Explara vs. IVvy:
Which Is Right for You?

The Decision

Choosing between Explara and IVvy for your hotel’s sales management hinges on understanding their core strengths and limitations. Explara, established in 2008 with a focus on event and membership management, is primarily geared toward organizers and associations, not hotels. IVvy, founded in 2009, is tailored more toward venues and hospitality businesses, making it a more relevant choice for hotels seeking integrated sales tools. Both aim to streamline booking and engagement, but their focus areas diverge significantly.

While Explara offers an all-in-one platform that caters to event organizers globally, IVvy’s platform is highly rated for its user-friendliness and extensive integrations. Given your hotel’s need for efficient sales workflows and integrations, which platform truly aligns with your priorities?

Is Explara or IVvy Better for Hotels?

Explara’s primary strength is its comprehensive event and membership management solutions, designed for large-scale events and associations. It offers features like ticketing, group memberships, and post-event surveys, making it ideal for organizers managing many attendees across multiple events. However, it lacks specific hotel-focused features, integrations, and recent reviews, with no verified user ratings or active review presence in the last six months.

IVvy, by contrast, boasts a strong user base of over 8,000 across multiple countries, with recent reviews highlighting its intuitive design and automation capabilities. Its platform directly supports hotel-specific sales workflows, from inquiries to invoicing, with 16 verified integrations including PMS systems like Opera, Mews, and Stayntouch. IVvy’s recent surge in review activity (3 reviews in the last six months) and high ratings (4.75/5) give it a clear advantage for hoteliers.

Are you looking for a platform optimized for hotel bookings and integrations, or one more suited to event-centric operations?

IVvy vs Explara: Which Should Your Hotel Choose?

If your hotel needs a platform that simplifies venue bookings, streamlines sales processes, and offers extensive integrations with PMS systems, IVvy is the better choice. Its focus on hospitality, automation features like AI-driven proposals, and highly positive recent reviews make it suitable for properties aiming to grow revenue efficiently.

Explara, on the other hand, is better suited if your hotel hosts large-scale events or conferences and needs to manage memberships, ticketing, and event engagement rather than core hotel sales. It’s less relevant for day-to-day hotel sales management and lacks recent reviews or hotel-specific features.

For hotels seeking a scalable, easy-to-use sales platform with strong automation, IVvy is the recommended choice.

Is Explara or IVvy Easier to Use?

IVvy’s platform scores highly on ease of use, with a 4.69/5 rating, based on recent reviews praising its intuitive navigation, quick onboarding, and responsive customer support. Users mention that training resources are helpful and that the system reduces administrative workload significantly.

Explara, however, has no recent reviews or ratings available, making it impossible to assess its usability for hotel staff. Given the active user feedback and recent review activity, IVvy’s user experience is clearly more refined.

Edge: IVvy.

Which Has Better Features: Explara or IVvy?

IVvy’s platform includes 11 unique features such as lead scoring, contact management, workflow automations, contract management, e-signatures, and detailed reporting—capabilities that directly enhance hotel sales and operations. Its features support automation, personalized engagement, and financial management, crucial for hotel sales teams.

Explara offers no unique features tailored for hotel sales or operations, focusing instead on event and membership management with no specific hotel-centric tools.

Edge: IVvy.

Which Has Better Customer Support: Explara or IVvy?

IVvy consistently receives high praise for its customer support, with a 4.73/5 support rating from recent reviews. Users describe their support team as responsive, knowledgeable, and willing to work on system improvements, citing quick resolution times and helpful onboarding.

Explara provides no recent ratings or reviews, which makes it difficult to evaluate support quality. Given IVvy’s recent review activity and support ratings, it’s the clear leader here.

Edge: IVvy.

Which Has More Integrations: Explara or IVvy?

IVvy’s platform offers 16 verified integrations, including industry-standard PMS systems like Opera, Mews, and Stayntouch, as well as other tools like RoomRaccoon and SevenRooms. This extensive compatibility simplifies hotel workflows and reduces manual entry.

Explara, lacking verified integrations, offers no connections to PMS or hotel management systems, limiting its fit for hotel operations.

Edge: IVvy.

Which Do Hoteliers Rate Higher: Explara or IVvy?

IVvy’s recent reviews (3 in the last six months) give it a high rating of 4.75/5, with hoteliers emphasizing its user-friendliness, automation, and customer service. The platform’s focus on hotel-specific needs makes it a trusted choice.

Explara has no recent reviews or ratings, and no verified user feedback, indicating limited direct hotel user engagement.

Edge: IVvy.

How Much Do Explara and IVvy Cost?

Explara does not publicly disclose pricing or offer free trials, making it difficult to assess its cost-effectiveness. Its pricing model might be customized or based on event complexity.

IVvy charges a transparent $300/month base fee, with no implementation fees or trial periods. Its pricing aligns with its comprehensive feature set and recent positive reviews.

Given the available data, IVvy’s transparent pricing offers better value clarity for hotels.

What Type of Hotel Should Use Explara?

• Hotels that primarily host large events, conferences, or associations that need membership management and event registration.
• Teams managing multiple associations or event organizers who need post-event surveys and group management.
• Not ideal if your hotel seeks integrated booking, invoicing, or PMS integrations.
• Not suitable for hotels that require daily sales management or real-time booking automation.

Explara’s strengths lie in event and association management, not in core hotel sales.

What Type of Hotel Should Use IVvy?

• Hotels that want an integrated sales platform with automation, lead management, and detailed reporting.
• Properties seeking to reduce manual work with features like real-time booking, invoicing, and workflow automations.
• Hotels with multiple properties or large event spaces needing scalable, customizable solutions.
• Not ideal if your hotel’s main focus is on managing large-scale events or memberships exclusively.

IVvy is best suited for hotels aiming to optimize their sales process and operational efficiency.

IVvy vs Explara: The Bottom Line for Hotels

IVvy stands out as the clear choice for hotels seeking a dedicated, user-friendly sales platform with strong integrations, automation, and recent positive reviews. Its features directly support hotel operations, leading to higher efficiency and better guest experiences.

Explara, while a robust event management platform, lacks recent hotel-centric reviews and integrations, making it less suitable for daily hotel sales needs. It remains better suited for associations or event organizers managing memberships and large-scale events.

For your hotel’s sales growth and operational simplicity, IVvy offers the most relevant features, support, and proven performance. Choose IVvy if you want an integrated, easy-to-use platform that can grow with your property.