Opportunities - Is it all word of mouth or...?

I would say most people gloss over this sentence, but this seems like something worth investigating... Am I wrong?  (Can leads actually come from the news like this, or by the time the AP picks this up investors are already positioned to address it.)

"Finding a hotel room, parking space or table at a restaurant is no longer easy."

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BAKKEN_B...

If I am am not alone in my thinking respond below.  I am new to BP and would love to hear insight from the community.