BookExpo America Opens Online Registration

Booksellers, publishers, and other book industry professionals can now register for BookExpo America 2006 at BEA's website, www.bookexpoamerica.com. This year's show at the Washington, D.C. Convention Center from Thursday, May 18, through Sunday, May 21, will feature over 2,000 exhibitors showcasing thousands of new titles, as well as products and services for the book industry.

For ABA member booksellers who register before May 8, a three-day pass is $65, compared to $110 for non-ABA member bookstores. In addition, registration for BEA as an ABA member allows booksellers to attend all of ABA's educational program at no extra charge. The BEA site will ask for booksellers' ABA ID number.

ABA's full day of educational programming will be on Thursday, May 18, and, this year, taking advantage of the show's location in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, May 17, ABA is sponsoring a "Legislative Day."

In addition to BEA's numerous special author events, once again ABA will be hosting the Celebration of Bookselling, featuring the presentation of the 2006 Book Sense Book of the Year Awards and open to all BEA attendees. The Book Sense Author Lunch, open to booksellers at stores with Book Sense, will also be part of ABA's special events at the show. Look for details about ABA's education program and special events at BEA 2006 in upcoming editions of Bookselling This Week.

BEA is also expecting more than 500 authors to participate in the Autographing Program, which this year will take place on all three days of the event.

Hotel rooms are still available at the second exclusive hotel for ABA member booksellers attending this year's BEA -- the Hilton Crystal City, but rooms are going fast. ABA is encouraging booksellers who are interested in reserving rooms to act now. Information and registration for Hotel ABA is through ABA's website, BookWeb.org. (See related article in this week's BTW.)

Registration for the trade show for all attendees is through BEA. In addition to the online registration form at www.bookexpoamerica.com, in the coming weeks, BEA will mail a registration booklet. Questions can be directed to BEA customer service at (800) 840-5614 or (203) 840-5614.