As with any industry, Event Management has its own set of nomenclature. How do you know if your goal is best achieved by a conference or a workshop? And what is the difference?

While a consultation with an event management professional should be your first stop in determining what type of event will garner the best outcome, here are some brief definitions of common meeting types which can help you narrow your focus when considering what type of event to hold.

• Conferences – Conferences are designed to gather a group of individuals to learn about and discuss a set of pre-determined topics.

• Tradeshow – A tradeshow is an event that includes a trade show floor or exhibits by suppliers.

• Sales Meetings and Rallies – Serve as a link between the company and the sales team while providing a critical opportunity to inspire, encourage and reward sales staff.

• Workshops– A workshop is an informal educational session where attendees are encouraged to network with one another and are designed to facilitate engaged learning; attendees can actively participate in the learning process through exercises such as role play or hands-on interaction.

• Seminar – A seminar is an informal discussion on a certain topic.

• Town Halls and Community Forums – An informal public meeting to gather input on a particular subject or issue.

• Vendor and Strategic Partner Meetings – A program implemented to bring accountability, consolidation, collaboration and cost consciousness to business processes.