Otago Motel Association president Alex Greenan and Royal Albatross Centre marketing manager Sophie Barker yesterday welcomed the increase of about 4.5% (up 55) in the number of people graduating in person from the university this month.
Mr Greenan said the rising numbers were a "fantastic" boost for the city economy, including the motel sector.
More than 640 people will graduate in person from the university at two ceremonies, at 1pm and 4pm, in the Dunedin Town Hall today. And more than 610 other people will also graduate in person at two further ceremonies next Saturday. The city had "a lot of families coming down" and there was "definitely a higher demand" in an otherwise somewhat quiet part of the season.
"It’s got to be a good thing," Mr Greenan added.
University officials said this May’s overall total of 1953 university graduates, including those graduating in absentia, was more than last year’s 1860.
These were also the second highest overall Otago University May graduation numbers since a record of more than 2100 was achieved in 2013.
Ms Barker said the big national Trenz conference had been positive for the city this week, and yesterday she saw several former university students showing their parents around at Albatross Centre before today’s graduations.
The continuing rise in May graduation numbers was "great news" both for the city’s tertiary education sector and also for Dunedin as a whole.
The graduates and their families were likely to inject more than $1 million into the city economy, and she had just driven through the city’s main street and seen a series of "no vacancy" signs on accommodation outlets.
Otago Chamber of Commerce chief executive Dougal McGowan said the graduation activity was "good news" for the city and the rise in graduate numbers reflected "the strength of the university".
There were "very significant" economic benefits for the city from tertiary graduations, and it was positive that students were coming back to the city to celebrate with their parents, Mr McGowan said.
Enterprise Dunedin executive John Christie said education was Dunedin’s "No 1 economic driver" and it was "fantastic" May graduation numbers were rising.