UPDATE: We need to be resilient, innovative & proactive - new Tourism Director
The press conference was call by the Premier Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith to officially introduce Mrs Flax-Mars to the public and was held at the Premier's Office, Central Administration Complex.
Virgin Islands News Online had reported some three months ago that Flax-Mars was tipped for the position of Director of Tourism.
Premier Smith said he's aware that it takes dedication, diligence, persistence, vision, effective planning, and the right hands on deck in order to accomplish outcome from the tourism sector.
"In this regard, today I am pleased to announce that the BVI Tourist Board has retained the services of Mrs Sharon Flax-Mars who will serve as the Director of Tourism."
The Premier assured that Mrs Flax-Mars is a seasoned tourism and hospitality professional with over 25 years of experience earned from working at many levels in tourism in a varied hospitality career. She brings to the position deep senior management ability and experience having served most recently for more than 10 years on the senior management team at Rosewood Little Dix Bay Resort in the capacity of Director of Human Resources.
"In that position she had responsibility for guiding a staff of over 300. At the national level, Sharon served as a member of the BVI Tourist Board across three administrations and hails from the crown jewel of our tourism product- Virgin Gorda," Premier Smith added.
Having established her commitment to the task ahead, Mrs Mars announced that much emphasis will be placed on intensifying the marketing campaigns in key markets of the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom (UK). "We will forge ahead with relatively untapped markets of Canada and Latin America with focus on Argentina, Brazil and Chile whose economies remain vibrant irrespective of the global crisis," she noted.
The tourism authority of the VI will be pushing for the much touted ten percent increase in arrivals by 2016 and intends to also intensify efforts to capture a greater share of the destination wedding and honeymoon niche as well as the mega yacht sector. Flax-Mars said that a more focus and targeted plan will be unfurled to drive visitors to these shores during the summer months.
Reiterating the un-parallelled beauty of the VI, she said that it is vital to the products that infrastructure shows growth and improvement in order to attract and retain clientele. "Further development and a commitment to our own BVI owned businesses inclusive of our jewels collection, small inns and villas, restaurants and water based activities are vital."
Flax-Mars also spoke of the improtance of developing and sustaining the dive sector.
Eyes are on the continued support of large international affiliated operators and a mutual commitment to training and education which must be fostered and encouraged, she noted.
Talks were also centred around the the development of the cruise port and supporting services and businesses, expansion of airports and sea ports and the enhancing of health services.
See previous story posted on January 7, 2013
Sharon Flax-Mars named new Director of Tourism
Just as first and accurately reported by Virgin Islands News Online since October of last year, Mrs. Sharon Flax-Mars of Virgin Gorda has been approved by Cabinet to take up the post of Director of Tourism.
Mrs Flax-Mars' approval came about a month ago and she now replaces the former Director of Tourism, Hadassah Ward, who was transferred to the Premier’s Office following the 2011 general elections.
The Minister of Tourism, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, is expected to hold a press conference today January 7, 2013 to make the announcement- something this news site reported three months ago.
Mrs. Flax-Mars' first day on the job was January 3, 2013. The terms and conditions of her package is not immediately known.
See previous story posted on October 3, 2012
Sharon Flax-Mars tipped to be new Director of Tourism
Word just reaching Virgin Islands News Online from its team of reporters and sources within the ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) is that Virgin Gordian, and member of the BVI Tourist Board, Sharon Flax-Mars has been tipped to be the new Director of Tourism.
Mrs. Flax-Mars was reportedly the only applicant for the post, according to the same source. It was this news site that accurately broke the news that former Director Hadassah Ward would have been removed from her post following the 2011 General Elections that saw the NDP retake power from the Ralph T. O’Neal OBE, Virgin Islands Party.
Ms. Ward, according to this news site which first reported the information, was to be transferred to the Premier’ Office. Some two months later the Government, through a press release, confirmed Virgin Islands News Online’s accurate story.
It is this news site’s understanding that the Chairman of the BVI Tourist Board, Russell Harrigan, has already communicated the Board’s recommendation to the Minister of Tourism, Dr. the Honourable D. Orlando Smith, and a cabinet paper is to be on the cabinet agenda shortly.
Mrs. Flax-Mars is currently the Director of Human Resources at Rosewood Little Dix Bay, a major hotel resort on the sister island of Virgin Gorda.
If confirmed by the Dr. Smith Cabinet, Mrs. Flax-Mars would become the third Director of the Tourist Board from Virgin Gorda. The others were Allen O’Neal and Anne Leonard. Mr. Elihu Rymer, a Virgin Gordian, also served as Chairman of the Board in the early days of the organization.
Mrs. Flax-Mars attended the University of Nevada in Las Vegas where she obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Hotel Administration. She has extensive work experience in the Tourism sector and is said to be passionate about guest service and the hospitality industry worldwide but with a focus on the Virgin Islands.
She served on the BVI Tourist Board under both major political parties-NDP and VIP, but had resigned under the last government and was reappointed to the Board when the new government took over.
The Dr. Smith Administration is yet to articulate a national tourism policy even as many Board members complain about the cut back in the Board’s budget and the instability of the organization’s staff.
Two Ministers of Government, Honourables Mark Vanterpool and Dr. Kedrick Pickering, have announced two projects- a cruise ship extension project, along with an airport runway extension that they both claimed will help boost the tourism sector.
They are yet to advise the public how the multi-million dollar projects will be paid for.
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61 Responses to “UPDATE: We need to be resilient, innovative & proactive - new Tourism Director”
Congrats Ms. Flax-Charles!!
wow.. this is amazing. family hotel business is in the dump and she has all the qualifications to be director of tourism?? we are hurting enough. why did the government get a qualified person for this job is beyond me. but its a blessing for her to leave Little Dix after she has opp....re$$...ed her own people while our corrupted labor department did nothing as usual. i wish her the best and i am so happy she wont have to opp...re$$$$ us at LDB anymore. good riddance
Maaaarry when last you been to The family hotel ? As far as I could see they just Did a major renovation to. The restaurant and bar at the hotel. Take care you don't get sued. You were fired from LDB and should have been long ago. Only Sharon had the BALLS to do it. Thaat is what the tourist board needs-someone who is not afraid to make the TOUGH decisions
very very greedy, very very greedy
If she dares to speak up, speak out, or even whisper about the truth about what is going on at the TB she will be history.
Ms. Flax-Mars is part of the NDP machinery and a yes person to push through the airport and cruise ship docks, and as a hotel person, she is geared towards resorts, megayachts (being from VG) . she isn't experienced or big pictured enough to understand other sectors of tourism and what will conflict with the other. you can't be all things to all people, so pick what you are promoting and hope the people agree with you. Once somethiing is gone, it's gone for good.
according to Florida Caribbean Cruise Assoc (2011-12), passengers spent $1.48 Billion at ports of call in 21 destinations. $583 Million went for watches and jewelry purchased at chains like Columbian Emeralds and Diamond International. $270 mil went to shore excursions typically sold by cruise lines. Just $87 mill went to local crafts and soveniers according to the report.
Another report says the cruise ship industry injects $2 Billion in Caribbean economies but as much as 80% of that leaves the Caribbean. Of hotels, only 20% of revenue returns to local economies but ONLY ABOUT 5% OF CRUISE SHIP REVENUES RETURN TO LOCAL ECONOMY.
2) 25% of $2.0 Billion equals $500 Million ($400 M for hotels/20% and $100 M for Cruise ship/5%.
3) The alternative of doing nothing is $0, or should I say, 25% of $-0- = $-0-.
Tell me your preference again?