STOCKTON – Stockton hotels are seeing a rise in occupancy and revenue over last year, according to the Stockton Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Citing Smith Travel Research data, bureau Executive Director Wes Rhea said hotel occupancy for the first five months of 2012 averaged 50.6 percent, a 9.6 percent increase over the same period last year. Hotel revenue is on the rise, up just more than 15 percent through May of this year over last year.
“These numbers are good news,” said Rhea. “While our area was slow to see recovery the last few years, our growth numbers are outpacing many areas in California. We have put an increased effort in tourism promotion, especially in the sports and meeting market, and are hopeful for an even stronger summer. Given the current financial situation in Stockton, these numbers are very encouraging.”
San Joaquin County’s most recent tourism data release in April from the state tourism promotion agency, Visit California, is also encouraging. Direct travel spending in San Joaquin County rose 8.6 percent to $595 million in 2010, the most current year available. Travel supports 5,730 jobs in San Joaquin County and generates more than $8.4 million in local tax receipts.
