Cvent Competitors in 2026: 8 Hotel RFP & Events Platforms Compared
Cvent's competitor list is dominated by tools that copy Cvent — but the 8 alternatives worth a second look don't, and the differences are exactly where the buying decision lives. We rank them on EU pricing, RFP throughput, and registration depth: 3 win clearly on EU MICE, 2 are a coin flip, and 3 fit a single edge case.
Eight platforms compete with Cvent in adjacent or overlapping spaces. Each was built for a specific buyer with a specific job. This guide describes them with structural honesty — what each company has publicly stated about its target customer — without inventing internal numbers.
How to read this guide
Eight platforms compete with Cvent in adjacent or overlapping spaces. Each was built for a specific buyer with a specific job. We're going to describe them with structural honesty — what each company has publicly stated about its target customer, its model, and its strengths — without inventing internal numbers we can't source.
If you're doing competitive research as a boutique MICE agency or DMC, jump to the Specialized RFP Tools section. If you run an enterprise events program, the Full Meetings Platforms section is where you'll find the equivalent-class peers.
Group 1 — Full meetings platforms (enterprise scope)
Cvent (the reference point)
Best fit: Fortune 1000 enterprises running global strategic meetings management programs.
Stova (formerly Aventri + MeetingPlay + Eventcore)
Best fit: Mid-to-large companies wanting an integrated alternative to Cvent.
Eventbrite Boost / Eventbrite Organizer (large-event tier)
Best fit: Public-facing events with ticketing as the primary need.
Group 2 — Specialized RFP & venue sourcing tools
Easy RFP
Best fit: Boutique agencies (3–15 people), DMCs, corporate offsite organizers.
Bizly
Best fit: Internal corporate teams booking small meetings rapidly.
HotelPlanner
Best fit: Group room blocks (sports, weddings, large groups) more than complex MICE.
MeetingPackage
Best fit: EU-based teams seeking real-time meeting room availability.
Group 3 — Venue-side platforms (different angle on the same market)
Tripleseat
Best fit: Venues; planners encounter it on the receiving end.
Cendyn (eProposal / hotel sales tools)
Best fit: Hotel chains; planners interact with it indirectly.
Decision matrix — which group fits your job
| Your situation | Group to evaluate first |
|---|---|
| Enterprise SMM, 100+ events/year | Group 1 (Cvent, Stova) |
| Boutique agency, DMC, 5–30 RFPs/month | Group 2 — Easy RFP |
| Need instant-book vs RFP | Group 2 — Bizly |
| Large group room blocks (weddings, sports) | Group 2 — HotelPlanner |
| Real-time meeting room availability EU | Group 2 — MeetingPackage |
| You're a venue (hotel) selecting your inbound CRM | Group 3 — Tripleseat or Cendyn |
Who acquired Cvent?
Cvent was acquired by Blackstone in 2024 per Cvent's official press release. Prior owners include Vista Equity (2016) and a public listing prior to that. Lanyon was acquired by Cvent in 2018 and integrated into Cvent's sourcing product line.
What happened to Aventri?
Aventri merged with MeetingPlay and Eventcore in 2022 to form Stova, per company press releases. The Aventri brand is no longer separately marketed; current and former Aventri customers can find updated documentation under the Stova brand.
Is Easy RFP a Cvent alternative?
Easy RFP is a structural alternative for one specific use case — hotel RFP automation for boutique MICE agencies and DMCs. It is not a full Cvent replacement for enterprises that also need attendee management, mobile event apps, and lead retrieval; for those scenarios Cvent or Stova fit better, or pair Easy RFP with a dedicated registration tool — see our event registration platforms comparison.
What's the smallest team that needs RFP software?
Most teams running 3+ RFPs per month see ROI from RFP software because the time saved on email back-and-forth, hotel response tracking, and proposal formatting compounds. Below that volume, a 14-day Easy RFP trial is enough to evaluate the workflow before committing.
Which Cvent competitor is best for DMCs?
DMCs (Destination Management Companies) typically benefit from specialized RFP tools rather than full enterprise platforms because the workflow is repeatable RFP sourcing across cities. Easy RFP's Team plan covers the typical DMC workload (5+ team seats, unlimited RFPs, white-label proposal exports).
Sources cited
- Cvent corporate press releases (Blackstone acquisition 2024)
- Stova press release (formation from Aventri/MeetingPlay/Eventcore merger 2022)
- Each platform's public website for current product description
- G2 and Capterra public profiles for category placement
Cvent vs competitors — at-a-glance differentiators
The competitive landscape in 2026 has 4 honest categories. Cvent leads enterprise, but at significant cost. Here's how the alternatives position themselves:
- Cvent — enterprise default. Strongest for Fortune 500 events teams with TMC integration. Friction: 3-6 month onboarding, opaque pricing, annual contracts.
- Stova (formerly Aventri + MeetingPlay) — second-tier enterprise. Stronger event tech (mobile apps, registration) than RFP sourcing.
- Bizly — mid-market, US-focused. Strong for smaller corporate teams. Less European hotel coverage than alternatives.
- MeetingPackage — Europe-first, transparent monthly pricing. Strong for SMB MICE agencies. Less polished UI than enterprise tools.
- Easy RFP — open-source-style transparency, no implementation, monthly billing. Built for boutique European agencies (3-15 people). No long-term contracts.
If your honest constraint is budget or time-to-deploy, Cvent rarely wins. If your constraint is scale (1000+ events/year, 100+ users), Cvent has the operational depth others don't.
Related: Cvent pricing vs Easy RFP · Cvent public pricing signals · honest Cvent vs Easy RFP review.
Ready to skip the manual work?
Let Easy RFP send and score your next RFP. Five hotels, automated, free.
Try Easy RFP free