At this time, ABA will not require proof of vaccination to attend Wi2024.

You will be able to choose a colored lanyard for your badge, to indicate your comfort level with others approaching you.

GREEN = handshakes/fist bumps welcome
YELLOW = elbow bumps and a little space appreciated
RED = no handshakes and lots of space please

If you’re not feeling well at any point during your stay, or if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, please get tested, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection. For convenience and to prevent possible exposure to others, we recommend you bring your own COVID tests to the event. If you test positive, we ask that you do not continue to attend the event.

Registration costs $335. Day Pass Registration for $100 is available for members whose stores are within 100 miles of Cincinnati, Ohio.

For stores within 100 miles of Cincinnati, Day Passes are offered for each of the four individual event days. Each attendee is limited to one day pass.

We ask attendees to provide their pronouns during registration if they would like them to appear on their badge. Badges are printed in advance of the event. Providing your pronoun is optional. If you prefer not to address or include your pronouns, you may skip this question.

You can review the details of the confirmation email you received, or log back into Swoogo to review/manage your registration.

You may cancel your registration by January 3, 2024 for a full refund, minus a $30 cancellation fee. Unfortunately, registrations canceled after January 3, 2024, are nonrefundable. You can also transfer your registration to another individual from your store on or before January 31, 2024.

Please send all requests for transfers and cancellations to winterinstitute@bookweb.org.

As part of ABA’s commitment to lessening our carbon footprint, all of our meals will be vegetarian. If needed, you can request other options on the registration form.

You will be asked about dietary requirements when you register. Though the default is vegetarian meals, you can select vegan or meat options while registration is still open. 

Due to limited capacity, family members are not able to register for this event. While they are welcome to travel with you, they will not be able to attend Institute events. 

Winter Institute 2024 will be held at the Duke Energy Convention Center (525 Elm Street, Cincinnati, OH).

Sunday’s Affinity Groups and Welcome Reception will be at the Hyatt Regency Cincinnati (151 W 5th Street).

Monday’s Romance Evening Reception (sponsored by Avon, Harlequin, and HTP Books) will be at The Westin Cincinnati (21 E 5th Street).

And watch for possible events at the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza (35 W 5th Street).

Be sure to refer to the program or check the event app for full details.

Before attending any sessions, you will need to check in at the Welcome Desk to pick up your badge and welcome bag! You can find the Welcome Desk at the Grand Ballroom Pre-function Lobby, on Floor 3 of the Duke Energy Convention Center.

The event schedule is available online and will be available on the event app (coming soon!). You will also receive a physical schedule in your welcome bag at check in.

Your badge is required for entry into event spaces, so please wear it at all times. If something happens to your badge, visit the Welcome Desk or contact an ABA team member for help.

Wifi access will be available for event attendees. Details to come!

There is no dress code at Institutes! Overall, this is a casual event, though you may choose to dress up for receptions. We do suggest comfortable walking shoes, as well as layers, as the convention center is often cold. If you plan on going to a publisher dinner, please check with the restaurant to see if they have any specific dress requirements. 

All personal items found at the Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC) will be delivered to the Security Department by 5:00 pm every day, where the items are cataloged and stored for thirty (30) days. After that period, all articles are disposed of at the sole discretion of the DECC. Attendees are advised to contact the DECC Security Console (513) 419-7325 to inquire about retrieving lost items.

Items lost at any of the three hotels will be left at that hotel’s front desk.

Visit Cincinnati offers discount packages on its website. It also features a list of free events in the area.

Keep an eye on Bookselling this Week and the Winter Institute website to see the authors, speakers, publishers, and vendors that will be at the event. You can also use the event app to view other attendees when it’s available.

We want as many booksellers as possible to enjoy the Galley Room, so we ask that you take no more than 1 of each title. 

There will be a FedEx Shipping Desk in the Galley Room to help you ship your galleys home. 

Bring pre-printed FedEx labels to send boxes home. Sign up with PartnerShip or if you have an existing account, be sure to check that the account information is correct and the credit card on file is valid.

Check out the program ahead of time on the website program page or the event app to plan your days. Pick the sessions that appeal most to you and pace yourself! Many sessions are recorded and made available virtually after the conference, so be sure to keep an eye on Bookselling This Week if you miss a session you were excited about. And don’t forget to attend Rep Picks events to meet publisher reps, peek at their favorite upcoming titles, and enjoy refreshments. 

There is no sure way to obtain an invite to publisher dinners, but building a relationship with a rep, if you have one, is a good first step. Another way is to increase your industry profile. That means submitting titles for the Indie Next List or Kids’ Indie Next List, promoting their books and authors on Staff Picks, appearing on panels, blogging or posting on social media, and getting to know other booksellers. As publishers see you supporting and promoting their books and authors, they’ll want you at their table!

If you are invited to special events outside of the conference and need to decline the invitation, email your host to allow another bookseller a seat.

There are plenty of opportunities to meet people at Institutes! Be sure to check out the Institute Orientation, as well as meet-ups throughout the event. Receptions are also an excellent chance to mingle. And, feel free to walk up to someone you don't know and ask them what store they’re from!

While we are not offering a Virtual Institute this Winter, many of our sessions will be recorded and available on BookWeb after the event.

ABA is committed to antiracism, equity, access, and representation. We are also committed to being more inclusive, and we value the dignity and diversity of everyone in our community.

All ABA virtual and in-person event attendees and organizers are expected to comply with ABA's Code of Conduct, refraining from all forms of harassment, and showing respect and courtesy to everyone involved in ABA events. 

Please see ABA’s full Code of Conduct on BookWeb.

The booksellers in the room are, by definition, competitors. This means that under the law, they are prohibited from discussing certain things.

Specifically:

• There can be no discussions of price or pricing policies. Competitors are never allowed to agree on the price at which merchandise is sold, or discounts at which merchandise is offered. All discussions of price and pricing policies are strictly off-limits.
• There can be no discussion of boycotts. Competitors cannot agree to cease doing business with any supplier for any reason. Nor can competitors agree to urge consumers to boycott a third competitor. It’s collusion, and is strictly prohibited.
• There can be no discussion of dividing up a market. For example, if there are two booksellers in New York City, they cannot agree that one will market only to consumers north of 57th Street while the other markets only to customers south of 57th Street. This is also collusion and is prohibited.

All three of these prohibitions come to us via the Sherman Antitrust Act, which carries treble damages and jail time. All three are per se violations, which means it only has to be proved that you engaged in the activity — whether or not there was intent to harm, or actual harm caused — for you to be guilty of violating the law.

We take photos at all of our events. By attending, you agree that your photograph or image may be taken and used in connection with Winter Institute. However, we strive to be courteous when taking photos. If you are asked to pose for a photo, you may decline and step out of the frame. See our photo waiver on BookWeb.org.

To request that no photos of you be used, you can contact info@bookweb.org.

Breakfast keynotes, lunches, and the Book Swap dinner offer their respective meals, while evening receptions typically offer light hors d'oeuvres and drinks. You’ll also find beverage options at our Rep Picks Speed Dating and light drinks and snacks at the Affinity Group meet ups.

We continue to experiment ways to improve on our meal offerings to meet your needs while decreasing our climate impact and managing costs. In order to simplify your dining experience, we’ve moved away from dietary cards and are offering buffets that feature plant-based and animal protein options.

All meals will offer a buffet with a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options. Dishes will be labeled, and if you have questions speak with the wait staff. Animal protein will be either chicken, turkey, and/or fish. All meals will be located in the Grand Ballroom lobby.

Definitely! To make sure you’ll have the latest information throughout the event, watch Bookselling this Week for details on downloading the app.

The ABA Community Forum is a reimagined Town Hall with the same opportunities for members to be heard and more opportunity for constructive discussions about our industry. The full ABA Board will respond to questions and comments from all booksellers; booksellers who would like to send questions in advance can email townhall@bookweb.org.

ABA is committed to making all reasonable arrangements that will allow conference attendees to participate in conference events. ABA complies with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), and we work to make the conference comfortable and accessible for all participants. We recognize not all disabilities require accommodations, and some are invisible.

For the overall comfort of all attendees, ABA considers such accommodations as seating areas to rest between events, quiet rooms, maps in multiple formats, and an onsite contact when help is needed. ABA does not require every person to disclose their disability to us, but given the range and variations of disabilities we may not know how to properly accommodate someone with a disability unless they contact us directly to share their questions and concerns.

2024 Accessibility Services

Many accessibility services require advanced planning for a conference as large as ABA’s. In order to help us better prepare, all requests for accessibility services, equipment, or accommodations should be submitted before the conference. If you would like to discuss ways this event could be more accessible and/or inclusive, or if you have an accessibility question or need, contact accessibility@bookweb.org.

Gender neutral restrooms will be available in the following locations labeled Gender Neutral:

Duke Energy Convention Center
Level 1
Hall B Pre Function Lobby: Men’s, Women’s, Gender Neutral
Hall B: Men’s, Women’s, Family

Level 2
North Meeting Rooms 206/207 Pre Function Lobby: Men’s, Women’s, Gender Neutral
North Meeting Rooms 202/203 Pre Function Lobby: Men’s, Women’s
South Meeting Rooms 234/235 Pre Function Lobby: Men’s, Women’s, Gender Neutral
West Meeting Room 252 PFL: Men’s, Women’s

Level 3
Jr Ballroom AB PFL: Men’s, Women’s, Gender Neutral
Jr Ballroom CD PFL: Men’s, Women’s
South Concourse: Men’s, Women’s, Gender Neutral
Grand Ballroom A PFL: Men’s, Women’s

Hyatt Regency Cincinnati
Located on the second floor.

Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza
Located on the third floor, near the Hall of Mirrors ballroom.

Hotels are located in close proximity to the Wisconsin Center, but here are options for attendees who may want additional support to get around:

On The Go Mobility
Rentals of Scooters, MWC and Lift Chairs for your mobility needs.
7289 N. Teutonia Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53209
www.onthegomobility.com
Contact: Kraig Ausman, (414) 228-7100
mail@onthegomobility.com

American MedTrans
646 S. 2nd Street, Suite 300 Milwaukee, WI 53204
www.amtwi.com 
Contact: Jane Samolinski, (414) 220-3286
contact@amtwi.com 
American MedTrans (AMT) is a division of American United Transportation Group providing both wheelchair and non-emergency medical transportation to Southeastern Wisconsin. We are a Wisconsin owned, family run business with the goal of providing our clients with prompt, safe and enjoyable service. Drivers are trained and certified in wheelchair transport when assigned to use one of our rear ramp wheelchair accessible vehicles. We will work to accommodate the best possible solution for our clients transportation needs at an affordable price.

A Mamava Lactation Pod is located across from 103D in the South Building of the Wisconsin Center.

The ABA Wi2024 hotel block opened on Tuesday, October 10th. Attendees should only book rooms in the Wi2024 hotel blocks via the Passkey link provided by ABA. A link is emailed to all registered attendees, including those initially waitlisted.

• Hyatt Regency Cincinnati (1 min walk, 100 ft), 151 W 5th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
• Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza (3 min walk, 0.1 miles), 35 W 5th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202
• The Westin Cincinnati (5 min walk, 0.2 miles), 21 E 5th St, Cincinnati, OH 45202

Any changes to your reservation should be made by going directly to the housing website, or by contacting the Housing team at 513-632-5360 or by email at Housing@VisitCincy.com. The Housing team is available Monday through Friday, 9:00 am–4:30 pm ET. Please do not reach out to any of the hotels directly; they will not have a record of your reservation until after January 23, 2024.

Hyatt Regency Cincinnati (151 W 5th St, Cincinnati, OH)
Room rate and taxes:
Rooms will cost $179 per night, plus the current tax of 18.3%. A credit card is required at time of booking to guarantee all reservations. 

Upon check-in, guests will be required to provide an ID and a credit or debit card to cover their stay and incidentals. A $50 charge per night will be placed as a hold on your card for the length of your stay and the actual amount will be charged upon departure.

Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza (35 W 5th St, Cincinnati, OH)
Room rate and taxes: 
Rooms will cost $179 per night, plus the current tax of 18.3%. A credit card is required at time of booking to guarantee all reservations. 

Upon check-in, guests will be required to provide an ID and a credit or debit card to cover their stay and incidentals. A $50 charge will be placed as a hold on your card for the length of your stay and the actual amount will be charged upon departure.

The Westin Cincinnati  (21 E 5th St, Cincinnati, OH)
Room rate and taxes: 
Rooms will cost $179 per night, plus the current tax of 18.3%. A credit card is required at time of booking to guarantee all reservations. 

Upon check-in, guests will be required to provide an ID and a credit or debit card to cover their stay and incidentals. A $50 charge will be placed as a hold on your card for the length of your stay and the actual amount will be charged upon departure.

If you are unable to book a room, you will be directed to join the waitlist. The Visit Cincy Housing Bureau will individually follow up with waitlisted attendees to make sure that everyone gets placed prior to the event, including adding nights to existing reservations or other modifications and securing additional lodging. 

Questions regarding hotel reservations should be directed to Housing@VisitCincy.com.

General questions about the hotels can be directed to hotel@bookweb.org. Please allow two business days for a response.

The Hyatt offers valet parking for $39 a day.

The Hilton offers self-parking for $30 a day and valet parking for $45 a day.

The Westin offers off-site and on-site parking for $21 a day, or valet parking for $45 a day.

Duke Energy Convention Center (DECC) parking is available at the 6th and Plum Garage and the 6th and Elm Garage. Check these websites for more information: parking.com or duke-energycenter.com/directions.

Hyatt Regency Cincinnati does not allow pets.

Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza is a pet friendly hotel. Guests will be charged a non-refundable fee of $50 (housekeeping pet cleaning). The max weight of animals cannot exceed 25 lbs.

The Westin is a pet friendly hotel. Guests will be charged a $50 pet fee. There is a maximum of one pet per room, and the animal cannot exceed 40 lbs.

*Only service animals will be allowed at Wi2024 events and programming.

Check out the Visit Cincinnati website to see a list of local attractions, shops, and dining options! You can also refer to our DEIA Resource Guide for more things to do in Cincinnati.

The Hyatt Regency Cincinnati and the Hilton Cincinnati Netherland Plaza are about 13 miles from Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport.

At Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, follow signage to Ground Transport East to find rideshare and taxi services. 

You can also visit the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport Ground Transportation page to learn more.

DEIA Note: The closest airport is (CVG/KCVG) Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Because of Kentucky’s recent discriminatory anti-trans laws some attendees may prefer to fly into (DAY/KDAY) James M. Cox Dayton International Airport in Dayton, Ohio.