Businesses anticipate increased revenue from convention center crowds
Las Cruces, NM — The equation is simple: More hotel guests equals more customers.
Artist Maria Christina operates Regalos y Art Gift Shop in the Ramada Palms de Las Cruces, 201 E. University Ave. She hopes the opening of the new Las Cruces Convention Center nearby later this year — construction is scheduled to be completed by December — will boost the number of visitors to Las Cruces and thus bring more traffic to the door of her little store.
“That’s our high hope that we’re hanging on to here at the gift shop,” the Las Cruces artist said. “When the Ramada is busy, we’re usually doing really well.”
Even though some of them will compete with the convention center for convention business, Helga Byndas, the general manager at Hotel Encanto de Las Cruces on South Telshor Boulevard, said many overnight lodging businesses are excited to have the convention center in town.
“I definitely think we can have a symbiotic relationship (with the convention center),” said Byndas, whose hotel does host a multitude of events. “It’ll lure more outside conventions and (when more people are in town overnight) almost every hotel makes more money.”
James Peach, who teaches economics and international business at New Mexico State University, believes the convention center will be a boon to the area.
