Conference vs. Trade Show: What’s the Difference?
Business owners are constantly looking for ways to build professional expertise and better their business networks, yes? Enter conferences and trade shows.
Conferences and trade shows make up two of the major event types when it comes to the meetings and events industry. Although these two events are both great ways for business owners to achieve these goals, conferences and tradeshows are not the same.
Here, we’ll discuss a conference vs. a tradeshow and some of the largest known events for each. Let’s dive in!
What is a Conference?
Think formal. A conference is defined as a professional opportunity “to exchange education and information through a consultatory setting with a formal agenda.”
Why might someone attend a conference? Typically, an individual would decide to attend a conference if they were interested in:
- Developing industry knowledge
- Learning current practices or developments, or
- Having professional discussions with people in your industry
Conferences typically include a variety of keynote speakers and presentations on the agenda.
The Biggest International Conferences
To name a few, some of the most popular conferences around the globe include:
What is a Trade Show?
A trade show is an event where companies—typically of the same industry—showcase products and offerings. Think of trade shows as educational infomercials!
So, what makes a great trade show? A great trade show should have a variety of companies and booths actively “trading” ideas and information (HA, see what we did there!?)
Trade shows are great for businesses that want to find new clients and partner with other companies.
Most Popular U.S. Trade Shows
Some of the most popular trade shows that occur in the U.S. include:
Planning Your Next Conference or Trade Show?
If you’re a business looking to plan your next big conference or tradeshow, you’re going to need an awesome team of dedicated staff! At 360x Events & Promotions, we procure top talent for events.
Think of us as your one-stop shop for talent and event support! Get ahead of the game and request talent now. Then, read on to learn more about how to create a memorable live event.
