This year, on the 40th anniversary of the release of the movie, the city of Modesto is taking note with a month long celebration in June they’re calling Graffiti Summer. And the man who made the film is coming home to be grand marshal of the Classic Car Parade.

The recession, high gas prices and kids yelling “are we there yet” have always been drags on tourism. While the last item is time-honored and unlikely to change, the first two are beginning to wane as serious detriments to tourism. One group of area businesses that is extremely happy about those changing dynamics is the hotel and hospitality industry.

The Turlock Chamber of Commerce Convention & Visitors Bureau launched a promotional video in late April to showcase the city’s ability to host meetings and conferences.

Occupancy in Stockton hotels grew 9.8 percent in 2012 compared to the previous year, and more than twice the growth rate at the state level, according to a report released Feb. 25 by the Stockton Convention and Visitors Bureau (SCVB). The bureau attributed the growth to its increased investment in marketing.

For the first time since 2006 the Amgen Tour of California bike race will not include the Central Valley when the race takes place in May 2013.

STOCKTON – A Stockton native is the newest member of the Stockton Convention and Visitors Bureau staff.

STOCKTON – Stockton hotels are seeing a rise in occupancy and revenue over last year, according to the Stockton Convention and Visitors Bureau.

LAS VEGAS – An airline that flies out of the Stockton Municipal Airport this week announced it had gained Extend Range Operations certification and Flag Carrier Status from the Federal Aviation Administration.

A Las Vegas-based airline that flies out of the Stockton Municipal Airport is expanding flights to Hawaii.

STOCKTON – It doesn’t look like much now. It’s scuffed and worn – even with signal banners from stem to stern – and hardly seems seaworthy.