If you're after a hotel bed and a restaurant booking in Dunedin tonight, you've left your run a tad late.
Graduation week is in full swing and the city is humming.
Nearly 2000 University of Otago students will graduate in person at six ceremonies in Dunedin in the week ending Saturday.
The first two ceremonies at the Dunedin Town Hall were last Saturday, the second two are today, and the last two are on Saturday.
Nearly 600 Otago Polytechnic students will graduate in person at the Dunedin Town Hall on Friday.
Dunedin i-Site visitor centre team leader Louise van de Vlierd said much of Dunedin's accommodation was fully booked on the four graduation nights and it was impossible to get a restaurant booking.
"For love or money,'' she said.
The graduation week was an "excellent boost'' for Dunedin's economy.
Tourist attractions, such as the Royal Albatross Centre, Larnach Castle and Dunedin Railways' Taieri Gorge train, were reaping the economic benefits of the city hosting the ceremonies.
Many graduands waited for their out-of-town families to arrive before hitting the tourist hot spots, she said.
Otago Chamber of Commerce board chairwoman Ali Copeman said the ceremonies brought a "positive vibe'' to Dunedin and a significant economic impact.
"It gives the retail and hospitality sector that extra boost in the lead-up to Christmas.''
Hospitality Association of New Zealand Otago branch president Mark Scully said bars and restaurants were "very busy'' in December because the ceremonies coincided with the start of the tourist and Christmas party season.
He remembered when the graduation ceremonies were held annually, which resulted in a "manic'' Dunedin.
"It was a hell of a busy [time].''
The ceremonies being "diffused'' across the year helped businesses cope with demand from those graduating.
Enterprise Dunedin director John Christie said the spread of ceremonies signalled an increase of students in Dunedin.
"It shows how much an important part of the economy the tertiary sector is for us.''
The University of Otago students graduating today studied arts, law, music, theology, commerce, education, and teaching.
