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No Vacancy: Big Draw Events Leading To Dearth In Sacramento Hotel Rooms

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) – Sacramento's new arena is bringing big events to our region – but on weekend like this, there's some stiff competition.

And that's creating high-demand for Sacramento hotels.

Many looking for last-minute rooms are even being turned away because there is no space, or they're priced out.

Marie Alkire is one of the thousands visiting Sacramento this weekend. She's at the convention center for the Scrap Book Expo.

Lots of scrap-bookers from out of town were scouring hotel websites looking for vacancies.

"For Sacramento, yeah, I was really surprised," Alkire said.

Lorna Madsen from Dayton, Nevada went $100 a night over budget to get her room.

"That's awesome, I mean, that is a huge weekend," Madsen said.

For hotel managers, it's a business boom.

Doug Warren is the general manager at the Cal Expo Courtyard Marriott.

"I'm gonna tell you there's probably 20, 25 that have called today looking for rooms and what do you tell 'em? I'm sorry we're sold out at this point," Warren said.

This weekend, competition for rooms comes from convention center scrap bookers, fans of Gwen Stefani performing at the Golden 1 Center, hard rock fans here for the Aftershock concert at Discovery Park, and car enthusiasts at the auto show at Cal Expo.

Cal Expo Courtyard Marriot, the Holiday Inn, the Citizen Hotel, the Hyatt Regency and the Embassy Suites are all sold out this weekend.

Warren says in his Cal Expo area, hotel occupancy is up 20 percent year over year.

At least two more hotels are opening next year.

"The Kimpton's coming on line, you have a Hampton Inn going in on 65th street. I do believe those will be absorbed pretty quickly in the market," Warren said.

 

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