The 19 Best Event Scheduling Software For 2024
10 Best Event Scheduling Software Shortlist
Here's my pick of the 10 best software from the 19 tools reviewed.
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As an event planner, I know firsthand the challenges you're grappling with - from juggling a multitude of tasks and ensuring seamless coordination to maintaining communication with all stakeholders. Rest assured; you're not alone. This is where a robust event management solution and event technology step in.
Think of event scheduling software as your ultimate sidekick, an essential tool that automates, streamlines, and simplifies the event planning process from inception to execution. With it, you'll orchestrate memorable, effective, and efficient events that awe your guests, clients, and team.
Event scheduling software's real value lies in its ability to save your most precious resource - time. It also boosts your productivity, reduces errors, and elevates your event planning game to a whole new level.
Now, let's delve into your pain points. The constant back-and-forth email marketing campaigns, endless spreadsheets, the dread of double-booking, and the quest to stay on top of all types of event details are no easy feat. Thankfully, these are the very obstacles that good event planning software eradicates, transforming your workflow into a seamless and stress-free experience. So, let's dive in and explore the top options to find the best event management tools.
What Is Event Scheduling Software?
Event scheduling software is an innovative event planning tool that assists individuals, teams, and organizations in planning, managing, and executing events efficiently. It's a go-to resource for event project management, conference organizers, non-profit organizations, educational institutions, corporate professionals, and anyone tasked with coordinating fundraising, trade shows, event ticket sales, seminars, virtual events (webinars), online events, in-person events, or hybrid events.
This powerful software simplifies every facet of the event management platform, from allocating resources, setting up timelines, assigning tasks, and event ticketing to managing event registration forms, attendee management, and attendee engagement. Its primary purpose is to streamline the often complex and time-consuming process of event organization, offering a centralized platform for all the moving parts, thereby facilitating successful and stress-free event experiences.
Best Event Scheduling Software Summary
| Tools | Price | |
|---|---|---|
| Little Hotelier | Pricing upon request | Website |
| innRoad | From $150/user/month | Website |
| TCP Hospitality | From $12/user/month | Website |
| RoomKey PMS | From $100/user/month | Website |
| Agendrix | From $1/user/month | Website |
| SiteMinder | From $40/user/month | Website |
| Resource Management by Smartsheet | From $14/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Life House | From $120/user/month | Website |
| Seven Rooms | From $200/user/month (billed annually) | Website |
| Hotel Effectiveness | Pricing upon request | Website |
Compare Software Specs Side by Side
Use our comparison chart to review and evaluate software specs side-by-side.
Compare SoftwareBest Event Scheduling Software Reviews
Little Hotelier stands as a dynamic platform specifically tailored to small to mid-sized hotel businesses. By offering room scheduling, front desk operations, online registration, and RSVP, it provides a comprehensive solution for hospitality management. Its tailored features for smaller-scale operations make it a fitting choice for small to mid-sized hotel businesses.
Why I Picked Little Hotelier: When judging various scheduling tools, I chose Little Hotelier for its niche focus on smaller hotels. Its tailored approach, encompassing various hotel operations within a single platform, sets it apart from other more generalist tools. I determined it's 'Best for small to mid-sized hotel businesses' due to its thoughtful amalgamation of features that cater specifically to the unique needs of these businesses.
What do you get for free?
Little Hotelier does not offer a permanent free plan. However, it does provide a free demo upon request to help prospective users understand its functionality and value proposition.
Standout features & integrations:
Little Hotelier houses a number of noteworthy features like an interactive calendar for room scheduling, an online booking engine, and a front desk system. It also offers a channel manager that effectively distributes your room inventory across various booking platforms. As for integrations, it links up well with leading OTAs, GDSs, and meta-search platforms to broaden your reach and boost direct bookings.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Effective distribution via channel manager
- Comprehensive room scheduling and booking system
- Tailored features for small to mid-sized hotels
Cons:
- Pricing information isn't readily available
- Might not be suitable for large hotel chains
- No permanent free plan, only a demo
InnRoad is a property management solution that targets independent hotel owners, providing them with an all-in-one event management software to handle reservations, billing, floor plan, check-in, and guest management. It's designed to streamline operations for small to medium-sized independent hotels, making it an ideal choice for these businesses.
Why I Picked InnRoad: I chose InnRoad for its focus on independent hotels, a segment that can often get overlooked by larger, more generic systems like Bizzabo and Cvent. The unique aspects of managing an independent hotel require a tailored approach, which InnRoad offers. The integrated functionality and the specific features designed for independent hotel owners make it stand out in the crowd.
What do you get for free?
InnRoad does not offer a free plan. However, they do provide a free demo of their product to allow potential users to explore its features and capabilities before making a commitment.
Standout features & integrations:
InnRoad offers robust features such as online booking, front desk operations, group management, and a unified reservation system. The system can be integrated with major OTAs (Online Travel Agents), which broadens the reach of the hotel to potential guests.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Can integrate with major OTAs
- Offers a unified reservation system
- Specially designed for independent hotels
Cons:
- Some features may not be needed for extremely small hotels
- Pricing is a bit high for very small establishments
- No free plan or tier available
TCP Hospitality is a cloud-based solution that is designed to streamline workforce scheduling and labor management for the hospitality industry. By providing a user-friendly interface and real-time updates, it aims to make scheduling more efficient and less time-consuming for hospitality businesses.
Why I Picked TCP Hospitality: In choosing TCP Hospitality, I focused on its robust scheduling and labor management capabilities. These features, coupled with industry-specific functionalities, set it apart from other solutions. I believe it's 'Best for scheduling efficiency in the hospitality industry' due to its focus on real-time updates and the ability to manage schedules remotely, which is pivotal for this fast-paced industry.
What do you get for free?
TCP Hospitality does not offer a free tier or plan. However, a free demo is available upon request, enabling prospective users to explore its functionalities before committing to a purchase.
Standout features & integrations:
TCP Hospitality offers detailed labor forecasting, real-time alerts, and comprehensive scheduling tools. Furthermore, it provides integrations with key payroll systems, enhancing its utility in workforce management.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integrates with major payroll systems
- Provides detailed labor forecasting
- Tailored features for the hospitality industry
Cons:
- May be overkill for smaller hospitality businesses
- Pricing information is not transparent
- No free tier or plan available
RoomKey PMS is a comprehensive property management system that offers a suite of tools designed for the hospitality industry. Focusing on real-time updates and operational transparency, it excels at providing users with up-to-the-minute information about various aspects of their hotel business.
Why I Picked RoomKey PMS: I chose RoomKey PMS because it brings a unique perspective to hotel management solutions. Its strength lies in real-time data processing, which empowers hoteliers to make informed, timely decisions. This focus on real-time information management makes it stand out and is why I consider it the best choice for those seeking real-time hotel management solutions.
What do you get for free?
RoomKey PMS doesn’t offer a free tier of their service, but they do provide a demo upon request, allowing potential customers to explore the platform's features and interface before making a purchasing decision.
Standout features & integrations:
RoomKey PMS boasts a host of useful features, including real-time reservations, integrated online booking, guest communication, and comprehensive reporting. It integrates with a range of other platforms and services, including popular global distribution systems (GDS), credit card processing services, and revenue management systems.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Wide array of integrations
- Comprehensive range of features
- Real-time data processing for up-to-date information
Cons:
- Additional costs for setup and other services
- Higher cost compared to some alternatives
- No free plan available
Agendrix positions itself as an all-in-one event solution for all your workforce management needs. This versatile software offers robust scheduling, time tracking, communication, and HR features, making it ideal for managing different aspects of your team. Its all-around capability underpins its suitability for comprehensive workforce management.
Why I Picked Agendrix: After reviewing various tools, I selected Agendrix due to its extensive features that cover more than just scheduling. It stood out with its focus on facilitating multiple facets of workforce management in a single platform. I firmly believe it's 'Best for all-around workforce management needs' because it successfully integrates scheduling, time tracking, and HR functionalities, simplifying overall workforce management.
What do you get for free?
Agendrix offers a 14-day free trial that provides full access to all its features, helping you understand its capabilities before investing. Beyond the trial period, a subscription is necessary to continue using the service.
Standout features & integrations:
Agendrix packs a range of handy features like employee shift scheduling, a time clock with GPS tracking, and an integrated messenger for efficient team communication. It also offers labor cost tracking and compliance tools, invaluable for effective HR management. On the integration front, Agendrix connects with various payroll systems such as ADP, QuickBooks, and Paychex, enabling smooth data transfer for accurate payroll processing.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Compatibility with various payroll systems
- Integrated messenger enhances team communication
- Comprehensive workforce management tool
Cons:
- Pricing might be on the higher side for small teams
- The user interface could be more intuitive
- No permanent free plan, only a 14-day trial
SiteMinder is a platform dedicated to helping hotels increase their visibility and extend their reach to potential guests, ultimately leading to maximized room sales. It connects hotel rooms to a vast network of online booking sites, delivering real-time availability and pricing, which makes it ideal for maximizing hotel room sales.
Why I Picked SiteMinder: I selected SiteMinder because of its extensive network of booking channels and effective room distribution capabilities. The platform stands out with its real-time management of rates and availability across multiple channels. This level of optimization and control over room distribution makes it my pick for 'Best for maximizing hotel room sales.'
What do you get for free?
SiteMinder does not offer a free tier or plan. However, they do provide a free trial period for new users to understand how the platform can benefit their business.
Standout features & integrations:
SiteMinder is noteworthy for its channel manager, booking engine, and global distribution system (GDS) connectivity. In terms of integrations, it connects with multiple property management systems (PMS), central reservation systems (CRS), and revenue management systems (RMS), helping hoteliers streamline their operations.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Robust integration with various hotel management systems
- Real-time management of rates and availability
- Extensive network of booking channels to maximize room sales
Cons:
- Some users may find the cost prohibitive
- The platform may be complex for new users to navigate
- No free tier or plan available
Resource Management by Smartsheet is a comprehensive tool for managing resources, streamlining project planning, and promoting team collaboration. With its robust features, you can easily plan, track, and allocate your team's resources, making it an ideal solution for organizations seeking a comprehensive team resource management tool.
Why I Picked Resource Management by Smartsheet: I picked Resource Management by Smartsheet for its broad range of features that deliver efficient resource planning and tracking for teams of all sizes. What sets this software apart is its integration with the larger Smartsheet platform, offering an array of additional capabilities. Its best-for status as a 'team resource planning and tracking' tool results from its superior capacity to allocate resources, balance team workload, and track project progress.
What do you get for free?
Smartsheet does offer a free 30-day trial. However, the full suite of Resource Management features is only available with a paid plan.
Standout features & integrations:
Smartsheet offers standout features like workload view, resource allocation, real-time reporting, and Gantt charts. These features offer comprehensive visibility into team capacity and project progress. As for integrations, Smartsheet offers connections with a wide range of tools such as MS Office, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Jira, and more, enhancing its resource management capabilities.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Real-time reporting and analytics
- Integration with a wide range of other tools
- Comprehensive resource planning and tracking
Cons:
- Might not be suited for smaller teams or enterprises
- The interface might be complex for new users
- Full resource management features only available with paid plan
Life House is a hotel management platform primarily designed to cater to the needs of boutique and lifestyle hotels. It offers an all-in-one software solution that includes property management, social media integration, and revenue management.
Why I Picked Life House: I selected Life House because of its specialty in handling boutique and lifestyle hotels, which usually have unique requirements compared to large hotel chains. The platform provides a tailored approach to managing these types of hotels, offering features that address their specific needs. Hence, I judged it to be the best option for boutique and lifestyle hotels.
What do you get for free?
Life House does not offer a free tier or trial. However, prospective users can request a demo to familiarize themselves with the platform's capabilities.
Standout features & integrations:
Life House provides numerous features, including reservation management, integrated online booking, and dynamic pricing. It also integrates well with popular travel agencies, review sites, and payment gateways, providing a cohesive system for boutique and lifestyle hotel management.
Pricing:
Pricing for Life House is available upon request. As they tailor their services to each client, costs can vary depending on the specific requirements of each boutique or lifestyle hotel.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Provides integrations with popular travel agencies and review sites
- Offers a comprehensive suite of management tools
- Tailored to the specific needs of boutique and lifestyle hotels
Cons:
- May not be suitable for large hotel chains
- No free tier or trial period
- No disclosed pricing available
Seven Rooms is a guest experience and retention platform that focuses on delivering personalized service to each guest. It aids businesses in the hospitality sector, including hotels, restaurants, and clubs, in deepening guest relationships and driving repeat business.
Why I Picked Seven Rooms: I picked Seven Rooms for its unique focus on creating a customizable guest experience. Its CRM capabilities, coupled with marketing automation, help businesses stand out in a crowded market by delivering personalized service. This uniqueness and the attention it pays to guest experience management led me to judge it as the 'Best for personalized customer lifecycle management.'
What do you get for free?
Seven Rooms does not offer a free tier or plan. However, businesses can request a demo to experience the platform before making a purchasing decision.
Standout features & integrations:
Seven Rooms stands out for its comprehensive guest profiles, automated marketing capabilities, and robust reservation system. It provides valuable integrations with other key hospitality systems, including POS, property management systems (PMS), and marketing tools.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Robust integrations with other key hospitality systems
- Automated marketing capabilities for improved guest retention
- Comprehensive guest profiles enhance personalized service
Cons:
- The learning curve may be steep for some users
- Pricing information is not publicly disclosed
- No free tier or plan
Hotel Effectiveness offers a comprehensive labor management system designed for hotels and resorts. It optimizes staff scheduling, tracks labor costs, and monitors staff performance, providing an efficient solution for hospitality businesses looking to streamline their operations and cut costs. These labor optimization capabilities underline its effectiveness in reducing labor costs.
Why I Picked Hotel Effectiveness: I selected Hotel Effectiveness out of numerous other platforms due to its distinctive focus on labor cost management. Its unique selling point lies in its optimization features that target the most significant expense in the hospitality industry - labor. My determination that it's 'Best for reducing labor costs' stems from its detailed monitoring and analysis capabilities, aiding in more cost-effective scheduling and improved labor utilization.
What do you get for free?
Hotel Effectiveness does not offer a free plan. However, you can request a free demo to gain an understanding of the software's capabilities and whether it meets your needs.
Standout features & integrations:
Hotel Effectiveness stands out with features like labor forecasting, intelligent scheduling, time & attendance tracking, and detailed labor analytics. These functionalities empower hotels to optimize labor usage and thereby minimize costs. For integrations, Hotel Effectiveness offers connections with several Payroll and HRIS systems, which allows for seamless data transfer and even more comprehensive workforce management.
Pros and cons
Pros:
- Integration with Payroll and HRIS systems
- Intelligent scheduling for optimized staff utilization
- Detailed labor cost management
Cons:
- Pricing information is not transparent
- Might be over-complex for smaller hotels
- No free plan, only a demo
Other Event Scheduling Software
- ZoomShift
For easy-to-navigate employee scheduling
- Cloudbeds
For unified reservation and property management
- When I Work
Good for streamlined scheduling in the hotel industry
- Deputy
Good for effective shift planning in hospitality
- Hyre
Good for on-demand staffing in hospitality
- ConnectTeam
Good for managing hotel operations on a mobile app
- Workforce.com
Good for workforce optimization in hotels
- Celayix
Good for reducing labor costs in the hospitality industry
- Sling
Good for communication and task management in lodging
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Selection Criteria For Event Scheduling Software
In my extensive experience with the hospitality industry, I've tried out more than a dozen scheduling event platforms. As someone who understands the unique requirements and challenges that come with running a hotel or resort, I’ve selected these tools based on their ability to streamline operations, manage staff effectively, and, most importantly, enhance guest and event attendees’ satisfaction.
Core Functionality
- Staff Scheduling: The tool should allow for the efficient allocation of tasks, enabling the management to handle staff availability and shift planning easily.
- Time Tracking: The software must provide the ability to track employees' work hours accurately.
- Task Management: It should help in managing various tasks effectively and maintaining a well-organized workflow.
Key Features
- Mobile Accessibility: The tool should be accessible on mobile devices, making it convenient for managers and employees to use it on the go.
- Real-Time Updates: Immediate updates on changes in schedules, availability, or tasks can contribute greatly to smooth operations.
- Reports and Analytics: The software should be able to generate useful reports for better decision-making and for improving overall efficiency.
Usability
- Intuitive Interface: The tool needs to have a clean, user-friendly interface for easy navigation and less confusion.
- Easy Onboarding: For any tool to be effective, it should be easy for new users to understand and adopt it. Comprehensive tutorials, guides, and customer support play a crucial role here.
- Seamless Integrations: The tool should be able to integrate well with other software used in the industry, such as payroll, HRM, and CRM systems. This will ensure a cohesive and efficient workflow.
Most Common Questions Regarding Event Scheduling Software (FAQ's)
What are the benefits of using event scheduling software?
Event scheduling software offers a range of benefits. Firstly, it allows for efficient staff management by simplifying scheduling tasks and eliminating errors. Secondly, it often comes with time tracking capabilities which ensure accurate work hours tracking and payroll processing.
Thirdly, it enhances communication, enabling real-time updates and notifications about schedule changes or tasks. Fourthly, most tools offer event apps, event pages or event websites, and mobile event accessibility, allowing users to manage schedules on the go. Lastly, including reporting and analytics features can lead to data-driven decision-making to improve operations and efficiency.
How much do these tools usually cost?
The pricing of event management software varies significantly depending on its features, the number of users, and whether it caters to a specific niche or not. Some tools offer basic functionalities for free, while more comprehensive ones can range from $10 to $100 per user per month.
What are the pricing models for these tools?
The most common pricing template for these tools is per user per month and per location per month. Some software providers also offer annual plans, which are usually discounted.
What is the typical range of pricing for event scheduling software?
Typically, you can expect to pay anywhere from $10/user/month for basic scheduling capabilities to $100/user/month for more feature-rich, enterprise-level solutions.
What are some of the cheapest and most expensive software?
The cheapest event scheduling software usually includes free versions or low-cost plans from providers like When I Work and ConnectTeam. The most expensive software often includes tools like workforce.com and Celayix, which offer more comprehensive, advanced features for larger organizations.
Are there any free options for event scheduling software?
Yes, some tools like When I Work, and ConnectTeam offer free versions of their software. However, these free versions typically have limitations and are best suited for small teams or businesses. A paid plan would be more appropriate for larger teams or more robust functionalities.
Other Event Management Software
Here are some other useful tools for event planning and management.
What Next?
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