Hotels filling up for May 2011

When graduation rolls around this spring, Belmont seniors can expect to celebrate with over 1,500 Vanderbilt graduates as well. The two schools share a May 14 graduation date, which means the families of grads could have a hard time finding a hotel room.

The Marriott at Vanderbilt is already sold out for May’s graduation weekend. A spokesperson at the hotel said they began taking reservations in June and filled up quickly. Several other hotels nearby are sold out as well.

One of the few West End area hotels still taking reservations for that weekend is the Loews Vanderbilt. The cost is $499 per night for the right to sleep before graduation in style.

While hotels in the West End area are heavily booked around the May 14 graduation ceremonies at Belmont and Vanderbilt, there are places to sleep just a few miles away.

• Hilton Suites Brentwood; $131 and up; 615-370-0111

• Hampton Inn Brentwood/ I-65 S; $118 and up; 615-373-2212

• Homewood Suites Brentwood ; $122 and up; 615-377-3332

• Holiday Inn Express Brentwood; $99 and up; 615-221-5001

This unlikely confluence of graduations began more than a year ago when the academic calendars were set for both Belmont and Vanderbilt.

Luckily, the families of Belmont’s Class of 2012 won’t have to compete with Vanderbilt families for rooms. Vanderbilt is set to hold their commencement festivities the weekend before Belmont’s.

#graduation #hotelavailability