AIBTM is the leading global exhibition for the U.S. meetings and events industry. Each June we bring together the world’s entire meetings and events industry in Baltimore for three days of focused business.

– AIBTM website.

Oh wow, is it already time to start planning my trip to AIBTM? It’s the leading global exhibition for the U.S. meetings and events industry, but everyone I know just calls it the “Convention Convention. ”

And this year’s Convention Convention is going to be straight-up ridiculous. We’re talking hundreds of hosted buyers and thousands of exhibitors from the meetings industry, meeting to network, exchange information, share strategies, partner and associate.

Since AIBTM falls under the venerable IBTM umbrella, you know from its Wikipedia page that was definitely not written by an IBTM employee that the destination will be stunning. So no one should be surprised that the Convention Convention will be in Baltimore, easily one of the United States’ most stunning cities.

Plus, this year’s AIBTM is tricked out with new strategic partnerships with PCMA, SITE and ACTE. And they’ve ramped up their existing partnerships with ICCA and CSPI (formerly ACME)!

To top it off, this year’s Convention Convention heard the demands of last year’s Convention conventioneers and added an exciting new Business Travel sector. And you know who’s going to be there? We’re talking CEOs, senior directors, management, corporate travel managers, procurement managers, finance HR managers, personal assistants and travel agents. And there will be suppliers of various business-travel technologies, including self-booking tools!

And since Baltimore is a memorable destination with several cultural attractions and excitement around every corner, maybe after the networking event ends Monday evening you can head out for some electrifying nightlife and catch the area’s hottest new alt-rock band, The Self Booking Tools.

The Convention Convention is the biggest event in events this year, with something for everyone from corporate planners to junior planners. Just don’t plan anything for Tuesday from 1-2 p.m., because you’re not going to want to miss the vibrant panel on “Delivering Meetings that Meet Your Organization’s Strategic Plan.”

No one can throw a convention like the people whose jobs it is to throw conventions. Why waste your time at some other, more narrowly focused trade convention, like one more pertinent to your occupation? Convention Convention transcends those convention conventions, allowing you to trade the trade thrust for a concentration on convening.