Conference vs Meeting

Meetings and conferences are, in general terms are similar events where
people come together to talk or discuss a chosen topic. However, people
remain confused about the differences between a meeting and a conference.
Though they have many similarities, there are enough differences for similar
events to be classified as either a meeting or a conference. Normally, a
conference is bigger on scale though it is also a type of meeting between
different people who get together to discuss a particular subject.
Meetings are informal and involve lesser number of people than conferences
that are more formal, have a particular agenda and people from far off places
come together to discuss a subject of common interest. Meetings are often
held in-house while conferences are held in places that are specially designed
to hold meetings of this scale such as hotel conference rooms or training
centers where there are facilities and the right environment and ambience to
hold discussions at a large scale. There are larger numbers of participants or
attendants in conferences and they may belong to different backgrounds.
Meetings on the other hand have no special requirements, and being informal
can be held at a short notice at any suitable place. There is no planned
agenda in meetings whereas in conferences, all activities and topics of
discussion are set in priority depending upon their importance. Meetings have
a short time period and are over in a matter of hours whereas conferences
may be spread over a period of 3-7 days and the delegates participate in
discussions and share their opinions over a number of issues.

Conferences require attendants to be accommodated in hotel rooms and if

conference is held in a particular hotel, the delegates are provided
accommodation in that hotels rooms.
In brief:

Both meetings and conferences are events where people gather and hold
discussions.

Meetings are held on a smaller scale and have fewer participants. They are
more informal and can be held in-house. Meetings are over in a period of hours.

On the other hand, conferences are more formal, are spread over several days
and require accommodation and other facilities for the delegates.

Conference vs Meeting
Conference and meeting refers to the getting together of
many people and holding some kind of discussion on certain
topics. Their basic goal is the same which includes people
gathering to discuss something which is common to all who
are attending. The dictionary meanings of conference and
meetings are not too different either, but in practice they
have some basic differences which cannot be neglected.

Conference
The dictionary meanings of conference are:
A meeting especially with an agenda which is formal for
consultations,

discussions,

or

exchanging

information.

In politics, government, and diplomacy, it is defined as a

formal meeting between political groups, two or more states,
etc.

to

discuss

issues

and

formulate

policies.

Religiously in Christianity or ecclesiastical terms, it means an

assembly of clergy.
Conferences are held on a large scale. People come to attend
conferences from different fields of life, business, society, and
religion, etc. to discuss a particular subject. They are formal
affairs where invites are sent in advance, and a particular
agenda has to be discussed and focused upon. The
discussions, the topics are all prioritized in advance.
The number of attendees is large so that it needs to be
organized in hotels or specially designed conference rooms or
training centers where the environment is right for
discussions amongst a very large group.
The people who are invited for conferences are accommodated
in hotel rooms as guests as conferences may be planned for

more than one day and spread over a span of three to four
days or more.
Meeting
The dictionary meanings of meeting are:
It is the process or act of coming together of people, also
considered an encounter.
Assembly of people for different social, business, or religious
purposes.
Meetings are more casual than conferences; they may or may
not be planned in advance. Meetings can be called informally
at any time by the people in office or people belonging to a
group.
Meetings can be held at home or in an office at any given time
in any given space, and does not include a very large number
of people. Meetings are usually called to discuss something
which came up, and the topics may or may not be planned in
advance. They usually carry on for less time than conferences.
Summary:
1.A conference is a more formal affair than a meeting.

2.Conferences are preplanned and held on a large scale where

a lot of people attend; meetings may or may not be
preplanned, and attendees are fewer in number.
3.Conferences have a particular agenda for discussion;
meetings may or may not have a particular subject to be
discussed; they may have many points to focus on.
4.Conferences are usually held in hotels or conference rooms,
etc. as they are on a large scale; meetings can be held at home,
an office, or at any given space.
5.Conferences may be held over a span of a few days; meetings
are shorter than conferences and usually end the same day
they start in a few hours.

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