Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta officials announced they are expecting a large turnout this year, if the number of presold tickets are any indicator. 

Officials report that the number of advance tickets sold are comparable to the number of tickets sold in 2019, according to KRQE.

"2019 was a good year, it was one of the best years we have had, but this year I think it’s even better because people have been wanting to get out, wanting to come to see what the Balloon Fiesta's all about. So we got a lot of new business coming into town and we’re excited to be here and hosting what we have," Yancy Sturgeon, the managing director at Hotel Parq Central, told KRQE. 

Some hotels are already having to turn people away due to the high number of visitors, according to the station. Sturgeon said his hotel is already booked, and believes this is going to be a record-breaking year for the fiesta, which will be good for local businesses.

"Get their word out again because I think so many businesses were close to closing or whatnot and so now they’re really going to thrive," Skye West, who works at Dancing Crow in Old Town, said.

Hotel Albuquerque and Hotel Chaco officials also say they are already booked for the fiesta, but hotels in general report that they are still facing employment shortages.