New Benefits Added to Hotel ABA Guest Package

This week, the American Booksellers Association announced a number of new benefits available exclusively to bookstore and provisional members staying at Hotel ABA -- the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge -- during BookExpo America 2009.

Manhattan has BEA, but Brooklyn -- which Julie Summerfield of Haverford College Bookstore likens to a cool indie bookstore -- has Hotel ABA, where they'll be parties, food, great atmosphere, bookseller contests, free stuff, and, of course, lots of opportunities to network with other booksellers.

New benefits exclusively for Hotel ABA guests include:

• An extra free badge to BEA
• In-hotel badge pick-up
• An author-guided walking tour of the Brooklyn Bridge
• Brooklyn indie bookstore events
• Limited complimentary theater seating at BEA Book & Author Breakfasts and Lunch
• And the chance to win a full scholarship (airfare and hotel) to next February's Fifth Annual Winter Institute, in San Jose, California

Watch for details about these and additional perks for Hotel ABA guests in upcoming editions of BTW.

Previously announced benefits include a special room rate of $183 per night for Wednesday, May 27, through Sunday, May 31; a series of evening social events sponsored by ABA, BEA, and participating publishers; free morning coffee; and a free four-trip NYC MetroCard.

Hotel ABA's special rate of $183 per night is available until Monday, May 4, or until the group block is sold out, whichever comes first. Booksellers must make their reservations via the Marriott's dedicated reservation webpage for ABA members. Rooms are reserved for ABA members only, and ABA has the right to cancel reservations made by non-members. Reserve your hotel room now.

Booksellers who are not currently ABA bookstore or provisional members can join the association to take advantage of this special Hotel ABA package, as well as many other benefits.

This year, every regular ABA store and provisional member is eligible for at least one free admission to BEA, with additional badges available to stores in an ABA dues category of two or higher. One additional free BEA badge is also available to each member bookstore that was represented at the Winter Institute.

In order to receive their free badges, stores must authorize ABA to share relevant information with BEA officials by completing a simple form on BookWeb.org. All specific sales data provided to ABA for dues calculation purposes will be kept strictly confidential. All ABA members must also register for the trade show via the BEA website.