The Baltimore Convention Center is a convention and exhibition center located in Baltimore, Maryland. Under the aegis of Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association, this is one of the biggest draws of Baltimore. The original center opened in 1979 with about 40000 square meters of space, it underwent a massive expansion in 1997. In 2008 when the very famous Hilton hotels opened their plush hotel near the center it got connected by a skywalk bridge.

The hall was opened with the purpose of attracting tourists and traders to the city. Till date it hosts various exhibitions, trade fairs and retail sector meets. Due to the rapid development of the area nearby Baltimore and with added tourist attractions like Power Plant Livel, M&T Bank Stadium this convention center is slowly making news.

It is supposed that this exhibition cum convention center worked as a catalyst in the development of Western Baltimore. Since its inception it ignited the interests of locals in theatres and retail marketing. The statement that Baltimore Convention center is still acting as an impetus in the economic development of the region is very true.

In the recent years it was felt that a hotel near the convention center will boost the tourism and make it more viable to visiting traders and visitors; so in 2008, Baltimore Convention Center hotel very famously known as Hilton-Baltimore was inaugurated. Baltimore Convention Center is not a destination to be missed. Though it is not your regular tourist spot, this place is entwined with the history of Baltimore.

Serving the Baltimore city as a convention and exhibition hall since 1979, Baltimore Convention Center has undergone a $151 million expansion and in 2008, the Hilton Baltimore hotel opened up, connected to Baltimore Convention Center with a skywalk bridge. In the year of 2011, the Baltimore Convention Center will continue to offer a premier venue for any conventions, tradeshows or expositions.

You can check the upcoming events of the first three months in 2011 from their official website:

Baltimore Convention Center Event Calendar

http://www.bccenter.org/events.php?page=0

January - The first month of 2011 in Baltimore Convention Center begins with the annual business meetings and clinics of the National Field Hockey Coaches Association (NFHCA). The NFHCA Annual Convention will last three days and the Hilton Baltimore will serve as the host hotel. After that, a day full of skill stations and clinics hosted by Sneak Peek will be held in Baltimore Convention Center. It is sponsored by NFHCA and powered by Synapse Sports. For more information related to the NFHCA Annual Convention, you can browse the following website:

2011 NFHCA Annual Convention

http://www.nfhca.org/

The January will be actually a sports month. After the hockey convention, there are then 2011 NSCAA Convention and US Lacrosse National Convention. You really can't miss them if you are a soccer or lacrosse fan. As for the convention registration fee, NSCAA offers a significant discount for members.

Other events will include a Home Building and Remodeling Show, GBC Maryland Legislative Forum 2011 and a Baltimore/DC Dive Show.

February - The February month in Baltimore Convention Center will present two exciting shows: one is Motor Trend International Auto Show and the other is American Craft Show at Baltimore. Admission to the auto show costs you $10 for adults, $6 for senior citizens, military or students, $4 for children aged 7-12, and free for children below seven years old. For the American Craft Show, there are more than 700 artists that will attend the convention to present works. Admission price will be $15 per person, $25 for a two-day pass and $30 for a three-day pass.

Other interesting events include the American Masters, Pampered Chef, Revolution Talent Competition and Maryland State Bar Examination.

March - There have been 6 different events on schedule in the March month in Baltimore Convention Center till now. One of the hottest is Maryland ProStart Student Invitational which will include the Culinary Competition and Management Competition. The other five events will be The JEMS Conference and Exhibition, Biophysical Society 55th Annual Meeting, Fox 45 CW-B'More Healthy Expo, First Robotics Competition Chesapeake Regional, and National Facility Management & Technology Expo.

Contacting the Baltimore Convention Center for more event information is easy. You can just pay a quick visit to the center as it's conveniently located at One West Pratt Street in the downtown area. The office hours will be 8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M from Monday through Friday. Or, you can choose to phone through 410.649.7000 or fax through 410.649.7008.

As the major center for tradeshows as well as exhibitions and conventions in Baltimore, the Baltimore Convention Center is owned by the City of Baltimore. The Baltimore Convention Center consists of two parts. The original Center which offers 425,000 square feet for exhibitions as well as meetings was opened to the public in 1979 while the other part of the Center was completed in 1997.

Built as a part of Baltimore's post-manufacturing economic development plans, the Baltimore Convention Center has successfully attracted lots of conventions, tradeshows and meetings to the city.

Being one of the must do attractions of Baltimore, the Baltimore Convention Center is really worth your visit. Below on this page is the address of the Baltimore Convention Center and you can find directions to get there as well.

Location & Surroundings: The Baltimore Convention Center is located at the intersection of Pratt Street and S. Charles Street. Its address is One West Pratt Street Baltimore, Maryland.

Situated within a superblock bounded by Charles, Conway, Pratt and Howard Streets, the Baltimore Convention Center has its east and west halves linked by a skywalk over Sharp Street.

The Baltimore Convention Center is surrounded by facilities such as the Oriole Park At Camden Yards, Power Plant Live, Sports Legends Museum and M&T Bank Stadium. All of these attractions joining this area make the Baltimore's Inner Harbor a great cultural and entertainment destination fascinating tons of tourists every year.

To pay a visit to the Baltimore Convention Center, you can choose to drive by yourself or take public transportations. Nestled in downtown Baltimore, the Baltimore Convention Center is serviced by most public transportations.

Transportation & Directions: For visitors who prefer to utilize public transportations, there are three options:

(1) Light Rail – The Maryland Transit Administration's light rail stop is right situated at the west end of the Baltimore Convention Center. The light rail offers direct service to the Baltimore Penn Station as well as BWI Airport.

(2) Maryland Area Rail Commuter – The MARC has a rail stop placed within a short walk of the Baltimore Convention Center. Besides, the Camden Yards Stop is not far away.

(3) Bus – You can find a bus stop at the corner of Pratt Street and Sharp Street. As the Maryland Transit Administration's bus stop is right located in front of the Center, you can get there from the Center's entrance off Pratt Street.

Of course, other transportations like Charm City Circulator and Commuter Bus are also available to guests. For more information about public transportation options, you can visit the Baltimore Convention Center's official website.

Public Transportation Options to the Baltimore Convention Center
http://www.bccenter.org/links.php?cID=4

For visitors appreciating self-driving tours, driving directions are always listed top of the visit plan. Be sure to get the right directions before you heading out, especially when it is your first time to the Baltimore Convention Center.

Driving visitors from Washington, D.C. or Alexandria are recommended to head east on Ellipse Road NW and then turn left onto 16th Street. Continue straight on until you see Constitution Ave. Turn on to Constitution Ave and then turn left when you come across 6th Street. Turn onto US-50 on you right and take the Balt-Wash Parkway exit. Stay on Baltimore-Washington Parkway for about 31.3 miles and then turn right. The Baltimore Convention Center would be on your right.

If you're driving from New York City, Annapolis, Eastern Shore or other cities, you can get directions on the Baltimore's website which offers links to Google Maps.

More Driving Directions to the Baltimore Convention Center
http://www.bccenter.org/index.php?target=60

Located in the heart of downtown, Baltimore Convention Center (BCC) is among the top list of the desirable destinations in Maryland. This versatile building can be used for conventions, tradeshows and expositions, so it meets the delights for both tourists and planners.

Baltimore Convention Center Homepage

http://www.bccenter.org/index.php

If you need a money-saving tour to Baltimore Convention Center, you can consider public transportation manners, like MARC Train, Baltimore's Light Rail and the Baltimore International Airport (BWI). Here is a brief intro about three of these manners. They are not only inexpensive, but also stop near some of the most visited attractions in Baltimore.

Charm City Circulator - This is a kind of free city shuttles traveling three routes in Baltimore City. It mainly serves the residents, employees, students and tourists, with the mission to ease the traffic congestion and contribute to an eco-friendly city.

Light Rail - The feature is that its 33 station stops at the street level permits you to explore the most of Baltimore. You just need to press the button outside the train to access and press the green button to get off.

MARC Train - There are three lines of this commuter rail, including Penn Line, Camden Line, and Brunswick Line. Choose the first two lines if you want to reach Baltimore city. You can find detailed stops of each line on this website.

MARC Train Lines

http://mta.maryland.gov/services/marc/

For more transportation info, you can check:

Transportation Manners to Baltimore Convention Center

http://www.bccenter.org/links.php?cID=4

Parking facilities are also available surrounding Baltimore Convention Center for car drivers. There are 13 garages and 21 surface lots throughout Baltimore City. Although there are no public parking lots for visitors in Baltimore Convention Center, you are given several affordable parking lots and hotel parking garages in and around this area. Parking fees range from $15 to $25. And here we collect 4 parking lots in the light of their distance from Baltimore Convention Center for you.

Edison Parking Management - There are two Edison Parking Managements around this area. One is located 100 S Charles Street, about 0.09 miles away from Baltimore Convention Center, and the other is at 320 Light Street, 0.12 miles away.

Towne Park Ltd - As the premier valet parking provider in US, this company offers two great parking facilities for drivers. You can find its parking lots at 300 Light Street and 320 Light Streets. Both of them are within 0.12 miles from BCC.

Inter Park - It is the world-class owner and developer of parking services. 0.12 miles away from BCC and located at 110 W Lombard Street, this parking lot is easy to access.

Laz Parking Mid-Atlantic - This facility is about 0.15 miles away from Baltimore Convention Center, at 25 Light Street.

By the way, as the total space of BCC is 1,225,000 square feet, self-driving tour is highly recommended for you to explore the most of this attraction. Baltimore Convention Center Homepage offers you specific driving directions from New York City, Washington, DC. & Alexandria, Va, York & Harrisburg, Pa, Annapolis, Eastern Shore, BWI Airport and Baltimore's Penn Station. Check which is the closest location to your departure place.

Map and Directions for Downtown Baltimore

http://www.downtownbaltmap.com/dp.aspx?category

The Baltimore Convention Center is a great venue for tradeshows and meetings. It is very popular among tourists and meeting planners alike. The Baltimore Convention Center has a huge person capacity and pleasant surroundings that convey a businesslike atmosphere. The business center offers special services such as shipping, printing and documentation.

1) Attending Events at the Baltimore Convention Center

For those who wish to attend events at the Baltimore Convention Center, it would be advisable to check the calendar of events to obtain specific information regarding the date and time of events. It is also advised that foreign tourists familiarize themselves with the directions for locating the venue. All of this information can be obtained online. It is also possible to check on the website if the Baltimore hotel that you are planning to stay in is highly recommended.

http://www.bccenter.org/events.php

2) Planning Events at Baltimore Convention Center

For those who are planning to conduct events at the Baltimore Convention Center, making reservations is a relatively easy process. Reservations can be made by contacting the Baltimore Convention Center by phone or online. Information about available services can also be found in its website. The website also shows a number of photographs of the main infrastructure to give future clients with an idea of what to expect at the Baltimore Convention Center. The Baltimore Convention Center works hand in hand with a special catering service that promises culinary excellence in their dishes.

http://baltimore.org/

http://pmmi.sitevisit.com/Venues/Venue.aspx?p=ov&vid=CB95E56FD2E04CF9B9C7

The Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore is one of the most respected areas in the city. This is an exhibition hall and a convention center, which is located in the Downtown district.

The operators and the managers of this place are the members of the organization called the Baltimore Area Convention and Visitors Association.

Many people not only the residents are keen on knowing more about the center. Here are some of the details that you should learn about in order to know more about the BCC:

Location and Facility

This is situated at West Pratt Street in Baltimore, Maryland. There are two phases for the facility namely the original and the meeting space. The total size of the convention center today is 13,800 square meters.

http://www.bccenter.org/

Transportation and Parking

If you have brought along your car, you will need to know that the parking rates change depending on the season at the present time. Usually, they start at 15 dollars per day and you can always reserve a parking space for your car. Meanwhile, for nearby transportation, you can always take a bus or a taxi.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore_Convention_Center

There are also hotels around Baltimore and in this area such as the Mount Vernon Hotel, clarion Hotel Peabody Court and the Tremont Park Hotel.