Philadelphia Hopes for Economic Windfall From Pope’s Visit

Philadelphia leaders are anticipating an economic boost from the up to 1.5 million visitors expected for Pope Francis’ visit this weekend, but skeptics say hopes for a big windfall are overblown. Democratic Mayor Michael Nutter said this week the pope’s visit and the four-day World Meeting of Families, a Catholic gathering, is expected to generate $419 million for the local economy, almost all from the pope. The flood of visitors to see the pope on the last stop of his six-day U.S. visit has brought downtown hotel occupancy to more than 90 percent, the Philadelphia Business Journal reported this week, citing the local hotels association.

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