Few Rooms Remain at Hotel ABA/D.C.

Back-up Plans Being Made

Since November, when registration opened for Hotel ABA at BookExpo America 2006 in Washington, D.C., more than 400 rooms have been booked by bookseller members of the American Booksellers Association. Now, there are just a few rooms left at the hotel, The Doubletree Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia, for those who would like to take advantage of the special room rate of $129 per night and the exclusive package of benefits available only to ABA member booksellers.

ABA is encouraging those who want to join the approximately 750 booksellers staying at the hotel to book a room as soon as possible. If the desired room type and dates are no longer available, booksellers should contact the association's Margaret Petrie at (800) 637-0037, ext. 6614 or [email protected] to make alternate arrangements. (ABA soon expects to announce a back-up hotel, close to The Doubletree Crystal City, just minutes from the Washington Convention Center and downtown D.C., where booksellers will be able to enjoy the same package of benefits at a great price.)

The special room rate at The Doubletree Crystal City was originally available for the nights of Monday, May 15, through Monday, May 22, 2006. BEA will be held at the Washington Convention Center from Wednesday, May 17, through Sunday, May 21. ABA's "Legislative Day" will be on Wednesday from noon to 6:00 p.m., and ABA's full day of free educational programming will be on Thursday.

The special package of amenities for ABA member booksellers includes complimentary coffee and pastries each morning; a series of publisher-sponsored receptions each evening; a member hospitality suite; a special concierge table in the hotel lobby; dedicated shuttle bus service between the hotel and convention center; and ARCs for booksellers each night.

There are two ways for ABA member booksellers to book rooms:

• Book Online: Booksellers will need a special code that is accessible by clicking here. (A BookWeb user name and password is required to access this page.) ABA member booksellers who do not already have a user name and password can create one by clicking on "Register for BookWeb" on the site's homepage. (An ABA ID number is required to register for BookWeb.)

• Call-In Reservations: Booksellers can also book a room by calling ABA's Margaret Petrie at (800) 637-0037, ext. 6614. She will verify ABA membership and book the room.

For more information about the Hotel ABA/Washington, D.C., visit www.bookweb.org/read/8230 or contact Petrie at [email protected].