Baltimore: A Hub for Ideas, Inspiration, and Innovation

Baltimore abounds with incredible assets at every turn. Some you may have heard about already, like the beautiful Inner Harbor and awe-inspiring National Aquarium, or picturesque Fell’s Point and the world-class medical community of Johns Hopkins. And while those are undoubtedly special, there’s still so much more to discover in Charm City.

History buffs from all around the world flock to Baltimore to tour its robust cultural and historic sites, including the battleground that inspired the writing of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and a museum devoted to celebrating the life of Frederick Douglass.  

For those interested in tasting classic and innovative takes on Chesapeake cuisine, Baltimore boasts outstanding restaurants, trendy gastropubs and intimate bars. Take, for instance, the award-winning Woodberry Kitchen, which serves up imaginative locally-sourced and sustainable cuisine in a converted ironworks factory.

Looking for creative inspiration or scholarly connections? Our top-notch institutions and universities can provide speakers and experts in nearly any area of specialty, and Baltimore’s innovative entrepreneurs and creative makers await the chance to show everything they’ve got. 

At Visit Baltimore we are proud of our long-standing community relationships, and work closely with local leaders—think neighborhood associations, business owners, corporate offices, and more—to help you build a custom itinerary that creates memorable moments in Baltimore. Imagine your attendees connecting over cocktails in the tasting room of a local distillery, or taking in the inspiring words of a speaker from one of our renowned institutions.  

The ingredients of the perfect event may be yet to be determined, but this much is certain: Your guests will love Charm City.

Baltimore Beyond the Tradeshow Floor 

These unconventional venues are just a handful of the spaces that can give guests an extraordinary experience.

 

Union Collective 

Housed in a former Sears-Roebuck department store, this reworked space is anchored by Union Craft Brewing and 10 other vendors, including two that can provide food for events (Old Bay Caramel ice cream from The Charmery, anyone?). The taproom can hold up to 400 guests, and there’s a stage for live music, a private space, and a glass wall overlooking the brewing equipment. An outdoor beer garden offers room for lawn games, too.

Revival Hotel

Hotel Revival 

This boutique hotel is loaded with interesting event spaces, including four light-flooded private rooms, three private karaoke rooms, and Topside, the buzzy rooftop restaurant and garden bar. This isn’t your average hotel bar—Topside comes complete with a beautiful view of its historic neighborhood and a carefully curated craft beer menu.  

Stavros Niarchos Foundation Parkway Theatre 

Built in 1915, this historic theater underwent an $18 million renovation in 2016 after 40 years of vacancy. The restored Italianate architecture—with original molding, tile floors, ornate stage frame and curving balcony—has been complemented with updated technology and a new layout that includes two smaller theaters, plus a bar and cafe that serve locally-sourced beer and snack brands.  

Heron Room 

Tucked into a historic sailcloth mill, this space overlooks the Jones Fall stream and offers a stylish, rustic setting with stone walls, exposed ceilings, and modern updates. (Bird lovers, take note: The venue is named for the Yellow Crowned Night Heron that frequents a rock in front of the space.) 

Sagamore Spirit Distillery 

This waterfront whiskey distillery offers private events that include tastings and tours, but also specialty tours that include sunset cruises, group bottling and cocktail lessons. The distillery’s two indoor tasting rooms and a scenic outdoor tasting patio create a sophisticated, modern event setting for whiskey lovers.

Partner Voices
Overview: The award-winning Orange County Convention Center (OCCC) goes the extra mile to make every day extraordinary by offering customer service excellence and industry-leading partnerships. From their dedicated in-house Rigging team to their robust Exhibitor Services, The Center of Hospitality brings your imagination to life by helping you host unforgettable meetings and events. With more than 2 million square feet of exhibit space, world-class services and a dream destination, we are committed to making even the most ambitious conventions a reality. In October 2023, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners voted to approve allocating Tourist Development Tax funding for the $560 million Phase 5A completion of the OCCC. The Convention Way Grand Concourse project will include enhancements to the North-South Building, featuring an additional 60,000 square feet of meeting space, an 80,000- square-foot ballroom and new entry to the North-South Building along Convention Way. “We are thrilled to begin work on completing our North-South Building which will allow us to meet the growing needs of our clients,” said OCCC Executive Director Mark Tester. “As an economic driver for the community, this project will provide the Center with connectivity and meeting space to host more events and continue to infuse the local economy with new money and expanding business opportunities.” Amenities: The Center of Hospitality goes above and beyond by offering world-class customer service and industry-leading partnerships. From the largest convention center Wi-Fi network to custom LAN/WAN design, the Center takes pride in enhancing exhibitor and customer experience.  The OCCC is the exclusive provider of electricity (24-hour power at no additional cost), aerial rigging and lighting, water, natural gas and propane, compressed air, and cable TV services. Convenience The Center is at the epicenter of the destination, with an abundance of hotels, restaurants, and attractions within walking distance. Pedestrian bridges connect both buildings to more than 5,200 rooms and is within a 15-minute drive from the Orlando International Airport. The convenience of the location goes hand-in-hand with top notch service to help meet an event’s every need. Gold Key Members The OCCC’s Gold Key Members represent the best of the best when it comes to exceptional service and exclusive benefits for clients, exhibitors and guests. The Center’s Gold Key memberships with Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld Orlando and Walt Disney World greatly enhance meeting planner and attendee experiences offering world-renowned venues, immersive experiences and creative resources for their events. OCCC Events: This fiscal year, the OCCC is projected to host 168 events, 1.7 million attendees, and $2.9 billion in economic impact.  The Center’s top five events during their 2022-2023 fiscal year included:  AAU Jr. National Volleyball Championships 2023 200,000 Attendees $257 Million in Economic Impact MEGACON 2023 160,000 Attendees $205 Million in Economic Impact Open Championship Series 2023 69,500 Attendees $89 Million in Economic Impact Sunshine Classic 2023 42,000 Attendees $54 Million in Economic Impact Premiere Orlando 2023 42,000 Attendees $108 Million in Economic Impact