The purpose of meetings

In the WTO report 'Measuring the Importance of the Meetings Industry' the purpose of meetings is defined as:

"To motivate participants, to conduct business, share ideas, to learn, socialise and hold discussions"

I don't agree, or maybe it is just semantics? Discussing, learning and socialising are means to an end, they are not the end. I think the purpose of any meeting (or event, conference, exhibition, etc.) is:

"To educate participants to do something which adds value to stakeholders."

By education, participants learn new information, skills or attitudes or they learn to know people. They have to do something, it is not enough to think or feel. It is what they do which creates value to stakeholders.

This is why we start the planning process for any meeting by asking the question: "What do we want participants to do after the meeting?" Something they would otherwise not have done.