JUNEAU, Alaska — Huna Totem Corporation (HTC) today welcomed Hein Erasmus as senior director of Caribbean operations and partner relations, a new role focused on strengthening the company’s tourism portfolio and cruise line partnerships beyond Alaska.
In this role, Erasmus will lead cruise line engagement for HTC, and he will oversee operational performance across the company’s Caribbean tourism ventures. Erasmus brings more than 20 years of global cruise industry experience, with senior leadership roles at Disney Cruise Line and Carnival Cruise Line. His background spans port adventures and destination development, with extensive experience managing multimillion-dollar programs and overseeing shore-side operations across global destinations.
“We are so happy to welcome Hein to our growing team,” said Howard Sherman, president of Huna Totem Tourism Group. “His extensive experience with cruise line operations and destination development will be invaluable as we continue to grow thoughtfully around Alaska and beyond. Hein understands how strong operations and trusted partnerships support our responsibility to the communities we work in and the shareholders we serve.”
Most recently, Erasmus led global port adventures and destination experiences at Disney Cruise Line, overseeing commercial strategy, supplier partnerships and experience innovation across an international portfolio. His earlier roles at Carnival Cruise Line included senior leadership in product development, port operations and shore excursion strategy.
HTC’s Caribbean tourism operations are in partnership with Chukka Caribbean Adventures, a family-owned company founded in 1983 that develops sustainable tourism experiences rooted in local culture. Through this partnership, HTC acquired a stake in Chukka USVI and is working alongside Chukka to advance tourism ventures in the Caribbean that emphasize community benefit, environmental responsibility and high-quality guest experiences.
About Huna Totem Corporation
Culture-driven and community-centric, Huna Totem Corporation (HTC) is an over 50-year-old Alaska Native Corporation with businesses across tourism and product development as well as government contracting. Since opening its first tourism business, Icy Strait Point in 2004, it has welcomed over four million cruise travelers. HTC’s port development and operations model is globally recognized, and the corporation has received numerous awards including Travel + Leisure’s 2025 Global Vision Award, Porthole Cruise & Travel 2025 Readers’ Choice Award: Best Alaska Cruise Destination, Condé Nast Traveler’s “25 Best Places to Go in 2025,” Seatrade’s Global Port of the Year in 2020; and a #11 ranking
on the New York Times 2022 Top 52 Places for a Changed World. With recent Alaska expansions to Klawock and Whittier, HTC continues to lead in sustainable and culturally rich tourism.
Formed under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 (ANCSA), HTC represents more than 1,850 Alaska Native shareholders with Indigenous ties to Glacier Bay and the community of Hoonah, Alaska. The corporation is the single largest employer in Hoonah. To learn more, visit www.hunatotem.com.