The second Americas Meetings & Events Exhibition (AIBTM) has kicked off at the Baltimore Convention Center.

Organisers Reed Travel Exhibitions are putting a strong focus on education across its portfolio of global IBTM exhibitions and by signing a major strategic partnership with PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association) stepped up the level of education again for AIBTM.

The first day (Tuesday) was Education Day, leaving the next two days clear for exhibitors and buyers to get down to business on the show floor. Exhibition director Graeme Barnett reported 54 new exhibitors this year, more hosted buyers and a big rise in the number of pre-scheduled appointments. “There is a select number of UK-based buyers, all of whom had to prove they have the potential to place future business in the US,” he said.

Of a handful of UK exhibitors, two at least believed there couldn’t be a better time than 2012 to promote Britain to the US market. “The Queen’s Jubilee and the Olympic and Paralympic Games are providing us with a wonderful opportunity to realise their legacy for welcoming business events for years to come,” said London & Partners’ Chris FJ Flynn.

VisitScotland felt recent infrastructure investment worth £2 billion was worth shouting about. “We are really looking for AIBTM to perform this year,” added Richard Knight.

Meetpie.com reported earlier this week that from next year, AIBTM will move to Chicago and the year after to Orlando. After that, it will alternate between those two cities.