seating area vs seats

seating area and seats both are nouns.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
seating area	Yes	No	No	No
seats	Yes	No	No	No

As nouns, seating area and seats are synonyms defined as:

seating area and seats: an area that includes places where several people can sit

Other synonyms of seating area include seating, seating room.

seating area (noun)	seats (noun)
an area that includes places where several people can sit	an area that includes places where several people can sit