What was the issue?

At Storm, we are very familiar with building prototype systems that work so well they simply become production systems. This is no accident of course; it’s all about understanding requirements, excellent design, and constant dialogue with our clients.

This tradition started back in 1994 when Storm built a prototype booking system for start-up Venue Resource Group, based purely on an understanding of their business model and a handshake. The prototype allowed everyone to understand what the real requirements were whilst getting the company through its start-up phase. By 1999 version 2 of the booking system had 25 users in four offices, plus another major client – the agency business of Best Western Hotels.

What benefits were delivered?

The prototype allowed everyone to understand what the real requirements were whilst getting the company through its start-up phase. By 1999 version 2 of the booking system had 25 users in four offices, plus another major client – the agency business of Best Western Hotels.

In 2005, VRG chairman Simon Lester successfully sold the business to rival firm Expotel. When Expotel showed no interest in what was by then, a powerful 3rd version of the booking system, so he used the system to drive yet another commercial breakthrough for another start-up: The Venue Directory.

What were the results?

“Spring of 2008 saw the release of a powerful booking module supplied to agencies to run their businesses and fed with live venue information from venuedirectory.com’s central database.” – from www.venuedirectory.com.