$ resources --from-the-floor
Guides, a series on what spreadsheets quietly cost, an honest look at the software landscape, and three free tools. For the planner who still has to produce the thing.
The Spreadsheet Series · 6 parts
Version chaos, formula fails, tab overload, vendors who will not open it, and what happens when it goes onsite. We respect the spreadsheet. We also know where it breaks.
Free tools
Free tool
Turn a catering menu or a BEO into a clean CSV or Excel sheet in seconds. No account needed.
Free tool
Put your own hours and event count in and see what the rework is costing, in your numbers rather than ours.
For venues and suppliers
List your venue or service so planners building specs in Pholeo can find you and send spec-ready inquiries.
Budgeting
Building the number, holding it, and knowing where the cuts come from.
Industry Insight · May 15, 2025
Explore average event budgets by type and size, from 200 to 15,000 attendees with a useful event budget calculator designed for event planners.
Industry Insight · May 12, 2025
Hotels, convention centers, and catering partners are refreshing their menus and pricing structures far more often than they did pre-2020 pick up some tips on how to best manage your 2025 conference and event budget with industry experts Lee Avery and Colleen Ortiz.
Industry Insight · Jun 25, 2024
Learn how to accurately estimate coffee quantities for conferences. Discover effective strategies to manage coffee consumption, budgeting tips, and best practices for ensuring your event runs smoothly without exceeding your budget.
Industry Insight · Jun 13, 2024
Learn how to create a comprehensive event budget with essential tips and tools. Discover how technology like Pholeo can help you manage costs, enhance collaboration, and ensure accuracy for seamless event planning.
Choosing software
Registration platforms, alternatives, and what logistics software is actually for.
Industry Insight · Jan 8, 2026
The events industry is experiencing a massive technological shift. AI tools, automation platforms, and “all-in-one” event tech promise faster workflows, cleaner data, and fewer spreadsheets. But as Gregory Perrine, Founder & CEO of Pholeo and eGuide, explains in the Season 2 kickoff of Event Logistics Lab, speed alone doesn’t solve the real problems planners face.
Industry Insight · Oct 28, 2025
Comparing Cvent and Pholeo? See why logistics-heavy teams choose Pholeo as a practical alternative to Cvent for specs, budgets, BEOs, and on-site control.
Industry Insight · Aug 7, 2025
Still using spreadsheets for your event specs? Pholeo is event function sheet software built for live logistics—real-time edits, integrated budgets, and production-ready exports. See why planners are switching.
Industry Insight · Jul 23, 2025
Tired of managing events in Excel? Compare top event planning tools like Cvent, Bizzabo, Monday.com, and discover why Pholeo is built for logistics.
Small teams, big conferences
How associations and agencies run complex programs without adding staff.
Industry Insight · Feb 2, 2026
Why does corporate event catering start at $250 per person? Jodi Fyfe, CEO of Chicago's Paramount Group and 15-year veteran of high-end event production, breaks down the real costs behind off-premise catering—from the hidden equipment expenses corporate planners miss to the dozens of staff members required for a seamless 50-person dinner.
Industry Insight · Jan 26, 2026
Event logistics is often misunderstood as a checklist problem: book rooms, order food, schedule sessions, repeat. But anyone who has planned a large association conference knows the truth: logistics is where strategy, risk management, and human judgment collide.
Industry Insight · Oct 22, 2024
Discover how to plan events without paper using Pholeo, the ultimate event management tool. Streamline budgets, schedules, and onsite operations digitally while saving trees. Go green and get efficient with Pholeo’s all-in-one platform for seamless, paperless event planning.
Industry Insight · Jun 13, 2024
Discover essential tips and tools to ensure nothing falls through the cracks in your event planning. Learn how technology like Pholeo can help you manage every detail, enhance collaboration, and streamline your planning process for seamless event execution.
Everything else
The rest of the industry insight shelf.
Industry Insight · Jan 19, 2026
Listening isn’t just a skill, it’s the heartbeat of innovation. Sean Whalin built HopSkip by obsessively listening to event planners, shaping a solution that truly solves real pain points and evolves with feedback.
Industry Insight · Jul 22, 2025
Spreadsheets may seem harmless, but in high-stakes conference planning, they can introduce major risks. Explore how simple errors, outdated files, and lack of structure create avoidable chaos—and how Pholeo offers a smarter, more secure alternative.
Industry Insight · Oct 21, 2024
Discover 12 powerful alternatives to Cvent that can streamline event logistics, budgeting, vendor management, and more. Say goodbye to complex spreadsheets with these top event planning platforms.
Industry Insight · Jun 14, 2024
Discover the advantages of integrating all your event planning tools into one platform. Learn how Pholeo simplifies event logistics, enhances collaboration, and reduces costs for seamless event management.
Industry Insight · Jun 13, 2024
Discover how technology is transforming event planning with the latest trends and tools. Learn about real-time collaboration, integrated planning platforms, AI-driven automation, and more. See how Pholeo is leading the revolution in event logistics and efficiency.
A Spec Sync builds your first board from one real BEO or function sheet.
Share one spec and we will build your first board with you.
