BEA Changes 2013 Show Dates

On Monday, BookExpo America [1] announced that its 2013 conference and trade show at New York’s Javits Convention Center will take place one week earlier than previously announced.

The 2013 trade show will now run from Thursday, May 30, through Saturday, June 1.  BEA’s Conference Day, the opening of the Remainder and Gift Pavilions, and the Book Blogger Conference will be on Wednesday, May 29.

The schedule change is expected to drive down hotel prices by 10 to 20 percent, BEA said, depending on the property.

“I am incredibly happy that we have been able to come to this arrangement with Javits,” said BEA Show Manager Steve Rosato. “This shift addresses the number one issue that was out of BEA’s control — the hotel prices in New York City. This works to everyone’s advantage … most notably, for our attendees, especially the ABA, for whom hotel costs are a top priority. We are pleased to deliver this better alternative, which will unequivocally deliver significant savings to all our participants in 2013. Simply put, BEA can provide more lodging at a lower rate, and we are able to secure larger blocks in the most popular hotels with these dates.”

In addition to driving hotel rates, Rosato noted on his blog, The Bean [2], that the changes “make BEA available to a group of booksellers, educators, and librarians that need a weekend day to be able to attend and, lastly, this will accelerate BEA’s plans to engage consumers by having Saturday as the day BEA is open to consumers.”

Exhibitors were assured that there would be no need to contract labor at overtime rates as the new schedule provides the same amount of time for setup and tear-down on straight time as the previously announced dates, BEA said.