Summer Sets and Fall Rises

Summer flies by faster and faster every year - it seems like there is more packed into less time, and by time you look up it is the middle of September.  BEA's summer is busy as both our budget and business plan are due at this time, leaving no downtime once the show closes around Memorial Day.  

There are high expectations as BEA takes a break from NYC for the 1st time since 2009 and returning to Chicago, it was 2004 the last time BEA enjoyed the friendly confines of McCormick.

We are buoyed by the anticipated increased number of booksellers and librarians who have been most vocal about BEA going somewhere besides Javits/NYC.  We are looking forward to going to the Heartland Fall Forum to engage with booksellers to get their feedback as well, making sure we continue all the things they love about BEA but also to try some new initiatives that will make BEA a better event for booksellers.  

To give people an idea of what to expect for 2016 other than the change in cities/venue, I can share a few things here as the Fall Season is kicking into high gear:

• For concurrent events - the IDPF, the Audio Publishers Association and BEA Bloggers events will all be part of BEA.  
• Make sure to book your hotel soon, if you were not aware, Microsoft Ignite will be sharing Chicago with BEA next May.  We have plenty of discounted hotels in our room block, but the sooner you book, the more options you will have to pick from.
• BookCon comes to Chicago!!!   The is the first time that we are bringing our B2C Pop Event to a new location.  It will be one dedicated day, but clearly something that is working as now nearly 50% of the BEA show floor is hybrid space - meaning those companies participate in both BEA B2B and BookCon for Business to Consumer
• We have rolled out new low cost exhibit options and have a new turn-key booth option from Freeman that will save people 25-50% on a traditional big custom booth.  Out goal is simple, make BEA less expensive and deliver more value.

There will be a lot more news coming on a more regular basis.