Difference between Conference, Trade Fair, Expo and Seminar

Key Difference: Conference is an event that is organized for profit or non-profit organizations to discuss the matter or the pressing issues. Trade fair is an exhibition where companies demonstrate their new products, or they examine recent market trends or styles and opportunities. Expo, short for Exposition, is the activity of putting something out for public view. Seminar is an educational event where a number of people come together to focus on a particular subject, in which everyone is requested to actively participate.

A conference is any meeting among people who discuss a topic or an issue. Conference may refer to academic conference, sports conference, business conference, trade conference, video conference, science conference, and many more. Conference basically is an event that is organized for revenue or non-revenue organization to discuss about the matter or the pressing issues. The issues which are discussed in the conferences are like new products in the market, market trends or styles or government regulations or their guidelines which are discussed with a range of speakers.

Trade fair is an exhibition where companies demonstrate their new products or they examine recent markets trends or styles and opportunities. There are only some trade fairs that are open to the public; otherwise it can only be attended by the trade workers or company professionals. Companies' representatives as well as the number of visitors assemble together to know about the companies' progress. Trade fair is also known as trade show, expo or trade exhibition.

Expo, short for Exposition, is the activity of putting something out to public sight. It is the same as trade fair where companies display their recent products and give a demonstration of those products. Computer expo is the most famous exposition. The trade fair focuses on technology, new computers or electronics. Expo may refer to Singapore Expo, Expo Design Center, etc. Expo and trade fair are held annually, and it gives a good place for industries to discover their trends and developments.

Seminar Seminars are educational events that feature one or more subject matters, on which experts deliver information primarily via lecture and discussion. It can be an informal discussion or can be an informal meeting for the exchange of useful information by members. The word seminar has been derived from the Latin word seminarium, meaning ‘seed plot’. It is a meeting where a number of people come together to focus on a particular subject, in which everyone is requested to actively participate. Seminars are held related to any topic so that people get a complete overview, like for students or youngsters attending career seminars. Seminars give them an overview of the opportunities, such as which path they should choose and which will be the correct way that they can explore themselves.

Comparison between Conference, Trade Fair, Expo, and Seminar:

	Conference	Trade Fair	Expo	Seminar
Meaning (Dictionary.com)	A meeting for consultation or discussion: a conference between a student and his adviser. The act of conferring or consulting together; consultation, especially on an important or serious matter. Government - a meeting, as of various committees, to settle disagreements between the two branches of the legislature.	Massive, stage-set, and usually regular trade event at which a large number of manufacturers from a particular industry present their products and show their capabilities to distributors, wholesalers, retailers, and end-users.	A world's fair or international exposition. Any exhibition or show.	A small group of students, as in a university, engaged in advanced study and original research under a member of the faculty and meeting regularly to exchange information and hold discussions. A course or subject of study for advanced graduate students. Any meeting for exchanging information and holding discussions.
Purposes	To inspire young men and women, to seek or accept leadership responsibilities. To present academic works, concepts and new discoveries. To develop a subject that can support future collaboration among people. To increase awareness of current issues in the company. In the presentation, the ideas are shared among the people related to work.	It helps in making new connections. Trade fair allows one to save time in working to get meetings to develop business relationships between buyers and sellers. It is the best way to stay updated on industry trends and styles. It is an opportunity for the companies to see what the competitors will be presenting as a part of their future product. A company must attend trade fairs so that one cannot generate comments in a negative manner.	It also to put something out for public view. Same as trade fair	Seminar gives a motivation to a person to learn and try something new. One feels energized and ready to work applying new techniques. People can gain valuable knowledge at seminars. Seminars are held not to just concentrate on daily tasks but to also meet some potentially valuable contacts.
Related to	Conference is related to the subjects like profit or non-profit of an organization, discuss the issues of new products, styles, etc.	Trade fair is related to the technologies or new products like mobile and information, books, photography, motor cycles, etc.	Expo is related to the activity that the companies focus on to demonstrate a latest products like computers, electronics, mobile phones, gadgets, etc.	Seminar is related to the educational events that focus on a particular subject.
Advantages	Online Conferences: Green issues that is no travel costs and reduces cost of setting up a venue. Uses of technology One can see a presenter Can chat at same time Face-to-face conferences: More interactivity Increased responsiveness Privacy and security if information Diverse group activities Full Control and Responsibility	Provide the experiences attendees want Generate the results what ones company expects Identify and qualify new sales opportunities Convey key messages and differentiators Generate high quality leads Enhance existing relationships and start to build new ones	Generate the results what ones company expects Provide the experiences attendees want Convey key messages and differentiators Identify and qualify new sales opportunities Generate high quality leads Enhance existing relationships and start to build new ones	Attendance at a seminar results in newly-gained knowledge in a particular subject area Those who all share common interest in the particular subject is a way of networking When several employees of the same company attend a seminar together, it can be a quality team-building experience Sending an employee to a seminar is a sign of appreciation for a good work