Wi6 Fully Booked: Waiting List Forming

The American Booksellers Association’s 2011 Winter Institute – to be held in Washington, D.C., from January 19 - 21 – is fully booked, and a waiting list is now forming. The sixth annual education event is sponsored by the Ingram Content Group and is open exclusively to ABA bookstore and provisional members. Registration is capped at 500 participants.

ABA members who would like to add their names to the event waiting list should e-mail ABA’s Member Relationship Managers. As cancellations are received, spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.

The Wi6 host hotel, the Crystal Gateway Marriott, is virtually sold-out as well. Booksellers who have registered for the Winter Institute, but still haven’t secured a hotel room, or are unable to book a room at the ABA rate of $119/night, should e-mail ABA’s Member Relationship Managers.

Anyone with a Wi6 hotel reservation that is no longer needed is also asked to contact ABA’s Member Relationship Managers rather than canceling directly with the hotel. This will allow ABA to reassign the hotel room to a bookseller on the waiting list.

ABA’s Sixth Annual Winter Institute will be in Arlington, Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. For those who fly in, Reagan National Airport is the best travel choice. There is a free shuttle to the Crystal Gateway Marriott, and it’s just one Metro stop from the hotel.

Travel discounts between two and 10 percent off original ticket prices are currently available through Amtrak, American Airlines, and Delta Airlines. Learn more.

Booksellers who are interested in finding a roommate to share hotel costs are encouraged to use BookWeb’s Bookseller-to-Booksellers Forum to reach out to other ABA members.

Full details about educational sessions, networking opportunities, and the Legislative Day, devoted to policy, advocacy, and small business issues, can be found on BookWeb.org.