John Sargent, Macmillan CEO, will be the featured speaker at the opening plenary session, kicking off Bookselling Today & ABA Education at BEA on Wednesday, May 29. He will be joined by ABA President Becky Anderson for a discussion about the challenges facing the book industry.

Here’s a first look at the schedule of ABA educational programming at BookExpo America 2013. The free program is aimed toward ABA bookstore and provisional members but is open to all BEA attendees.

Monday, April 1, is the deadline for ABA member booksellers to secure the special room rate for reservations at Hotel ABA — the Grand Hyatt New York — at BookExpo America 2013.

Following the success of the Bookseller/Publisher Focus Groups held at Winter Institute 8, ABA is arranging similar meetings at BookExpo America. Booksellers who are interested in meeting with publishers to discuss issues of common interest and mutual concern must sign up by May 3.

ABA’s 2013 Celebration of Bookselling and Author Awards Luncheon will be held on Thursday, May 30, from 12:15 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Javits Convention Center during BEA. Reservations are free and limited to two booksellers from each ABA member company.

The Annual Children’s Book Art Auction and Reception at BEA to benefit ABFFE will be hosted by Newbery Medal-winner Jack Gantos and Lauren Myracle, whose books top the list of the country’s most challenged titles. Tickets for the event are on sale now.

The Children’s Book Council and the ABC Children’s Group at ABA are inviting booksellers on a tour of children’s illustrators’ studios to give them a behind-the-scenes peek during BEA into the creative lives of today’s top talent. Registration is free and open to ABC Group at ABA bookstore members only.

To secure the special Hotel ABA rate exclusively for bookstore members at BookExpo America 2013, booksellers must make their reservations by April 1. This year’s Hotel ABA is the Grand Hyatt New York, located at 42^nd Street and Grand Central Terminal in Manhattan.

To take advantage of the special rate at this year’s BookExpo America hotel exclusively for ABA member booksellers, the Grand Hyatt New York, booksellers must make their reservations before the room block fills up or by April 1, whichever comes first.

This week, BookExpo America opened reservations for a limited number of rooms at Barnard College available exclusively for trade show attendees at a special rate of a $115 per night.