Interview with Gerd Kulhavy: How Expert Marketplace Is Revolutionizing the Speaker Booking Industry
The renowned speakers agency Speakers Excellence is cleaning up the chaotic world of speaker booking with its new live booking platform, Expert Marketplace. Event planners looking for top-tier entertainment for roadshows, conferences, assemblies, or other events can finally breathe easy.
Expert Marketplace eliminates the need for time-consuming artist research, confusing invoicing processes, and uncertainty around booking speakers or performers. In this exclusive interview, Gerd Kulhavy, CEO of Speakers Excellence, explains the idea behind the platform, what makes it unique, and why the event planning industry has been waiting for a solution like this.
What exactly is Expert Marketplace?
smartliving: Mr. Kulhavy, can you tell us what Expert Marketplace actually is?
Gerd Kulhavy: In simple terms, we wanted to simplify the process for event planners, conference organizers, hotels, agencies, and other event professionals who regularly work with speakers, hosts, or show acts.
Our platform also serves the speakers and artists themselves. While there are already several websites listing performers, Expert Marketplace goes a step further. It offers a smart interface where users can search for their desired topic or speaker – with the option to filter by date and location. At a glance, they can see who's available, what the fee is, get information about travel expenses, and then book instantly.
What does “live booking” really mean?
smartliving: Expert Marketplace is described as a live booking platform. What does that mean in practice?
Gerd Kulhavy: It means that once a client finds the perfect speaker, they can book them directly – just like when reserving a hotel or flight. The platform shows real-time availability, rates, and customer reviews. You can either hold the booking for a week or book immediately.
No back-and-forth emails or calls. Everything is clearly laid out on the screen. We've leveraged digitalization to create something that truly benefits all parties. It’s a win-win-win!
How are the speaker reviews handled?
smartliving: You mentioned customer reviews. What kind of reviews are shown?
Gerd Kulhavy: We use ProvenExpert. All reviews from Amazon, Facebook, ProvenExpert, and other platforms are aggregated and shown on the speaker’s profile. This ensures that what the client sees is genuine and unfiltered – what you see is what you get.
How is pricing managed on Expert Marketplace?
smartliving: Previously, speaker fees and travel costs were handled on a case-by-case basis. How does it work now?
Gerd Kulhavy: That was one of the pain points we wanted to solve. On Expert Marketplace, we use flat-rate pricing. All costs are visible before booking. Travel expenses are calculated using Google’s algorithm, based on the speaker’s official office location – no matter where they are at the time of booking.
accommodation and daily expenses
smartliving: What about accommodation and daily expenses?
Gerd Kulhavy: We’ve streamlined that too. For events that take place before 11 AM or after 4 PM, we apply a flat-rate for accommodation and expenses. This ensures that the speaker arrives on time, and the client avoids unexpected costs.
With this model, invoicing can even be completed on the day of the event, reducing administrative work to a minimum. A true game-changer for corporate events.
Tell us about the “Best Deal” feature
smartliving: Are there any other features that make the platform stand out?
Gerd Kulhavy: Yes – one of our favorites is the “Best Deal” option. For example, if a speaker is already booked in Munich, and another client books the same speaker around that date in the same city, both clients get 10% off the fee and travel expenses.
To make that easier, we added a favorites list where users can track specific speakers for future bookings.
Is Expert Marketplace like an Amazon for speakers?
smartliving: Sounds a bit like an Amazon for speakers?
Gerd Kulhavy: We’ve certainly looked to the best digital platforms for inspiration. But instead of copying, we’ve tailored proven features to fit the event industry.
Digital transformation doesn’t stop at retail – it impacts every sector. It was time the booking industry caught up, with client convenience as the top priority. That’s why we also offer white-label solutions.
white-label
smartliving: What does a white-label solution involve?
Gerd Kulhavy: Large clients like hotels or agencies can integrate Expert Marketplace into their own website, fully branded in their corporate identity.
They can manage and promote their own speakers while benefiting from our technology infrastructure. It eliminates the tedious tasks and offers a complete, seamless solution for both agencies and event organizers.
Are there more features in development?
smartliving: What’s next for Expert Marketplace?
Gerd Kulhavy: We’re always improving. In Q4, we’ll launch a mobile app to further simplify invoicing. We’re also developing a GPS tracking system. Just like Uber or MyTaxi, clients will be able to track their booked speaker 90 minutes before the event – easing stress and ensuring peace of mind on the big day.
Conclusion: The future of speaker booking is here
With real-time availability, transparent pricing, streamlined invoicing, and smart features like Best Deal and GPS tracking, Expert Marketplace is transforming how speakers are booked in the event industry.
👉 Discover the platform here: Expert Marketplace
