Well, the answer is a bit in the name itself: At first glance there doesn't have to be any difference in terms of appearance. There are designs here that lead to two almost identical models from one and the same manufacturer.
So it is the second look that separates the travel awning from its namesake, the seasonal awning, so that in addition to the weight of the fabric panels and support frames, the effort involved in setting up the awning is also noticeable in the shortest possible time.
The seasonal tent, on the other hand, can be trimmed for rusticity so that it can withstand wind and weather for months on end.
The travel awning, on the other hand, is usually only fixed in one place for a few weeks and should therefore not only be dismantled quickly, but can also be transported just as quickly and with little weight to the next destination in the vehicle, in order to enjoy many years of wonderful, carefree holidays at constantly changing locations:
Low weight and high erection speed are the decisive factors for the travel awning.
It should therefore be light (and compactly packed) so as not to be a burden on the journey. It should be quick to set up so as not to waste unnecessarily valuable holiday time, and it should be robust because it is often set up and dismantled.

There are awnings in all shapes, colours and all conceivable materials. There are tents that are fully and partially retracted in the piping. There are rectangular, round and pointed models.
Fully retracted travel tents guarantee high stability due to the retraction. In addition, one achieves high space gain and, in comparison with partial tents, much more roofed space in front of the caravan.
Awnings, which consist of several parts, stand out due to their variability. Thus, from the awning to the fully enclosed room, exactly the living space that is currently needed can be built up step by step.
With the poles, it is not only the light weight that speaks for use in the travel awning. The stability is also in demand. Many touring caravans prefer, for example, the Atlantic coast as a holiday destination, where there can be extensive storms. Here, one needs a resistant framework. The steel frame is basically a strong thing. In order to make an aluminium frame comparably strong, more material must be used. The consequence, also the aluminium tube weighs more.
Glass fibre or carbon reinforced plastic combines the best of the two worlds aluminium or steel in conventional scaffolding construction. Last but not least, there is also an innovation on the way to giving the tent scaffolding a completely new face:
Once pulled into the piping, the air tent erects itself as if by magic.
Air hoses completely replace the metal frame. A huge tent can suddenly be erected all by itself and today causes a similar sensation as the mover-powered caravan on some campsites.
Today, a good air linkage should be filled centrally via a common valve. There are powerful hand pumps and special battery-powered tent compressors that stop working as soon as the right air pressure is reached.
A gust of wind takes the air tent with calmness: it simply cushions everything and returns to shape again and again.
They set a new record in terms of increased safety and comfort. However, in terms of weight, the carbon frame is still ahead of the pack.

The requirements for an awning and its materials are very high. Everything should be robust, but also transportable. The tent should be leak-proof, but still breathe. These are tasks that require a high standard of quality. The tent fabrics must be tear and tensile resistant as well as washable and easy to care for. Synthetic fibres are used almost exclusively.
Colour fastness and weather resistance are partly achieved by additional coating.

Here is a small selection:

Polyester is a synthetic fibre that is lightfast, weatherproof, tear-resistant, UV-stable and insensitive to moisture and bacteria. Due to its tightness, however, condensation water can form. Polyester is suitable as a carrier fabric for all areas.

PVC-coated polyester fabric is absolutely tight, rot-proof and has a very high tear resistance. The disadvantage is that PVC is not breathable and condensation can form. PVC with matt or gloss varnish facilitates cleaning. PVC is used in the roof area.

PU-coated polyester fabric (e.g. Trailtex) is particularly light, conditionally water vapour permeable, waterproof, translucent and easy to clean. It takes a longer time to dry and there is also the possibility of condensation.

Acrylate-coated polyester fabric (e.g. Airtex) has a high tear strength, good light, weather and colour fastness. It absorbs hardly any moisture and is easy-care and washable.

Polyester Ripstop is a tear-resistant, hard-wearing polyester fabric. It hardly absorbs water and for this reason is only slightly stretchy even when it rains. At regular intervals, a strong thread runs through the fabric and provides the important stability. If the material tears despite its strength, the tear finds its end at this thread and does not continue unchecked through the material.

Acrylic tent fabric (e.g. Leacryl) is spinneret dyed, therefore the light and weather fastness are particularly good. The particularly intensive impregnation as well as the anti-fouling finish make the fabric very resistant and durable.