Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, the parent company to Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, announced today that it has donated its undeveloped waterfront property in Juneau, Alaska to the native-owned Huna Totem Corporation.
Engaging with other Alaska Native corporation and community stakeholders, Huna Totem will lead efforts to develop a new pier and related facilities on the parcel of land, and is expected to submit plans for the year-round facility before the end of the year.
With the donation, NCLH will receive preferential berthing rights at the pier once development is complete.
The project is expected to eliminate tendering operations in Juneau and help improve traffic flow. The locally-owned waterfront complex will also boost the economy by increasing tourism revenue and creating employment opportunities year-round.
“We are pleased to be able to donate our property in the heart of Juneau to Huna Totem Corporation to develop a new pier and surrounding facilities,” said Dan Farkas, executive vice president and general counsel for Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings who overseas corporate construction. “Ensuring this project is fully integrated into the local community is incredibly important to us, and as we began planning its development, it became abundantly clear that Huna Totem, owned entirely by native Alaskans, was the right stakeholder to lead this effort.”
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Russell Dick, Huna Totem Corporation president and CEO, said “Huna Totem is thrilled to partner with Norwegian once again to expand regenerative tourism in Alaska with the development of a new pier in Juneau. In following with Huna Totem’s port development model, design and development of the new destination will reflect our guiding principles as Native Alaskans while protecting and preserving the natural beauty of Juneau, empowering our community, and fully supporting the region’s tourism-based economy.”
NCLH originally won the competitive bid for the last waterfront parcel in Juneau for $20 million in 2019. Since then, the company has been engaging local stakeholders to develop a plan that would benefit both the city and stakeholders.
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