BEA Announces Cheaper, Alternative Accommodations for 2013

While some details are still in the works, this week, BookExpo America Show Director Steve Rosato unveiled plans for an alternative option to expensive New York hotel rates for trade show attendees. On his blog, The BEAN [1], Rosato said that he expected to announce next week that BEA had secured a block of 120 dorm rooms at Barnard College at the rate of $115 per night. “That is the total price, including taxes, and BEA will include a $10 MetroCard,” Rosato said.

Noting that the accommodations are dorm rooms, he added, “While this ain’t exactly the Four Seasons or the Plaza, I prefer to think of it as a clean, well-lighted place.”   

The rooms are private singles, but with a shared bathroom with multiple sinks, showers, and toilets. There is 24-hour security. Rooms have to be prepaid and are not refundable, but they are transferable.

Accommodations will include pillows, linens, and towels, plus there are common rooms with small kitchens. The dorm is on the corner of 116th and Broadway, just steps from the #1 train. From there, it is a 16-minute ride to 34th Street and 7th Avenue, which is a five-block walk to the Javits Convention Center.  The neighborhood is adjacent to the Columbia University campus and close to the two branches of Book Culture. 

“So if you are mildly adventurous and looking for an inexpensive way to stay at BEA, this is your ticket,” Rosato said. BEA will formally announce the availability of the Barnard accommodations next week via its social media outlets (Facebook [2], Twitter [3], etc...) and e-mail. 

ABA CEO Oren Teicher said, “We’re pleased that BEA is acknowledging how expensive it is attend the trade show in New York City, and are happy that they are looking for other alternatives to costly hotel accommodations for all BEA attendees.”

This year’s BookExpo America [4] hotel exclusively for ABA member booksellers — the Grand Hyatt New York — offers single and double rooms at the special nightly rate of $255, plus tax (currently 14.75 percent) and a $3.50 per night occupancy fee. In a further nod to reducing expenses for ABA members attending the show, every store in good standing that books a room (or rooms) at Hotel ABA will be eligible to win one of 56 prizes provided by BEA. Learn more. [5]