Hotel ABA Rooms in D.C. Nearly Sold Out

In just five short months, the 2005 Christmas season will be mostly forgotten and booksellers will head for Washington, D.C., and BookExpo America 2006, to be held from May 17 to 21 at the Washington Convention Center. Those ABA member booksellers who haven't already made reservations for Hotel ABA -- the Doubletree Crystal City in Arlington, Virginia -- should put down the giftwrap and tape immediately, and book rooms either online or by phone (see instructions below) as rooms are nearly sold out.

All Hotel ABA rooms, at the special rate of $129 per night available only to member booksellers, are reserved on a first-come, first-served basis, and most have already been booked. Booksellers staying at Hotel ABA will receive an exclusive package of amenities including 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; a dedicated shuttle bus service between the hotel and convention center; and ARCs for booksellers each night.

The special hotel room rate was initially offered for the nights of Monday, May 15, through Monday, May 22, 2006. If a desired room type is no longer available, booksellers are advised to contact ABA's Margaret Petrie at (800) 637-0037, ext. 6614 or via e-mail at [email protected]. Alternate accommodations may be available, including a "Junior Suite" for an additional $20. ABA will also be creating a waiting list for an overflow hotel to be announced as soon as the Doubletree Crystal City is sold out.

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.

Booksellers planning to participate in the special "ABA Legislative Day" on May 17 (from noon to 6:00 p.m.) and ABA's full day of free educational programming on May 18 should plan on arriving in Washington by Tuesday evening, May 16, or by Wednesday morning.

As in past years, one night's room rate will be charged to booksellers' credit cards on February 15, 2006, as a non-refundable guarantee for the room reservation. Booksellers whose plans have changed will need to cancel room reservations prior to February 15, 2006, to avoid this charge.

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