Registration Opens for 2009 Hotel ABA

Today, the American Booksellers Association opens registration for Hotel ABA, accommodations exclusively for ABA bookstore and provisional members attending BookExpo America 2009. This year, Hotel ABA returns to the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge in Brooklyn, the popular home to ABA members during BEA 2007.

BEA 2009 will be held at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City from Thursday, May 28, through Sunday, May 31. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Brooklyn Marriott for Wednesday, May 27, though Sunday, May 31, at the special rate of $183 per night. This rate, available to ABA bookseller and provisional members only, will be available until Monday, May 4, or until the group block is sold out, whichever comes first. A series of special social events sponsored jointly by ABA, BEA, and participating publishers will be held at Hotel ABA.

"We're pleased to offer ABA members a reasonable room rate at a hotel that proved to be very popular with booksellers at the 2007 trade show," said ABA COO Oren Teicher. "We think it's a very good deal, especially compared to the rates at other New York hotels during BEA. Based on the sellouts at last year's Hotel ABA and at the upcoming Winter Institute, we are encouraging booksellers who would like to stay at the 2009 Hotel ABA to register as soon as possible."

This year ABA's Day of Education on Thursday, May 28, will be returning to the convention center as part of series of innovations designed to invigorate the convention and to give booksellers and other industry professionals more networking opportunities. As part of the new initiative, BEA will be offering limited free convention attendance to ABA bookstore members. (See related story.)

BEA and ABA are working together to cover the cost of providing ABA bookstore members with NYC MetroCards to travel between Brooklyn and the Javits Center for the four days of the convention. Shuttle bus service will also be available between Hotel ABA and the convention center.

Booksellers must make their Hotel ABA 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.

Booksellers who are not currently ABA bookstore or provisional members can join the association to take advantage of this special room rate and many other benefits. Booksellers who are not sure about their membership status should contact ABA's Joe Dawson at joed@bookweb.org.