Worktopia: The Event Planner's Dream

Lately, many tasks that used to be done over the phone and through manual negotiations have succumbed to the power of the database -- the ability to access information from more potential vendors than you could possibly reach out to one by one. And with the added advantage of not getting 38 sales calls as follow up to your inquiries.

Worktopia is just such a service. It allows people to compare and book venues for company events across thousands of places. But it's more than just rooms. Catering and A/V equipment are also available from prescreened vendors, so there is less to worry about.

The events you can book through the system are currently less than 100 persons, but I would imagine that will expand out as the site adds to its already considerable list of partners.

Their positively ominous demo is here.

The system offers some accountability measures as well. One of the dynamics of small meeting booking currently is that the costs for these things aren't high individually, but collectively they add up to a giant industry. Finance often has little say or even understanding of how much money is being spent on this stuff. $290 for cookies? That sort of thing. With Worktopia, that no longer need be the case.

I have to say, I really think this service is fulfilling an important need and has great prospects.

Thanks for reading, and don't forget to write.