Editing Conference (section)

== History ==
The first known use of "conference" appears in 1527, meaning "a meeting of two or more persons for discussing matters of common concern".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of CONFERENCE |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/conference |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> It came from the word ''confer'', which means "to compare views or take counsel".<ref>{{Cite web |title=Definition of CONFER |url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/confer |access-date=2022-03-20 |website=merriam-webster.com |language=en}}</ref> 
However the idea of a conference far predates the word. Arguably, as long as there have been people, there have been meetings and discussions between people. Evidence of ancient forms of conference can be seen in archaeological [[ruins]] of [[Common area|common areas]] where people would gather to discuss shared interests such as "hunting plans, wartime activities, negotiations for peace or the organisation of tribal celebrations".<ref>{{Cite book |last=Montgomery |first=Rhonda J. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42785679 |title=Meetings, conventions, and expositions : an introduction to the industry |date=1995 |publisher=Wiley |others=Sandra K. Strick |isbn=0-471-28439-4 |location=New York |oclc=42785679}}</ref> 

Since the 1960s, conferences have become a lucrative sector of the tourism industry and have evolved into hundred billion Pound per year industry on a global scale.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Rogers |first=Tony |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/56035870 |title=Conferences and conventions : a global industry |date=2003 |publisher=Butterworth-Heinemann |isbn=1-4175-0740-3 |location=Oxford [England] |oclc=56035870}}</ref> The growth around the world, including in [[Great Britain]], Germany, Philippines, United States and Australia, has led to conferences themselves becoming an industry with buyers, suppliers, [[marketing]], [[Brand|branding]] and conference facilities.<ref name=":0" /> 

Modern conferences can be held to discuss a variety of topics, from [[politics]], to science or sport. Many conferences are held on a regular periodic basis, such as annually, biannually (twice per year), or biennially (every other year).

With the development of [[Information and communications technology|communications technology]], conference holders have the choice of replacing the physical meeting space with a telephonic or [[Virtual reality|virtual]] form of meeting. This has resulted in terms such as a [[conference call]] or [[Videotelephony|video conference]].