2C companies utilize event management software to prepare and coordinate their events, indicating that more and more businesses, especially those that primarily host events, are using technology to achieve better efficiency, stay ahead of competitors and realize other benefits of event management software. Indeed, technology has changed our lives as we know it, even how we plan and host events.
It’s no wonder that technological advances have led to significant improvements in the event management field. As more and more technological innovations are deployed in corporate gatherings and other events, attendees will continue to feel more engaged than ever and become more excited to attend the next one. This review of today’s 12 best event management software for venues and restaurants will definitely help you in selecting a new tool or upgrading your existing event management solution, complete with features and reasons why they have been the choice of event experts, venues, and restaurants.
12 Best Event Management Software for Venues & Restaurants
1. Wrike
Wrike Event Management easily tops our list of 12 best event management software for venues and restaurants. It is a powerful, all-in-one event planning, scheduling, and management solution for venues, restaurants, and any gathering, from the simplest business meetings and board meetings to large, complex industry conferences or trade shows. It offers a rich set of event-related tools specifically designed to help you more efficiently manage your events, seamlessly coordinate with suppliers, and better use your time and resources.
Wrike
Try out Wrike with their free trial
Central to Wrike’s efficiency is its intuitive Event Planning Template, which helps event organizers to remain in control of everything and prepare their event calendar effectively. It provides organizers a single, unified interface for a real-time overview of every aspect of your event, makes each team member responsible for their assignments, helps guarantee that deadlines are observed, and allows easy planning for upcoming events.
In essence, Wrike is a robust task management solution that enhances your planning efficiency and helps better organize simple gatherings as well as multi-team coordination for large events. Wrike Event Management provides you an end-to-end platform for managing and completing your events from start to finish. Why not try this popular event management tool for a test drive?
Detailed Wrike Review
Why Choose Wrike?
- Planning for event calendar
- Designating tasks with accountability
- Centralizing supplier management
- Event marketing template
- Preparing for future events
2. Gather
Gather is a widely-used all-in-one cloud-based event management platform for any type of venue designed to streamline all event workflows to help ensure the success of any kind of gathering. By providing all the relevant and add-on tools, this event management solution empowers venues, restaurants, and other places for holding various events.
Gather allows marketers to use your website to directly obtain leads and leverage on Gather Booking Network’s extensive listings to significantly broadened the reach of your venue. As leads come in directly into this platform, you can immediately respond to them, including assessing performance reports and KPIs with its intuitive interface.
Detailed Gather Review
By optimizing the power of the Cloud, Gather helps event managers and marketers take advantage of a streamlined workflow–which include step-by-step event monitoring, PCI-compliant payment processing, and templated contracts and proposals — to eliminate mistakes, hasten the completion of tasks, and gain considerable cost and resource savings. To ensure the handling of tasks are seamlessly conducted within and outside the office, its built-in Android and iOS mobile apps provide the optimized capability to view, coordinate, manage, and track events and activities.
You can check all the features of this event management solution when you sign up for Gather free demo here.
Why Choose Gather?
- Native mobile app
- Booking widget
- Streamlined workflow
- Document and form tracking in real-time
- 24/7 lead inquiry forms
3. ProjectManager
An award-winning cloud-based event and project management solution, ProjectManager integrates robust event and project planning and scheduling functionalities with collaboration tools for event organizers, venues, restaurants, and other businesses. Using a single efficient dashboard, event organizers can effortlessly create new events, assign and schedule assignments, distribute assets, and track the status of all event-related activities.
Whether your venue or restaurant holds simple events or large gatherings, this platform can supply all the needed tools to assist you to successfully hold any event, from start to finish. With ProjectManager.com, you can level up your event planning and management to help you gain a strategic advantage of your competitors. It can make real-time comparisons of the planned and actual progress of an ongoing event, which allows you and your events team to quickly see whether everything’s going as planned or not, which enables organizers to immediately make adjustments or quick solutions to any identified problem.
Detailed ProjectManager Review
Why Choose ProjectManager?
- Complete event management platform
- Real-time dashboards
- Full customization
- Comprehensive support
- Extensive integration
4. EventMobi
EventMobi is an all-in-one event experience solution that encompasses the whole lifecycle of your gathering, conference, or any event. By providing all the technological tools and functionalities needed to engage attendees in one, user-friendly event platform, event venues and restaurants gain significant effort and time savings, while ensuring the successful delivery of corporate events and gatherings. It offers the end-to-end event solutions that you need to effectively engage your attendees before, during, and after each event that you hold, including digital signages, registration, gamification, networking, live polling and surveys, analytics, and event apps.
A very customizable platform, EventMobi is an advanced event solution yet is easy to install and use for event organizers and even for their guests. This robust event management platform is designed to empower organizers to successfully plan and host synergistic, enriching and remarkable experience for attendees.
Detailed EventMobi Review
Why Choose EventMobi?
- End-to-end experience manager platform
- Multiple-event event capability
- Event gamification
- Live branded digital display
- Helps deliver an engaging experience for attendees
5. Eventbrite
Eventbrite is a highly flexible event management solution that adapts to the specific needs of organizers, venues, and restaurants. Packed with smart tools designed to boost sales and achieve time savings, this platform can handle the smallest meetings and even the biggest events and gatherings. User-friendly and customizable, Eventbrite allows organizers to easily set up and promote events online using pre-built professionally-designed event pages. Features include ticketing, registration, event listing design, fundraising, advertising, and payment handling. It also allows the monitoring of event progress in real time to enable users to have full control of events, including attendee details and financials.
Detailed Eventbrite Review
Why Choose Eventbrite?
- A comprehensive array of features to simplify event management
- Customization of event registration and tracking
- easy widget website integration
- Robust open API
- Free Organizer app for Android and iOS
6. Cvent
Cvent is a cloud-based event management solution designed to help venues and restaurants better manage their events to boost attendance and cut expenses. Can be used by companies and events organizers of any size, this platform covers the whole event lifecycle and provides the needed tools and features. Its event automation tool enables organizers to concentrate more on expanding their guest lists and reaching out to a wider audience rather than consuming time and effort on cumbersome, routinary tasks. It also streamlines most of the event management processes, including venue search, events planning, attendee engagement, performance measurement, among others.
Detailed Cvent Review
Why Choose Cvent?
- Helps organizers transform events into experiences
- 300,000+ active users in 100+ countries
- Housing and travel management
- Offers a four-phase event planning roadmap
- Award-winning 24/7 customer service
7. Bizzabo
Bizzabo is a comprehensive event management suite that handles all the necessary aspects to ensure the holding of successful and remarkable events. This is a robust all-in-one platform that helps events professionals as well as venue and restaurant managers become better in every event that they handle. If you need to streamline your ticketing process, strengthen sponsorship opportunities, enhance networking drives, or organize your customer data, Bizzabo can deliver whatever events-related needs that you require. It also provides intelligent event reporting and analytics.
Detailed Bizzabo Review
Why Choose Bizzabo?
- Streamlined ticketing and registration
- Design on-brand digital experience
- Integrated marketing and sponsorship apps
- Easy-to-use performance analysis
- Unified communication channels
8. XING Events
XING Events is an event management software solution programmed to assist event organizers, venues, and restaurant businesses from start to finish, including post-event activities. It is flexible and offers smart tools that can be customers to address your specific needs. Made up of three parts — event management, event promotion, and ticketing — XING Events offers a wide array of tools and features, including CRM integration, smart event builder, online ticket shop, online registration, and a payment processing system. It also allows users to have access to its 12 million-member database and provides support for multilingual ticketing and multiple payment methods.
Detailed XING Events Review
Why Choose XING Events?
- Manage complex events more easily
- Powerful, flexible online ticketing
- Customer retention/CRM integration
- Extensive audience reach
- Real-time reporting
9. TicketSource
TicketSource is a free, self-service online event management solution for venues, restaurants, and attendees. For selling 10 to 10,000 tickets for any venue, this solution boasts an integrated platform for managing online bookings, customer information, and in-house ticket sales 24/7. Organizers can easily create event-branded interfaces — complete with their logos and graphic designs — which attendees can use to easily buy their tickets. It also has a TicketShop app for selling tickets in company websites and in social media sites. Used by a wide range of organizers for schools, churches, clubs, festivals, and others, TicketSource does not charge organizers and only applies booking fees to attendees.
Detailed TicketSource Review
Why Choose TicketSource?
- Customize event details
- Manage the audience and track results
- Sell ticket in-house and online
- Market your box office
- Fast and offline ticket scanning
10. Aventri
A cloud-based event management platform, Aventri (formerly etouches) offers the tools needed to effectively manage all event tasks and activities to provide event performance insights in real time and to drive attendee engagement. Along with its management features for handling logistics, marketing, data analysis, and registration, the platform now offers an integrated Mobile Event App, a feature-rich smart mobile application that allows event managers to continue performing all their events management tasks even while on the field. It also has multilingual support to address the demands of event professionals in multiple locations worldwide.
Detailed Aventri Review
Why Choose Aventri?
- Promote your event via a dedicated website and email blasts
- Badges and certificates generation
- Floor and seating management
- External integrations include Salesforce and Marketo
- PCI Level 1 Compliant system for data security
11. Ticket Tailor
Ticket Tailor is an easy-to-use commission-free online event management and ticketing solution allows professional events organizers to sell tickets online on their own. Aside from removing the need for outside ticketing agencies, this platform is different from other events solutions because it doesn’t charge anything for each ticket sold. It also offers the lowest fee in the market today. Ticket Tailor can help you manage any kind of gathering or event, big or small, just as how you want it to be held.
Detailed Ticket Tailor Review
Why Choose Ticket Tailor?
- Multiple events and ticket allocations
- Lowest fees to enable the highest savings
- Determine and keep your own booking fees for extra revenue
- Automatic order confirmation and email e-ticket delivery
- Multi-lingual and multi-currency support
12. EventCreate
EventCreate is an all-in-one event application that can handle special personal or family events (parties, anniversaries, baby showers, birthdays, weddings, reunions), formal or business events (meetings, networking, conferences, conventions, festivals, webinars, seminars, workshops or classes), other event types (performances, open houses, screenings, galas, sporting events or competitions, tours, trips, tasting events, retreats), and many more.
It can help you plan, schedule, and manage all events in your personal life or company/organization very easily. Website creation and design takes only a few clicks, from choosing your event template, customizing its design to your liking (e.g., using your company logo or family crest), filling in the details, and customizing e-mail invites (or other forms of invites). The software automatically sends invites, gathers responses and attendee contact information, estimates guest numbers, follows up using scheduled reminders/ notifications, and handles all registration and query collections for you to answer or collect and post as an FAQ. All these happen automatically in their powerful cloud back end, accessible from anywhere by authorized users, freeing you to do more productive tasks.
Eventcreate offers free website templates that have been professionally created and designed by their in-house designers to avoid generic-looking web pages. You do not need to code anything as their web UI is simple and intuitive, utilizing drag-and-drop website creation. Examples of customizing your events include ticket sales, accepting credit card and other types of payment, and registration form design using custom questions (e.g., “Are you allergic to [type of food]?” or “Are you bringing a guest?”).
Its powerful analytics allows for tracking, managing, and troubleshooting your entire event’s flow and performance. You can also segment your respondents as VIPs, influencers, and otherwise important guests which may open doors to their business.
Detailed EventCreate Review
Why Choose Eventcreate?
- All-in-one small to large event creation and handling
- Simple website creation and design (no coding)
- Limitless event types
- Powerful cloud-based analytics
- Automated attendee data collection and handling
Researching the Best Event Management Software for Your Venue
As a venue and restaurant owner, you’ll definitely agree that it’s always good to do our homework — like conducting some research, reading comparisons of top events management apps, and other best practices — before we make that purchase decision, either for a new tool or an upgrade. It is not only advantageous to know enough; it’s also empowering. Finally, if you’re now on the lookout for an event management app for your restaurant or venue, why not try first our top-picked app to save you the usual hassles hunting for that perfect tool for you? You can easily do so when you sign up for a Wrike free trial.
Key Insights
- Advanced Event Management Features: Modern event management software includes tools such as mobile check-ins, event marketing, online promotions, budget management, analytics, and online payments, which go beyond traditional event planning tools.
- Efficiency and Organization: Wrike Event Management stands out for its comprehensive planning and scheduling capabilities, providing a unified view of event details and task assignments, ensuring team adherence to budgets and timelines.
- Cloud-Based Solutions: Solutions like Gather and ProjectManager offer cloud-based platforms that streamline workflows, integrate robust planning tools, and support mobile access for on-the-go management.
- Customizability and Flexibility: Platforms such as EventMobi and Bizzabo offer extensive customization options to cater to different event types and sizes, enhancing attendee engagement and providing detailed analytics.
- User-Friendly Interfaces: Software like Eventbrite and TicketSource emphasize ease of use, with customizable event pages, seamless integration with websites and social media, and simple ticketing processes.
- Comprehensive Support and Integration: Many top software options, including Cvent and Aventri, provide extensive support services, integration with other business tools, and multilingual capabilities to cater to global event management needs.
FAQ
- What is the best event management software for venues and restaurants? The best event management software for venues and restaurants is Wrike. It offers comprehensive event planning, scheduling, and management tools, including an intuitive event planning template and a unified interface for real-time event monitoring.
- What features should I look for in event management software? Key features to look for include registration tools, on-site processing, social media integration, badge printing, mobile check-ins, event marketing, online promotions, budget management, analytics, and online payments.
- How can event management software improve efficiency? Event management software can improve efficiency by providing a centralized platform for all event-related activities, streamlining workflows, reducing errors, and saving time through automation and real-time monitoring.
- Is cloud-based event management software beneficial? Yes, cloud-based event management software offers several benefits, including accessibility from anywhere, real-time updates, seamless collaboration, and reduced need for physical infrastructure.
- Can event management software handle large events? Yes, many event management software solutions are designed to handle large events, providing tools for extensive planning, scheduling, and coordination among multiple teams and participants.
- What are the advantages of customizable event management software? Customizable event management software allows organizers to tailor the platform to their specific needs, enhance attendee engagement through personalized experiences, and gather detailed analytics for performance improvement.
- How do I choose the right event management software for my venue? To choose the right software, consider your specific needs, compare the features of different options, read reviews, and take advantage of free trials or demos to test the software before making a decision.
- What is the importance of mobile access in event management software? Mobile access is crucial for event managers who need to coordinate and monitor activities on-the-go, ensuring that they can manage tasks, track progress, and address issues from anywhere at any time.
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