College towns often face challenges when it comes to accommodating visitors during events like graduation day, leading to a shortage of hotel rooms and inflated prices. Parents of college students often find themselves enduring high prices not only during graduation season but also during events like family weekends or homecomings. To avoid graduation day nightmares, it is recommended to book early, explore alternatives like Airbnb, and check secondary markets for hotel room availability. When faced with the reality of high prices, parents often have to make tough decisions, such as booking alternative accommodations or canceling nonrefundable hotel rooms.
Professor Chris Anderson from Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration explains that smaller college towns often struggle to handle a sudden influx of visitors during high-demand events like graduation. With limited hotel rooms available, prices are driven up due to the imbalance between supply and demand. This can leave parents paying exorbitant prices for hotels and flights, or struggling to find available accommodations at all. One mother, Toni Milbourne, experienced this firsthand when hotel room rates in Morgantown doubled before her daughter’s graduation.
To avoid being caught in a situation of high prices and limited availability, parents are advised to prepare early and book accommodations well in advance. Many hotels start taking reservations a year ahead for high-demand dates such as graduation or family weekends. Checking alternative options like Airbnb or VRBO for extra rooms or houses can also help find more affordable options. Additionally, exploring secondary markets for hotel rooms can provide opportunities to purchase prepaid rooms from others who no longer need them.
When faced with hotels charging over $1,000 a night for graduation or family weekends, parents often have to make difficult decisions about where to stay. Shama Diegnan from New Jersey was surprised to find hotel prices skyrocketing during Parents Weekend at a Midwestern college, prompting her to book an Airbnb instead. Milbourne, on the other hand, opted to stay at a family member’s home to avoid the high hotel prices. The issue of price gouging during celebratory events like college graduations raises concerns about fairness and affordability for families.
Ultimately, the challenge of finding affordable accommodations during high-demand events in college towns highlights the need for early planning and exploring alternative options. Parents facing inflated hotel prices during graduation or other special events may have to consider alternative accommodations or utilize secondary markets to secure affordable options. The issue of price gouging in these situations raises questions about fairness and the impact on families celebrating important milestones in their loved ones’ lives. By planning ahead and being resourceful, parents can navigate the challenges of high hotel prices and limited availability in college towns during special events.
