More than 3,500 tour and motorcoach operators, travel industry professionals, and service and equipment suppliers are headed to Charlotte, North Carolina, to form long-term business relationships, network and socialize with colleagues, and take advantage of the industry’s largest exhibit hall.

Organization: American Bus Association

Conference: ABA Annual Meeting & Marketplace

Venue: Charlotte Convention Center

City: Charlotte, North Carolina

Following board and committee meetings on Friday and Saturday morning, ABA 2018 begins on Saturday afternoon with education seminars and a live auction that evening that benefits the ABA Foundation. Also on the agenda:

Bite-sized learning. Topics covered during the 30-minute, tip-heavy Education Bite sessions will include a using your smartphone to increase productivity and eight ways to tackle procrastination. Since these sessions take place in the middle of the exhibit hall, attendees will wear headsets to block out noise from the networking happening around them.

Big welcome for newbies. ABA offers a top-rated program that helps first-time attendees prepare for the conference. Several webinars before the event help them develop strategies for a successful week and learn how to best present themselves and their organization. Once onsite, newbies will have access to an orientation center, as well as Q&A workshops.

Local support. Since 2007, ABA has raised more than $347,000 for charities based in the annual meeting’s host city. This year’s charity, the Isabella Santos Foundation, raises money to find a cure for pediatric cancer. Attendees are encouraged to support the foundation by purchasing customized “Cancer Messed With” shirts.

Looking for other meeting details? Head to Twitter (#ABACharlotte) or Instagram.

(matt_dela/iStock/Getty Images Plus)