One of the Caribbean’s leading directors of tourism is “hanging up her shoes” later this year. 

Sharon Flax-Brutus, who has served as the Director of the British Virgin Islands Tourist Board and Film Commission for eight years, is stepping down on Nov. 15. 

Flax-Brutus had helped lead the British Virgin Islands to never-before-seen tourism peaks, including record-breaking arrivals, with strong leadership in the wake of the hurricanes of 2017.

Her achievements also included launching a destination training program with the Disney Institute; raising the destination’s profile locally, regionally and globally; negotiating the payment of accommodation taxes with Airbnb; paving the way for BVI athletes to attend the IMG Academy through a partnership with the Miami Open; and launching the BVI Food Fete, which has since become one of the Caribbean’s most prominent culinary festivals. 

“It has been my pleasure working with the BVI Tourist Board and Film Commission and to represent this territory which I am so proud to be a citizen of globally,” she said in a statement. “I am gratified by my achievements over the last eight years, but I think it it is time to move on and focus on other ways which will continue to benefit the BVI tourism industry.”

Flax-Brutus said she would work with the Board to “ensure a smooth transition as we work together to reopen the BVI following COVID-19.”