This is probably one of the worst weeks of the year to travel through IAH. This is the week of Offshore Technology Conference. It is a huge convention for the petroleum industry in Houston. It doesn't surprise me that you can't find a hotel room in Houston, proper. However.....

The convention is in the downtown area. If your student is at IAH, then they are well north of town. The futher north you go, the better your chance of getting a hotel room.

Scan one of the Web travel sites for hotel rooms in:

Conroe
The Woodlands
Humble

A quick scan of some of these sites show that there is availability. You just need to know where to look - and this week, that is north.

But don't let this person sleep in IAH, unless there is absolutely no choice. Honestly, I would rather spend a night in the Land of Mordor....