Expert Marketplace: The Live Booking Platform for Speakers – Interview with Gerd Kulhavy
The renowned speaker agency Speakers Excellence is shaking up the industry with Expert Marketplace, a new live booking platform for speakers, moderators, and show acts. For event planners tired of unclear pricing, endless back-and-forth emails, and outdated booking systems, this platform offers a much-needed solution.
We spoke with Gerd Kulhavy, CEO of Speakers Excellence, about how Expert Marketplace works, who it's for, and why it's a major innovation for the event planning industry.
What exactly is Expert Marketplace, Mr. Kulhavy?
Gerd Kulhavy:
The idea was to simplify the booking process for professionals in the event industry – including event planners, hotels, agencies, and conference organizers. But it also benefits speakers and performers, giving them a new way to reach clients directly.
There are already many websites that list speakers, but Expert Marketplace goes much further. Users can search by topic, date, and location and instantly see which speakers are available, what their fees are, and how much travel will cost. They can then book or place a non-binding option right away – all in real time.
What does “live booking” really mean?
Gerd Kulhavy:
Live booking means that once a customer finds the right speaker, they can confirm the booking immediately, just like booking a hotel or flight.
You’ll see availability, fees, travel costs, and even client reviews at a glance. If you're not quite sure, you can place a 7-day option to hold the speaker. It’s a fast, clear process that removes the usual delays.
You mentioned reviews. How are they integrated?
Gerd Kulhavy:
We work with ProvenExpert, and aggregate reviews from platforms like Amazon, Facebook, and others. This ensures authentic and verified testimonials. Clients can trust that what they see is real – no manipulation, just transparent feedback from previous events.
In the past, fees and travel costs were negotiated. How is that handled now?
Gerd Kulhavy:
That used to be very time-consuming. On Expert Marketplace, we now work with flat rates. All costs are visible up front, even before booking.
Travel costs are automatically calculated using the Google algorithm, based on the distance from the speaker’s main office to the event location – regardless of where the speaker is currently located.
What about accommodation and expenses?
Gerd Kulhavy:
We’ve also optimized expense handling. For events starting before 11 AM or after 4 PM, we apply a flat-rate travel and accommodation fee.
This ensures speakers arrive on time and are well-prepared. For clients, it means simplified accounting and the option to settle the entire invoice before the event – a major improvement for corporate workflows.
Are there additional benefits for event planners?
Gerd Kulhavy:
Yes. One highlight is our “Best Deal” feature. Let’s say a speaker is already booked in Munich. If another client books the same speaker for a nearby date in the same location, both clients get a 20% discount on fees and travel costs.
To support this, we’ve added a wishlist feature, so users can monitor speaker availability and act at the right time.
It sounds a bit like the “Amazon for speakers”?
Gerd Kulhavy:
Yes, we took inspiration from major platforms, but tailored everything to the needs of the event industry.
We’re not copying – we’re creating something custom-built. The focus is on digital workflows, time savings, and clear benefits for everyone involved. That’s why we’re also offering Expert Marketplace as a white-label solution.
What does white-label mean in this case?
Gerd Kulhavy:
Hotels, agencies, and large corporate clients can embed Expert Marketplace directly into their own websites. The platform is fully brandable with their CI.
They can even list their own speakers and use the platform to manage internal bookings. It turns what used to be a manual process into a streamlined, professional tool.
Are new features planned for the future?
Gerd Kulhavy:
Absolutely. We’re launching a mobile app soon to make booking and billing even easier.
Another upcoming feature is GPS tracking: clients will be able to track their booked speaker’s location starting 90 minutes before the event – just like Uber. That removes a lot of the stress on event day.
Final thoughts: What makes Expert Marketplace stand out?
Gerd Kulhavy:
Transparency, speed, and simplicity. We’ve brought speaker booking into the digital age.
Clients can book faster, speakers get more visibility, and agencies reduce their workload. It’s a true win-win-win – and that’s exactly what we wanted to create.
