American Empress honored for attracting visitors

VANCOUVER — American Empress, the 223-seat riverboat berthed in Vancouver, earned honors this week from Visit Vancouver USA for its impact on tourism.

“The American Empress has an impressive track record of attracting visitors to Vancouver USA and sharing with them the rich history of our community,” Kim Bennett, president and CEO of Visit Vancouver USA, said in a statement.

The sternwheeler, operated by American Queen Steamboat Company of Memphis, Tenn., earned the 2017 Spirit of Tourism Award. The award recognizes businesses or organizations that excel in bringing visitors to Vancouver and Clark County.

American Empress offers nine-day cruises on the Columbia River, touring from Astoria, Ore., to Clarkston, near the Washington-Idaho border. It also offers excursions to places including the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and Officers Row.

Visit Vancouver USA estimates the cruises and tours pitch in $1.5 million to the local economy.

American Empress employs 83 workers, according to Visit Vancouver USA. The boat moved operations to Vancouver in 2014, at the Port of Vancouver’s Terminal 1.