Great American Steamboat Company Headquarters Open in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - As construction continues at the site of Beale Street Landing, The Great American Steamboat Company opened the doors to their new downtown headquarters Wednesday.

"Those projects are for real people and real jobs; the other thing, for the image of Memphis internationally," said Memphis Mayor A C Wharton.

Inside One Commerce Square, city leaders spoke of a new beginning for the historic Memphis riverfront.
Kevin Kane with the Memphis Visitors and Convention Bureau noted, "One of the things that's been missing for a long time has been real animation and real life on this beautiful riverfront."

While the American Queen is expected to be the crown jewel of the river, the ripple effect from the steamboat comes in the form of jobs.

Great American Steamboat Company CEO Jeff Krida said there would be "about 26, 27 [jobs] here in this headquarters office but 258 for crew members on the vessel."

60 percent of those positions are committed to be hires from the Memphis metro area. "It's a perfect storm; everybody wins, which is a beautiful thing when you can see that happen," Krida added.

The $30 million project is expected to bring in $14 million in just the first year.

Mayor Wharton said when the steamboat stops is when the world will see a different side of Memphis. "Now America's great ships park here, board here, and people from around the world come in here to taste American culture."

Ticket sales begin September 30th. The steamboat is set to take off from Beale Street Landing on April 27th.

LINK | www.greatamericansteamboatcompany.com