Spurred by its CruiseTour packages, Holland America Line’s economic impact on the Yukon Territory totaled over $35 million in 2009.  

This total underscores the economic contribution that Holland America Line makes to the Yukon Territory community and to the Canadian Northwest at large.  The company estimates that every dollar of direct spending generates $2.1 in total output. For every $1 million in direct spending, just over eight full time direct jobs – like tour guides and retail employees – are added to the Yukon economy, and each of these jobs, in turn, generates another 1.3 jobs elsewhere.

Passenger spending contributed $8.7 million via their patronage of shops, restaurants, hotels, museums, local sightseeing attractions and excursions, and transportation.  Payroll for the company’s 151 locally-based employees added another $4.2 million to the local economy.

With direct spending of $3.3 million, Holland America Line’s economic impact included working directly with 198 local vendors, crew spending, fees and taxes, cash and in-kind sponsorships to local non-profit organizations, and marketing and sales expenditures.

In 2009, Holland America Line took approximately 16,000 guests to the Yukon on CruiseTours and the company expects this number to increase in 2010 to 20,000 guests.  Approximately 55 percent of hotel room nights sold by Holland America Line in the Yukon incurred Goods and Services tax; CruiseTour guests made up 32 percent of booked room nights. In total, the Westmark Hotels —Beaver Creek, Klondike Inn, Dawson and Whitehorse — booked 73,356 room nights.

Since 1989, the company has given more than $400,000 to Yukon charities, organizations and causes through its Yukon Community Advisory Board.  Among them are the Dawson City Music Festival, Hospice Yukon, MacBride Museum, Yukon Arts Center, Yukon Deaf Curling Association, and Yukon Literacy Council.  And for more than 20 years, Westmark Hotels has made a $4,000 annual contribution to the Yukon Sports Hall of Fame.

“A trip through the Yukon to view the magnificent scenery and wildlife is a perfect complement to the spectacular vistas found in Alaska,” said Richard D. Meadows, CTC, executive vice president, marketing, sales and guest programs. “We remain committed to working with the community to offer our guests many ways to experience the true thrill of the Yukon Territory.”