Baltimore Events

M&T Bank Stadium, home of the National Football League’s Baltimore Ravens, is one of the most interesting event venues in Baltimore. In particular, the lounges on the Club Level of the stadium rival any other special event facility in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

The North Club Level Lounge can accommodate groups from 50 people to upwards of 2,000 people, while offering a fantastic view of the Baltimore skyline, including the nearby Sheraton Inner Harbor and Hilton Baltimore hotels. The two South Club Level lounges can accommodate up to 1,000 people each. In addition, there are several smaller areas on the Club Level that easily handle smaller meetings of 60 to 250 people.

Meetings, sit-down dinners and receptions can be accommodated in either the North or South Club Level Lounges. The folks at Aramark can create custom menus to match the theme of your meeting. Additional attractions for your special event can be arranged at the stadium, such as having the Baltimore Ravens cheerleaders or mascots attend, as well as behind-the-scenes tours of the suites, Press Box, and locker rooms. This is truly a unique venue in Baltimore and one that guests talk about after they leave.

View more information about M&T Bank Stadium on the Cvent Supplier Network

Looking for a unique venue in Baltimore to hold an after-hours reception or wedding? The Maryland Historical Society, centrally located in the Mount Vernon section of Baltimore, is well worth checking out!

Easily accessible from hotels in downtown Baltimore, via the Light Rail System, the Maryland Historical Society has four different venues that can accommodate between 40 and 400 guests for a seated function or between 100 and 500 guests for a reception. Docent-led tours of the museum galleries are available for an additional charge and are highly recommended. Among the current exhibitions, guests can have the opportunity to see an original hand-written copy of the Star Spangled Banner on display, a giant version of Nipper (the RCA Victor dog), and one of the finest collections of silverware in the country.

The Meyerhoff Courtyard or the Monument Street Garden would also make a wonderful place to hold a wedding in Baltimore. The MHS has a list of exclusive caterers and approved vendors with which they work.

The MHS is within easy walking distance of several Baltimore hotels such as the Mount Vernon Hotel, Peabody Court and the Inn at 4 East Madison. The Maryland Historical Society is a great option for holding your next event in Baltimore. If you have an interest in history, this is a great venue!

View more information about Maryland Historical Society on the Cvent Supplier Network

The meetings industry is one step closer to having standards for green meetings. A final draft of standards for green meetings and events, developed by the Convention Industry Council's Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) Green Meetings and Events Practices Panel, is ready for your consideration.

The APEX Green Meeting and Events Voluntary Standard covers nine areas: accommodations, AV, communication, destinations, food and beverage, exhibits, meeting venue, on-site office, and transportation. The Standard is available online at the APEX blog, where visitors can comment on each section.

In addition to providing online feedback, APEX is also hosting another round of City Discussion Groups in major cities across the country. These CDGs allow industry members to publicly participate in the discussion of the Voluntary Standard. So far the schedule is as follows:

• August 16, 2009: Atlanta event at the Crowne Plaza Atlanta Perimeter at Ravinia
• September 1, 2009: Denver event at The Ritz-Carlton Denver
• September 3, 2009: Baltimore event at the Baltimore Convention Center
• September 9, 2009: San Antonio event at the San Antonio Marriott Rivercenter
• September 11, 2009: Washington, DC event at the U.S. Green Building Council Board Room

You can register online, and don't forget to keep checking as more dates are announced.

A proposed slots casino in Baltimore is moving into a bigger home. According to The Daily Record, city officials and two developers reached a deal to allow Baltimore City Entertainment Group LP to build the casino on the former site of Maryland Chemical Co. Inc., an area whose size will allow for about 3,750 slot machines.

In February, BCEG applied for a casino of about 500 machines, to be built on a three-acre, city-owned parking lot near M&T Bank Stadium. The new 11-acre site was scheduled to become the $200 million mixed-use development Gateway South. City officials said that if it's gambling license is approved, BCEG will build the casino and buy out Gateway South team's $13.25 million interest in the rest of the site.

Bethesda-based gaming consultant Jeffrey Hooke told The Daily Record that a bigger facility could its increase revenues by 10 percent to 15 percent. Based on the maximum number of slot machines installed in the casino, the Baltimore Development Corp. is projecting that the casino could add $20.8 million in ground rents and taxes to the city in the first year.

A state commission is expected to make decisions on slot licenses in the fall.

Over 300 convention and visitors bureaus are using Twitter, according to a new report from New York-based destination marketing firm Development Counsellors International (DCI). That's an impressive jump over just a few months, as about 200 meeting destinations were using the social networking site when I blogged about GoSeeTell's report back in March.

In an effort to find out how destination organizations are using this ever-growing network, DCI analyzed and compared over 3,000 Tweets from the largest CVBs in the country (by population) over the course of 30 days. It found that when it comes to tweet topic, news announcements are the most common subject.

Here's the breakdown:

• Announcements about upcoming local events/news (54 percent)

• Social tweets (28 percent)

• Replies to followers (20 percent)

• Deals (17 percent)

• Re-tweets from community partners (13 percent)

Less common were travel deals (7 percent) and contests (4 percent).

DCI also used its research to identify the country's Travel Tweet Elite—the top five destinations that, in addition to having the most followers and updates, are most successful at connecting with visitors. The Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, New Orleans Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau, San Francisco Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Tampa Bay & Company secured the title.

Read DCI's full report.

Summer is in full swing, and that means so are many baseball bats across the country. To me, nothing says summer like a day the stands, watching your favorite team and listening to one more round of "Take Me Out to the Ballgame."

You can bring the excitement of this great American pastime to your event attendees by hosting a party or reception at one of the many baseball parks across the country. Here are a few popular parks that will certainly make for a home run event:

Oriole Park at Camden Yards

This beautiful Baltimore baseball facility opened in 1992. Within walking distance of the city's Inner Harbor and just two blocks from the birthplace of Babe Ruth, the 48,876-seat stadium  uses steel, an arched brick facade, asymmetrical playing field, and natural grass turf to channel the great ballparks built in the early 1900s.

Several suites are available for game day events. Planners can also host events on non-game days, taking advantage of venues such as the Camden Club, Pastimes Cafe, and Camden Yards Banquet Room for receptions as large as 2,500 people or outdoor parties of up to 5,000 people.

Busch Stadium

The new retro-style Busch Stadium opened with a bang in 1992 when the St. Louis Cardinals home team beat the visiting Milwaukee Brewers. In addition to Cardinals games, the stadium is also serving as host to the 80th MLB All-Star Game.

Busch Stadium's versatile venues can accommodate events as small as 10 people or as large as 45,000 guests. Unique settings include the Casino Queen Party Porch for up to 400 people; the Busch Stadium Conference Center for up to 100 guests; and Ford Plaza for up to 2,500 guests. The ballpark also offers unique packages to make events even more memorable, including a Fantasy Batting Practice and Dinner at Home Plate.

Nationals Stadium

The Nationals might not have as stellar of a track record as other teams in the MLB, but what they lack in wins they certainly make up for in the stadium they call home. The magnificent Nationals Stadium, located at the Capitol Riverfront in Washington, DC, features a stunning steel, glass, and concrete design intended to reflect the architecture of DC. A cutting edge experience, the ballpark's technological features include a 4,500-square-foot high-def scoreboard and over 600 linear feet of LED ribbon board along the inner bowl.

The Nationals' Conference Center, located on the South Capitol Street side of the park, features one large room and four breakout rooms. The main room of this Washington, DC venue holds 300 people, while each of the side rooms can accommodate 50 people.

The United States is celebrating its 233rd birthday this weekend (only a few days left to get a gift!), so it seems fitting to have a look at some of the best patriotic event venues in the country where you can celebrate this, or really any, important event.

Old South Meeting House

Located in the heart of downtown Boston, the Old South Meeting House has big reputation with meetings. In 1773, 5,000 colonists gathered here to protest the tax on tea, a protest that ultimately led to the famous Boston Tea Party.

For "revolutionary" Boston events, the Old South Meeting House can accommodate up to 650 people. Equipment such as theater lighting, a modular staging system, a piano, screens and projectors can be arranged.

Liberty Bell Center

On display at the Liberty Bell Center in Philadelphia, this 2,000-pound former Pennsylvania State House bell called citizens to the first reading of the Declaration of Independence in 1776. After the first bell cracked, the second one cracked as well—twice—and as such it has not be rung since the mid-1800s. However, the Liberty Bell's message of freedom has persevered, serving as an icon of the abolitionist movement, the fight for women's suffrage, the Civil Rights Movement and more.

The Independence National Historic Park issues permits for special park use to groups that will not cause derogation of the park's resources or values, visitor experiences, or the purpose for which the park was established. Planners can submit a permit application for special events and meetings.

Fort McHenry

Does the quote "O say can you see, by the dawns early light..." sound familiar? Likely you know it's our National Anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner. What you might not know, however, is that Fort McHenry in Baltimore was the birthplace of the patriotic tune. It was here in 1814 that 1,000 Americans resisted a 25-hour attack from British troops, inspiring Francis Scott Key to write the anthem lyrics.

Meeting planners can obtain Special Use Permits to gain access to the park for runs, weddings, ceremonies, banquets, etc.

Aquariums were always one of my favorite attractions as a kid. Who wouldn't love a chance to see nature's marine life—the beautiful, the odd, and the frightening—up-close? I don't think the wonder of the underwater world diminishes as we get older, which is why adults and children alike find an afternoon at the aquarium exciting.

For meeting planners, the aquarium's unique allure makes it a great event venue. You'll not only elicit excitement from attendees who'll jump at the chance to visit, but you'll also find an unmatched backdrop of corals, jelly fish, sting rays and more that you just can't find at your average venue.

Here are a few great aquariums that can serve as event venues:

Georgia Aquarium

With over eight million gallons of fresh and marine water, the Georgia Aquarium is home to a massive collection of marine life. The two full-grown whale sharks, the largest fish species in the world, are popular with guests, as is Nandi, the only Manta ray to be displayed in a U.S. aquarium ever.

The aquarium has several spaces available for corporate events in Atlanta. From the 16,400-square-foot Oceans Ballroom to a full aquarium buyout for 5,000 people, the venue is perfect for receptions, galas, banquets and more.

National Aquarium

Located in Baltimore, the National Aquarium is home to about 16,500 animals within its uniquely designed glass pyramid building. In addition to its underwater life, the aquarium also houses a range of interesting exhibits on reptiles such as the Giant Amazon river turtle and amphibians such as the Blue poison dart frog.

The National Aquarium can accommodate groups as small as 10 people or as large as 2,500 people. Catering is provided by Baltimore's premier catering company, the Classic Catering People.

Aquarium of the Pacific

This Southern California venue has over 12,500 ocean animals representing about 500 species that call the Pacific Ocean home. With 19 major habitats, the aquarium takes guests on a journey through the waters of Southern California and Baja, the Northern Pacific, and the Tropical Pacific.

The Aquarium of the Pacific can accommodate private functions in spaces such as the captivating Great Hall and outdoor Harbor Terrace. It also offers two special event package pricing and menus: the Scuba Package for 50 to 150 guests features three food stations or custom plated meals on the second level of the aquarium; and the Coral Reef Package offers access to the first floor for up to 3,000 guests.

To find an aquarium venue in your city, make sure to check the Cvent Supplier Network.

Transportation among bustling meeting destinations of the Northeast, including New York City, New Jersey and Boston, is set to get easier with the groundbreaking yesterday of the Trans-Hudson Passenger Rail Tunnel. Named the Access to the Region's Core (ARC) Project, the tunnel will link New Jersey with New York.

Overall, the ARC Project is expected to double commuter rail capacity in the nation's busiest rail corridor, running from Boston to Washington, DC. Rail lines including the North Jersey Coast Line, Morristown Line, and Northeast Corridor, which serves East Coast cities such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, Newark and New Haven, will see more frequent and express service thanks to the ARC Project. A number of lines, including the Bergen County Line, Raritan Valley Line, North Jersey Coast Line, and Main Line, will receive direct service to Manhattan.

The Department of Transportation has committed $3 billion to this $8.7 billion project over its lifespan, the largest commitment to any transportation project anywhere in the country in the history of the Department. In addition to facilitating transportation, the project is expected to generate 6,000 construction-related jobs and has been hailed as a great step to getting out of the economic crisis.

"This is going to promote mobility, reduce commuter congestion, staunch carbon emissions, enhance regional competitiveness and lay a foundation for an extraordinary expansion of mass transit in the most densely populate state in the nation," New Jersey Gov. John Corzine told CNN.

Learn more at the ARC Project.

GoSeeTell's blog can has released its rankings of destinations using Twitter for February 2009. BaltimoreMD jumped into the number 1 spot, followed by VisitChicago and ArizonaTourism.

Since 2007, the number of destinations on Twitter has been steadily increasing. In fact, it's more than doubled since July 2008. Today, over 200 U.S. and Canadian destinations use the social media site.

GoSeeTell uses its Twitter Grader to grade destinations. Check out the top 10:

1. BaltimoreMD
2. VisitChicago
3. ArizonaTourism
4. TravelPortland
5. ExpCols
6. TravelOregon
7. visitphilly
8. paadventure
9. PositivelyCleve
10. enjoyillinois

You can see the full list at GoSeeTell's blog. Some of these destinations have over 3,000 followers. Do you use Twitter to check out the latest news from meeting destinations?

Although defending the value of meetings has been on the forefront of many planners' minds lately, it's important to not let other issues in the industry fall by the wayside. Green meetings, for example, should remain a top priority . After all, aside from helping they environment, they can save money on your meetings, too.

The Accepted Practices Exchange (APEX) is giving you a chance to get involved in developing accepted industry practices for green meetings. Its City Discussion Groups (CDGs), similar to town hall meetings, invite participants to review and comment on the recommendations of the APEX Green Meetings and Events Practices Panel.

In partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ASTM International, APEX works to establish green meeting standards. As part of its efforts, APEX has nine volunteer-based committees that review green standards and compile a baseline of accepted practices. Committees range in scope from Accommodations to Transportation.

The CDGs kick off March 16 with meetings in Washington, DC, Atlanta, Vancouver, Portland and San Diego. Chicago, Gainesville, Fla., Louisville, Ky., Baltimore, and Seattle are among the meeting locations to follow.

Registration is free. For those interested, visit the APEX website to learn more and register for an upcoming CDG.

The struggling economy is affecting meetings and events in all sectors, and non-profits are no exception. Last week, the Maryland Zoo in Baltimore, for example, announced it was canceling its annual gala Zoomerang! after 25 years.

In a statement, Interim President and CEO Don Hutchinson said, "Zoomerang! has been a tremendous amount of fun for the Zoo and our supporters over the past 25 years. However, it is a very expensive event to stage and we felt that, in this economy, it was time to give Zoomerang! a rest after many wonderful years."

In many cases, budget hardships don't mean you have to close the doors to your fundraising events this year. Consider the following tips:

• Offer a pre- or post-gala event. If hosting a gala-type event is still in your budget, that's great. But if you want to cater to your event attendees' fluctuating finances, then consider hosting a smaller reception before the gala or an after party. Attendees who can't afford a pricey ticket can still get a chance to participate in your event.

• Go back to basics. Paring down your events doesn't mean you'll be hosting a black-tie affair in an empty warehouse and serving beer from buckets. There certainly many ways to scale back the size—and thus the price—of your fundraiser without sacrificing quality. Check out some of our cost-saving tips on everything from decor to menus for meetings and events of all types.

• Think small. One big annual black-tie gala may the be your traditional fundraising option, but it's certainly not the only one. Consider hosting several smaller meetings throughout the year instead. Not only will smaller meetings be lighter on the purse strings, but they'll offer a more direct, intimate way to connect with donors.

Some may be surprised by the recently reported optimistic outlook of the hospitality industry, but the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association isn't. After all, it recently announced that it booked 301,800 room nights this fiscal year for conventions that will occur over the next few years.

Baltimore's room night bookings have been steadily growing. In the BACVA Annual Report for Fiscal Years 2008-2009, the Convention Sales Department reported generating 451,608 definite room nights for the upcoming year, an 18 percent increase from the previous year. What's surprising, rather, is that the city is continuing to see great numbers in light of the struggling economy.

In a January 9 article from the The Baltimore Examiner, BACVA President Tom Noonan credited the new Hilton Baltimore hotel, which is linked to the convention center, and other hotel expansions for this surge in bookings. Add to this new attractions on the horizon and the city's proximity to Washington DC (a 2009 value meeting destination), and It seems Baltimore is poised to weather the poor economic climate well, becoming an even hotter meetings destination.

Air travel is stressful, especially during the holidays, so it's no wonder that convincing your event attendees to commit to a plane flight for your events can be hard.

If you're looking for an event destination that won't be such a hassle for your guests, consider the 10 airports selected by Health magazine as America's Healthiest. From nutritious food choices to relaxation zones, these airports are sure to put your travel guests at ease:

1. Phoenix Sky Harbor International
2. Baltimore/Washington International
3. O'Hare International in Chicago
4. Detroit Metropolitan
5. Denver International
6. Ronald Reagan Washington National
7. Dallas/Fort Worth International
8. Logan International in Boston
9. Portland International
10. Philadelphia International

Topping the list, Phoenix Sky Harbor International is a guaranteed comfortable way to welcome guests to events in Phoenix thanks to its healthful dining options at eateries such as Yoshi's Asian Grill and Roadhouse 66, exceptionally clean bathrooms, and two pet parks.

Events in Baltimore and DC get off to a good start thanks to two of its regional airports, Baltimore/Washington International and Ronald Reagan Washington International. BWI's relaxing music and low lighting mellows the mood at its formerly stressful security checkpoints, while National's 30 museum-quality works and walking/biking trail keep travelers' minds off delays and give them a chance to stretch their legs between flights.

Low-fat, veggie-heavy meals in Chicago, a "storm-ready" safety team at Detroit, and green, energy efficient practices at Denver are among the reasons that other airports made the cut.

Not looking forward to navigating the influx of people in Washington, DC during the presidential inauguration January 20? Working in a budget that can't quite meet the price of available hotels in DC? Baltimore can help. About 35 miles north of Washington, DC, Baltimore is an ideal destination for you to enjoy your inaugural day events without experiencing the crowds or prices in the city itself.

Right along I-95 and only 15 minutes from the Baltimore-Washington International Airport, the city is easily accessible by event guests. From there, the nation's capital can quickly be reached using commuter services offered by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Several charter and motorcoach services are also offering special inauguration travel packages for Washington, DC transportation.

Numerous hotels, such as the Hampton Inn &Suites Inner Harbor, Baltimore Marriott Waterfront, and Pier 5 Hotel, still have inauguration vacancies. With a wealth of presidential and political heritage in its own right, including the first monument erected to honor George Washington and the original manuscript of Francis Scott Key's "Star Spangled Banner," hosting an event in Baltimore is a first-class decision for your inaugural events.

Hosting Baltimore events just got more exciting with the announcement of the city's Nevermore 2009 event, a yearlong celebration to commemorate the great poet Edgar Allen Poe, whose 200th birthday is January 19, 2009. Having spent a great deal of his professional life in Baltimore, the city is celebrating with lectures, art exhibits, performances, wine tastings and even a candlelight vigil and funeral service in October—all of which are sure to be a draw for your event attendees.

Planners can also make the most of the celebration by hosting events at many of the notable unique venues involved. The Enoch Pratt Free Library's Central Library will feature a collection of photographs, letters and other Poe artifacts at  the "Edgar Allen Poe: More than A Poet" exhibition. Host a meeting in the aptly-titled Poe Room for 75 guests or in the 244-seat Wheeler Auditorium.

Perhaps one of the most notable Poe-related landmarks in Baltimore is Westminster Hall, the final resting site of Poe, his wife and his mother. In addition to hosting numerous Poe birthday celebration events (including a wine tasting in the catacombs), this gorgeous Gothic church is a stunning backdrop for events in Baltimore of up to 250 guests.