Some music fans coming to the Austin City Limits festival next week are losing their room reservations to Hurricane Katrina evacuees temporarily holed up in hotels and motels. The fest-goers are being moved to rooms farther away from the three-day event in Zilker Park.

Two of 10 Austin hotels surveyed reported that a total of 72 rooms originally booked for festival attendees will be occupied by people displaced by the hurricane.

"So far, they are taking it wonderfully," said Allen Bright, general manager of La Quinta Inn on East 11th St. near the Capitol. "We started calling people two days ago. With the exception of one guest, they are understanding and accepting."

His hotel is sending 60 guests to La Quinta properties by Highland Mall and MoPac Boulevard (Loop 1) near Duval Road. "I'm sure it's a bit of an inconvenience, but it's nothing like what hurricane victims are experiencing. We will not displace hurricane victims," Bright said.

As long as the American Red Cross keeps reserving 14-day stays for Katrina evacuees at negotiated reduced rates, the number of ACL visitors bumped to other rooms could rise.

Just how many evacuees are staying in Central Texas hotels and motels is unknown. The Red Cross estimates that 4,200 evacuees are being served at the Austin Convention Center and another 4,200 are staying with friends or family or in hotels.

Richard Chanofsky, manager of Woodward Hotel and Conference Center on Interstate 35 and Woodward Street in South Austin, said he has 12 ACL guests with reservations that he might have to find lodging for elsewhere. He hasn't called any of those guests yet, hoping he'll have space at his hotel.

"Just yesterday, another evacuee family moved out, and I'm putting that room in my back pocket for an ACL guest," he said.

Chanofsky said some understanding would be necessary.

"At this point, we'll do our best to find them another room, but we have to put this into perspective. We have people coming into town to party versus people who have nowhere else to stay," he said.

Though the 5,000 hotel rooms downtown are nearly all taken for next weekend, plenty of rooms are available farther away. On Thursday, the Austin Marriott North had 100 rooms available for Sept. 23-25. The Austin Ambassador had 30 rooms. Accommodations are going fast. Several hotels have been sold out for weeks.

Eileen Reid-Buesing, spokeswoman for the Austin Convention & Visitors Bureau, said overbookings would have a minimal effect on festival-goers.

"We surveyed the 19 hotels who are selling ACL ticket and room packages. Twelve responded, and only one hotel reported they had to bump someone with an ACL reservation. That hotel found them room elsewhere and is providing them transportation to and from the festival," she said.

Evacuees also affect conventions. The Texas Home and Garden Show and large gatherings of the Austin Board of Realtors and the Catholic Diocese of Austin have been canceled.

"We've relocated, retained and rescheduled other conventions," said Reid-Buesing, citing Wastecon, a trade show put on by the Solid Waste Association of North America, which will take place at the north end of the convention center. Relief efforts are taking place at the south end.

Cultural events and the visitors bureau depend heavily on the bed tax that visitors pay.

rgandara@statesman.com; 445-3632