Albuquerque, NM Hotels See Surge In Bookings

ALBUQUERQUE, NM— Area hotels and tour organizers say a September uptick in bookings has boosted the lodging outlook for the 2002 Balloon Fiesta season, according to a recent report in the Albuquerque (NM) Journal. Michael Chesley, GM of the airport Courtyard by Marriott hotel, said bookings are now 10% ahead of the pre-Sept.-11 level last year and are now looking strong. Other local hotels in the area, including the Comfort Inn on east Central, Journal Center Courtyard by Marriott and Best Western Rio Rancho Inn and Conference Center, indicated seeing a similar surge in bookings since the end of August. This is happy news, considering, like many hotels around the country, Albuquerque hotels saw cancellations immediately following the terrorist attacks. Suheil Kare, owner of the Comfort Inn on east Central, said business has picked up in the past two weeks. Kares 122-room hotel was sold out for the whole fiesta in 2000 but just two weekends of Balloon Fiesta last year. Kare said he is confident of matching last year but unsure if his hotel will sell out. The 2000 Balloon Fiesta was a bumper year for the Journal Center Courtyard by Marriott according to GM, Bruce Gibson, with all 150 rooms sold out for 14 days over the fiesta period. Gibson expects business this year to equal last year with rooms sold out for at least eight nights during the fiesta. SOURCE: Albuquerque (NM) Journal