Area lodging revenues at record high

Pensacola Bay Area tourism industry is stronger than ever, according to The Pensacola Bay Area Convention &Visitors Bureau. Lodging revenues were the highest in history at nearly $132 million last fiscal year, from October 2006 to September 2007, with April, June, July and September breaking all-time records. Overall, lodging revenues were up 7 percent over last year.

There was a 29 percent increase in lodging revenues for the third quarter of 2007 compared to the third quarter of 2006. The state of Florida experienced a 4.8 percent increase in the same time period. Not surprisingly, the three summer months accounted for 41 percent of all revenues, adding more than 30,000 bookings compared to the same time period last year.