If you’re not feeling well at any point during your stay, or if you are experiencing any signs or symptoms of COVID-19, we ask that you test, 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 an attendee tests positive during the event, they must refrain from attending the remainder of the event or any remaining days.

If an attendee is notified during the event that a close contact has tested positive, they are encouraged to test and engage in CDC-recommended protocols.

This year’s lanyards will be sponsored and one color only. Red lanyards will also available for those who prefer to continue social distancing.

ABA worked extensively to keep costs as low as possible for Wi2027 attendees. The prices reflect the rising cost of food in general and the high cost of hosting events. We have made several changes to this Institute in order to help manage the registration cost for booksellers. For example:

• Breakfast options have been simplified.
• We’ve reduced the number of free drink tickets for each attendee. 

While the registration fee is higher than previous Institutes, ABA continues to subsidize the cost for each attendee.

For stores within 100 miles of Minneapolis, Day Passes are offered for each individual event day. Each attendee is limited to one Day Pass.

Day passes are limited to one per attendee to meet capacity, budgetary, and safety requirements, ensuring attendee numbers stay within venue constraints and logistical limitations while maintaining the overall quality of the event.

We ask attendees to provide their pronouns during registration if they would like them to appear on their badge. Providing your pronouns is optional. If you prefer not to address or include your pronouns, you may select “prefer not to answer” for this question.

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

Authors, please check with your publisher.

Yes. If you cancel your registration by November 17, 2026, you will receive a full refund, minus a $75 cancellation fee. 

Unfortunately, registrations cancelled after November 17, 2026, are nonrefundable regardless of circumstance, but you may transfer your registration to another person from your store on or before January 21, 2027, for full credit.

All requests for transfers and cancellations must be made in writing to winterinstitute@bookweb.org.

As part of ABA’s commitment to reducing our carbon footprint, all of our meals will be vegetarian (might include eggs, honey, and dairy). 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.

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.

Before attending any sessions, please check in at the Welcome Desk to collect your badge and welcome bag! The Welcome Desk and Ask Advocacy will be on Level 1 in the Nicollet Ballroom Promenade at the Hyatt on Wednesday, February 10, and on Level 1 in the Auditorium Lobby at the Minneapolis Convention Center for the rest of the event.

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. Wifi details will be available in the printed program (check your welcome bag) and at the Welcome Desk.

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 hotels and meeting spaces are 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.

At the Minneapolis Convention Center, any lost items can be left with the Visitor Information Center (VIC), located on Level One in the main lobby.

At the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, items can be left with the front desk.

Keep an eye on upcoming Wi2027 emails 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.

Galleys are provided by publishers to highlight new books. They can not provide enough galleys for every attendee. Publishers normally send between 50–200 copies of each galley. 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. If you have multiple attendees from your store, when quantities are limited please take 1 per store and share. Some titles will have a QR code which you can scan to request a galley be sent directly to you if that title is out of stock or you’re unable to ship it home. 

Please also refrain from bringing large bags with wheels into the galley room unless it is medically necessary as these bags/carts prohibit others from freely moving around. If you need assistance in the galley room, please look for staff people or inquire at the Welcome Desk. If there is a book you desperately want an additional copy of, check back on the last day, there might be copies available. 

Don’t forget to stop by the Galley Room photo booth! Take a photo with the books you’re most excited about and share it on social media using #ABAWinterInstitute. These photos will be featured on our social wall in the ballroom!

There will be a FedEx Shipping Desk in the Galley Room for shipping your galleys home, or to your bookstore. Bring pre-printed FedEx labels to speed the process. 

If you have an existing account, be sure to check that the account information is correct and the credit card on file is valid.

Don’t miss out on this member benefit and sign up with PartnerShip to save on shipping before you arrive in Minneapolis! Questions can be directed to PartnerShip’s Erika Kempf at 800-599-2902 ext. 2890 or ekempf@PartnerShip.com.

Check out the program ahead of time on the website or the event app to plan your days. Pick the sessions that appeal most to you and pace yourself! (Some sessions will be recorded and made available virtually after the conference.) And don’t forget to attend Rep Picks events to meet publisher reps and peek at their favorite upcoming titles.

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 your 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 as soon as you can (before the day of the dinner!) to allow another bookseller a seat. If you are invited to a dinner and are unable to attend or wish to attend a dinner and have not yet procured an invitation, there will be a board near the Welcome Desk for sign ups and cancellations. Please look out for the board or ask when you pick up your badge.

There are plenty of opportunities to meet people at Institutes!

ABA will host a virtual Institute Orientation, giving attendees a chance to learn tips and tricks, meet other attendees, and ask questions before the event. Watch your email for registration information.

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! Check out our First-Timer’s Checklist for more tips to prepare.

While we are not offering a virtual Institute, 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 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.

This year we’re kicking off the conference with a Community Conversation, the next evolution of the traditional in-person community forum or town hall. 

Informed by feedback from hundreds of members through Institute surveys, membership surveys, forums, and conversations over the past year, this discussion of the challenges and opportunities for indie bookstores promises to be a great way for you to meet fellow booksellers, get some big topics on the table at the beginning of Wi2027 that we can talk with each other about throughout the week, and create the kind of meaningful industry dialogue that many of you have told us you want to see at Winter Institute.

Definitely! To make sure you’ll have the latest information throughout the event, watch upcoming Wi2027 emails for details on downloading the app.

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 winterinstitute@bookweb.org.

We continue to experiment with ways to improve our meal offerings and 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; if you have questions please speak with the wait staff. Breakfast is light.

Fast Passes are available for attendees who require accessibility support for the buffet lines. Reach out to accessibility@bookweb.org or visit the Welcome Desk to request a Fast Pass.

Breakfast keynotes and lunch sessions offer their respective meals, while evening receptions typically offer light hors d'oeuvres and drinks. We suggest that attendees bring their own snacks, as they will not be provided.

ABA is a non-profit trade association. In a trade association, members can support, and participate in, the organization by serving on task forces, councils, committees, and the board of directors. These are all unpaid, volunteer positions that offer the association insight and support, ensure that diverse voices help inform the organization’s work, and engage members in opportunities for professional growth, visibility in the industry, and mutual aid.

ABA comps booksellers and bookstore owners who serve on the Bookseller Advisory Council, the Children’s Group Council, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, and the Board of Directors for at least one Institute a year, covering registration fees, hotel accommodation, and transportation. 

Member bookstore owners and booksellers who work in member stores may also participate in Institute education as panelists or speakers. ABA solicits bookseller and bookstore owner panelist suggestions from the membership via Bookselling This Week, various ABA councils, and the Education Task Force. ABA staff also spends time visiting stores, talking to booksellers and bookstore owners at regional shows and Institutes, and observing store social media to find panelists and speakers.

All bookseller and bookstore owner education panelists and moderators are paid a $100 honorarium. This rate is comparable to (or more than) market rate in the book industry and among trade associations. In addition, bookseller and bookstore owners who introduce keynote speakers are given a $25 honorarium and those who present solo or on a keynote panel are given an $150 honorarium. 

ABA does sometimes make exceptions to these policies based on the association’s needs, including reserving a few scholarships for booksellers who weren’t planning on attending an Institute or couldn’t afford to attend, but whose experience ABA needs for a panel. ABA also may make exceptions based on accessibility needs, business needs, or for in-kind donations. All exceptions are reviewed by multiple ABA staff to ensure equity. 

Scholarship recipients are comped for Institute registration, travel, and hotel accommodations as well. All bookstore owners and booksellers who work in a member store are eligible to apply for Institute scholarships (except for those who have already recently received ABA scholarships.) 

Booksellers and bookstore owners can self-nominate, or nominate others, to serve on ABA councils, serve on the Board, and apply for scholarships. Booksellers and bookstore owners can also volunteer to serve in other ways throughout the year. For example, on the Indies Introduce committee or as a Lightning Talk speaker. All opportunities to participate are announced in Bookselling This Week which all booksellers and bookstore owners can sign up for. 

Generally, publishers support authors appearing at Winter Institute and Children's Institute. (Rare exceptions have been made based on ABA’s need to best support members at the time combined with exceptional circumstances. For example, for the IGNITE pilot program at Wi2025 authors/publishers appearing at the reception were given $100 honorariums.) Keynote authors are given a $200 honorarium. Indies Introduce authors are given a $50 honorarium. Authors that appear as outside experts on education panels or as presenters for education sessions receive a $100 honorarium. 

Training companies that facilitate education are paid by ABA unless they offer their services pro bono in which case they receive a $100 honorarium.

At the Minneapolis Convention Center, there are family bathrooms located on Level Two, Level One and the Lower Level. All bathrooms include accessible stalls.

• Lower Level: Next to Exhibit Hall A (Near the elevator)
• Level 1: Near Meeting Room 101 J
• Level 1 (Lobby B): Between Exhibit Hall B & C
• Level 2: Near Meeting Room 202 B

At the Hyatt Regency Minneapolis, accessible, single-occupancy restrooms are located at the following locations:

• Main Level: Next to the main elevators, the business center, and Prairie Kitchen & Bar.
• Fourth & Fifth Floors: Adjacent to the Great Lakes Ballroom and the Boundary Waters Foyer.

For attendees who may want additional support to get around, there are several recommended mobility aid rental services in the area. ABA has a small fund to help members with the costs of wheelchairs and scooters on a first come, first served basis. Members who would like to discuss using this fund should contact accessibility@bookweb.org. 

Minnesota Mobility Supply & Rental:
Hours: Monday thru Friday: 8:00 am – 5:00 pm | Saturday & Sunday: By appointment
Contact: brian@minnesotamobilityrentals.com
Address: 2369 Tart Lake Road, Lino Lakes, Minnesota 55038
Phone: (612) 482-5900

Mobility equipment is also available to rent at MCC Visitor Information Center located on Level One at the main entrance. They have both power-operated vehicles (scooters) and manual wheelchairs. Currently, pre-registration is not available, though attendees can call ahead of time at 612-335-6040 to check on availability.

• Equipment should be returned to the Visitor Information Center each day.
• Payment: All transactions must be processed with Visa, MasterCard or Discover. Checks and cash cannot be accepted. 
• Rates: Scooters are $50 per day, Wheelchairs are $20 per day

The ABA group rate is $176 plus tax. A credit card is required at the time of booking to guarantee all reservations.

To join our hotel waitlist, please submit your request through the provided booking link. ABA will be working with Orchid Events to help secure rooms for all attendees over the coming weeks.

If you are unable to book a room, please contact Orchid Events, our official housing provider. They can be reached by phone at 800-219-6657 (International: 385-766-1658) or via email at help@orchid.events.

Parking is available at each of the Wi2027 hotels.

Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Self-Parking: $30 overnight (or $37 with in-and-out privileges)
Valet Parking: $55 overnight ($65 for oversized vehicles)(in-and-out privileges included)

Hilton Minneapolis
Self-Parking (Onsite): $30 per day ($65 Oversized Vehicles)
Valet Parking: $25 (up to 6 hours) or $54 (over 6 hours)
*EV Charging is available behind the hotel.

Sheraton Minneapolis Downtown Convention Center
Self-Parking (Onsite): $42 per day
Marriott Bonvoy Member Overnight Parking: $20.00

Only service animals will be allowed at Wi2027 events and programming. If attendees require service animals, please contact winterinstitute@bookweb.org.

Hyatt Regency Minneapolis
Guests will need to inform the hotel in advance that they’ll have a dog (or dogs) staying with them. Only dogs are allowed — no other pets. 
There is a nonrefundable pet fee of $75 and an individual pet weight limit of 100 pounds.Service animals are not pets and are not subject to this Pet Policy. 

Hilton Minneapolis
Guests will need to inform the hotel in advance that they’ll have a dog (or dogs) staying with them. Only dogs are allowed — no other pets. 
There is a nonrefundable pet fee of $75 and an individual pet weight limit of 75 pounds. Service animals are not pets and are not subject to this Pet Policy.

Sheraton Minneapolis Downtown Convention Center
Guests need to inform the hotel in advance that they are traveling with a pet. There is a nonrefundable pet fee of $75.

There are plenty of ways to get to the Wi2027 hotels from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport:

• Taxis and Rideshare Services: Downtown Minneapolis is approximately 12 miles from the airport, with fares averaging $39 to $49. 
• Light Rail Transit: Light rail transit (LRT) trains stop at both Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and connect travelers to 17 other destinations, including downtown Minneapolis to the north and Mall of America to the south.