Pensacola hotels post gains despite oil spill

PENSACOLA, Fla. -- Pensacola-area hotels posted some surprising increases in business last month despite the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Smith Travel Research Inc. says hotel occupancy was up 15.5 percent in June and lodging revenues were up 7 percent.

But tourism officials say those numbers are being fueled not by tourists, but by BP workers, government officials, media crews and a June 15 visit by President Obama.

Ed Schroeder (shray'DER) of the Pensacola Bay Area Convention and Visitors Bureau says restaurants, shops, night clubs and other retailers benefited little from the bump in room stays