Graduation weekend expected to be a busy one for local businesses

With Eastern New Mexico University’s spring commencement just around the corner, local businesses in Portales are gearing up for the large crowds.

The Best Western and Holiday Inn hotels in Portales are both either booked up completely or just a few rooms away from being booked completely for the weekend of May 13. So booked, that some are getting redirected to the Sleep Inn hotel over in Clovis.

Stephen Rodriguez, the general manager of the Sleep Inn, said that right now they’re only at half capacity. However, he expects that number to grow in the near future.

“This is our second year being open. I believe last year, we did sell out because of the graduation,” Rodriguez said.

According to Rodriguez, the Sleep Inn shares owners with the three hotels in Portales.

The Best Western in Portales started taking reservations months in advance, and they currently don’t have any to spare.

Jesa Casillas is the manager of the Best Western, and she said that even though the prices get higher the closer it is to graduation, people always still come in looking for a place to stay.

As for the Holiday Inn of Portales, they’ll start getting reservations three to four months, sometimes even six months in advance.

Tegan Terry works at the front desk, and he said a lot of the preparation for graduation weekend is in the breakfast they serve. “Make sure we have extra supplies because people just plow through faster,” he said.

Speaking of food, the restaurants in Portales are also preparing for the busy weekend.

Cattle Baron manager April Pena said that their restaurant thankfully isn’t facing any staffing shortages, and that every year it’s a busy time for the steakhouse.

“We don’t have a lot of reservations right now. But we will,” Pena said.

Something Different Grill manager Pedro Carbo said their schedule for graduation weekends is similar to the schedules they make for holidays.

Carbo said, “We’re always very excited. I mean, we tend to be a team that gets motivated for things like that. So, we like the business.”

ENMU’s spring 2023 commencement will take place on May 13 at 10 a.m. inside Greyhound Arena.