Sharon Flax-Brutus

Marilyn Monroe said, “Give a girl the right shoes and she can conquer the world”.  As a former Director of Tourism for the British Virgin Islands Sharon Flax Brutus is leaving her indelible footprints across the British Virgin Islands.  Sharon has utilized her knowledge and verve to successfully steer through the hospitality and tourism sector, making notable accomplishments along the way. Under her tenure, overnight arrivals grew continuously, reaching as much as 11.4 %, with 2016 being a historical year for the industry.

From the increase in tourism arrivals, to strategic vision for the rebounding of the sector after Hurricanes Irma and Maria, to her destination training program for the British Virgin Islands in conjunction with the Disney Institute and her precedent setting Seeds of Love program. Sharon’s love of tourism is all encompassing.

Sharon currently calls herself a Tourism Experience Curator and runs her own Destination Management Company White Oleander Destinations along with her husband Mark. Most recently she was named Managing Partner at Virgin Gorda Villa Rentals -a luxury portfolio of over 40 villas and Interim Chair of BVIYHTA.

Sharon was recently named the first Virgin Islands Icon in Tourism by The VI ICON Awards. She is also a community leader and activist and Chair of the Virgin Gorda Recovery Operations Center (VGROC), Sharon has dedicated her time to focusing on the preservation of cultural and environmental heritage, through community involvement.

This includes pro-active projects in partnership with the government and the private sector such as beautification projects, and spearheading and active participation in island wide cleanups. When asked what the driving force is behind her involvement in the tourism industry, Sharon says, “Teamwork makes the dream work.

I have a passion for the community and the destination. It warms my heart when I see community collaboration working to strengthen sustainability in the tourism industry”.

Sharon currently resides in Virgin Gorda with her husband Mark and their three dogs Passion, Symba and Coco.