According to Wikipedia, a keynote speaker's communication is delivered to "set the original tone and sum up the core note or most significant revelation of the event." In other words, a keynote speaker must solidify a meeting's subject, or offer a foundation for attaining the key objectives of a meeting.

A keynote speaker is frequently chosen to stimulate interest in a meeting plan and draw attendees to be present at the event. If the selected speaker is famous for his or her mastery in an exacting field, or if the speaker has wide household name credit, it is probable that enthusiasm about the meeting will build.