Following a successful 1998 convention, the organizers of BookExpoAmerica received another sign of faith in the show with the announcement that Simon &Schuster plans to take 1000 sq. ft. of exhibit space on the floor when the convention moves to Los Angeles in 1999. At this past meeting, S&S had limited its presence to a room off the exhibit floor.

S&S consumer group president Jack Romanos said that because the staff that attended BEA '98 felt it was "very productive," the publisher decided to expand to the convention floor. The '99 S&S contingent will mainly consist of its international sales staff, along with personnel from domestic sales and subsidiary rights.

Penguin and Hearst Book Trade Group, which had meeting rooms built on the exhibit floor, have not yet announced their plans for the Los Angeles show, to be held April 30-May 2.