With the right restaurant event management software, managing your restaurant events can be much easier!
Managing venues can take up a lot of time and effort. Restaurant event management software tools help you optimize the necessary processes.
There are loads of different event software tools available for restaurants. These include all-in-one management solutions, event marketing tools, online booking, and registration platforms, and more. By choosing and using the right software, you’ll be able to streamline your operations.
Let’s discuss the best restaurant event software platforms and tools available right now.
What is Restaurant Event Management Software?
Restaurant event management software refers to any software tools that assist the event management process.
There’s a lot that goes into managing events in restaurants. Relying on disconnected email platforms, spreadsheets, and calendars just won’t get the job done efficiently. Luckily, you can use dedicated event management software to organize operations more efficiently.
Because there are many different moving parts involved in venue management, there are many different types of event management solutions available. For example, all-in-one systems help you to manage all aspects of an event from a single dashboard. You also get platforms that only focus on certain areas of the event process, such as payroll or employee scheduling.
Restaurants often host special events like private parties and corporate functions. Using the right event management system makes it easier to stay on top of bookings, plan out the event process, and provide a better client experience.
Ultimately, this can save you a lot of time and effort, and enhance your event planning process.
9 Best Restaurant Event Management Software & Tools in 2023
If you want to streamline event management at your restaurant, you need to use a reliable event management software solution.
To help you understand the different platforms available, and choose those that add the most value to your business, here are some of the best event management software tools for restaurants.
1. Perfect Venue
Best All-in-One Event Management Software
Perfect Venue is an extensive event management software solution for restaurants. The platform takes an all-in-one approach, so you can stay in control of the entire event management process from a single dashboard. There are plenty of great integrations available so that you can easily use Perfect Venue with your existing software tools.
The event management platform is centered around a central events calendar, which makes it easy to stay on top of your schedule. You can automate time-consuming tasks with the software, like creating BEOs and proposals or sending out reminder emails. This can save a lot of effort during event management.
The automated email library is a particularly useful feature that allows you to access email templates and automatically fill in the event information. This is all done from the same dashboard, so communications are streamlined.
Restaurant owners can also use Perfect Venue to send out fast digital proposals and invoices. You can also collect deposits and payments online. There is also a detailed analytics feature that lets you stay on top of the numbers easily.
Main Features
- Task automation
- Document templates
- Email templates and automation
- Fast digital proposals
- Real-time event analytics
2. SevenRooms
Best for Event Marketing
SevenRooms is a popular event management platform. It’s a great choice for restaurants that want to host events, as well as improve their event marketing. This is because the platform offers features like an event landing page builder, and reservation and ticketing tools. It’s a more customer-facing tool than one just used to streamline the event-organizing process.
SevenRooms includes a hospitality CRM that holds data on guest profiles. This is useful if you’re engaging directly with guests and event attendees. There are also tools for managing restaurant deliveries and pickups, waitlist management, and mobile ordering and payments.
Some notable tools include email marketing and automation, a customer retention tool, and review aggregation software. If you’re looking for a platform to make your event more visible to the public and market the event directly, then SevenRooms might be a good option.
Main Features
- Hospitality CRM
- Event booking and ticketing
- Event landing pages
- Event marketing tools
3. Tripleseat
Best for Managing Event Sales and Bookings
Tripleseat is a popular event management solution for the hospitality industry. The platform is used by restaurants, hotels, caterers, and unique event venues to streamline the event management process. Although, the main focus of this event management solution is to help businesses increase bookings and sales.
Tripleseat is an event management software tool with a wide range of functions. Restaurants can use the platform to access a centralized booking calendar, create branded documents and proposals, automate tasks, quickly respond to leads, access sales and event reporting, and more. It’s relatively easy to use and can help you achieve a lot with just a single platform.
Main Features
- Central events calendar
- Payment processing
- Dedicated client portal
- Branded documents and proposals
- Detailed business insights
4. Eventbrite
Best for Sharing Your Event
Eventbrite is not a classic, all-in-one event management solution designed for restaurants. Instead, it's a platform designed for creating, promoting, and sharing your events with the public. Event managers looking to make their restaurant events more visible should consider Eventbrite.
The platform works for all kinds of events, no matter how large. You can use the software to create a public-facing event, share event details, access ticketing and registration tools, and more. This is easy to do with the platform’s professionally-designed event pages.
You’ll still need to use Eventbrite alongside another event management solution to streamline every process involved in planning and managing your restaurant’s events. If you’re looking to generate more online bookings, Eventbrite is not to be overlooked.
Main Features
- Customizable event registration and tracking
- Easily create event pages
- Event ticketing and registration
- Access attendee details
5. Planning Pod
Best for Private Events and Group Sales
Planning Pod is another popular solution for the events business. The software includes three main modules - an event management and planning tool, a platform for managing bookings, and a floorplan design tool. This results in increased functionality for restaurants.
You can use Planning Pod to consolidate all of your restaurant’s event details into one app. This helps make collaboration on the event between staff and clients smoother. The platform lets you automate various processes to save time, enhance customer communications, and manage all aspects of your event from a single integrated dashboard.
Some popular functions of Planning Pod’s event dashboard include an attendee list, a budgeting tool, an appointment calendar, checklists, contracts, and an event page. These tools can be applied to any kind of restaurant event for planning and management.
Probably the most useful feature of Planning Pod is its ability to automate event and room booking processes. The event scheduling calendar is easy to use and share, and you can embed it on your website for added convenience.
Main Features
- Booking calendars and appointments
- Task management
- Event checklists
- Budgeting tool
- Event itineraries/schedules
6. iVvy
Best for Event Sales Insights
iVvy is an all-in-one tool for event organizers. The platform includes all the functions restaurants need to manage, market, and report on their venue and events.
iVvy offers a useful event booking feature that lets you publish the live availability of your event space, and easily accept bookings and inquiries from your website. This makes it easier to market and manage your restaurant as an event venue.
The all-in-one platform includes a wide range of tools, such as CRM functions, a function diary, quick quotes and event contracts, invoicing, and payment tools, and run sheets for your event.
This platform offers highly detailed insights into your restaurant’s event performance. You’ll gain an understanding of your event sales pipeline, revenue insights, and an easy overview of your sales activity. If you want to make data-driven decisions about your event’s sales process, this platform might be a good option.
iVvy is relatively straightforward, and it includes a solid range of tools for easier event management. You can’t access and create important event documents (like banquet event orders or proposals), but the event sales tools could compensate for this.
Main Features
- Detailed CRM
- Detailed sales insights for your venue
- Online bookings
- Invoices and payments
- Function diary
7. EventMobi
Best for Event Registration
EventMobi is not an all-in-one event management solution designed specifically for restaurants. However, restaurants can use the platform to enhance their event management and offer event registration. It’s also a great tool for improving your event marketing efforts.
This platform can engage event attendees before, during, and after your events. Restaurants can use EventMobi for event registration, access to event analytics, appointment booking, and improving guest experiences through CRM. It’s a very user-friendly platform, making it easy to optimize all kinds of different events.
While it’s not as extensive as other restaurant event solutions, EventMobi does offer basic tools that can help you to engage with your event guests and make your event more visible.
Main Features
- Event registration
- Social media analytics
- Attendee engagement
- Event experience manager
- Event analytics and reporting
8. Total Party Planner
Best for Managing Event Catering
Total Party Planner may have been designed for caterers, but it can work as an event management tool for restaurants. The cloud-based software includes various useful event management features, like tools for creating event proposals, managing back-of-house reports, and generating costings.
You can also use Total Party Planner to enhance your event sales process. There is a great CRM for easily tracking and communicating with prospects. The event management dashboard is pretty basic, but it does offer a handful of useful tools, like team task management and event reports.
Compared to other restaurant event management solutions, Total Party Planner is fairly limited in a few ways. For example, the platform doesn't offer online payments or email automation. However, it’s a user-friendly, functional platform that can certainly streamline your restaurant event process in a couple of different ways.
Main Features
- Central event calendar
- CRM
- Menu management tools
- Banquet management tools
- Internal collaboration and communication tools
9. Bizzabo
Best for Ticketing and Registration
Bizzabo is another comprehensive event management platform that offers a wide range of tasks and functions involved in running successful events. It’s a platform that both event planners, as well as event venue managers, can use to streamline their different processes.
Bizzabo offers tools for functions like ticketing, setting up event sponsorships, and organizing customer data. However, the main reason to use Bizzabo for managing your events venue is that it offers detailed insights through its event reporting and analytics. This helps you easily monitor your venue’s performance and make informed decisions.
There are also some useful marketing features integrated into Bizzabo, such as lead collection tools and insights from CRM integrations. This can help your venue approach customer acquisition and marketing a lot smarter.
If you’re looking to create a strong online presence and promote your event more strategically, Bizzabo is a solid option.
Main Features
- Event management tools
- Event engagement platform
- Event networking features
- Event marketing functions
Conclusion
Managing restaurant events can be a time-consuming process if you don't make use of the different software options available.
Whether you're looking for event management software to attract more bookings, boost your attendees’ experiences, or manage your venue more efficiently, these software platforms are some of the best choices for any kind of restaurant.
Just make sure you take your restaurant needs into consideration and choose a platform that supports these specific requirements. Once you find the right tool, your life in event management will become a lot easier.
If you're interested in trying an extensive all-in-one event solution for restaurants, Perfect Venue offers a free 14-day trial. Try it out today!