Tourism Matters

Tabetha Beggs hasn’t followed a straight path - no, no.

In this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen sits down with Tabetha Beggs, Tourism Experiences Lead at Destination Perth, to explore a career shaped by curiosity, risk-taking, and a willingness to step into opportunities before feeling fully ready.

From early ambitions in the arts to roles across tourism, local government, and destination development, Tabetha shares how each experience - expected or not - has contributed to where she is today.

This is a conversation about backing yourself, listening deeply to communities, and understanding that tourism is ultimately about people and stories.

What You’ll Take Away

• Why applying for jobs you’re not “qualified” for can change your career
• The role of lived experience in shaping tourism professionals
• Why community voice matters in destination marketing
• How regional tourism organisations are evolving beyond marketing
• The value of saying yes to unexpected opportunities
• Why no experience is ever wasted — even the ones that don’t make sense at the time
• The importance of storytelling in tourism and place-making

About Tabetha Beggs

Tabetha is the Tourism Experiences Lead at Destination Perth, with a career spanning tourism, arts, local government, and destination development.

She has previously held roles with Tourism Western Australia and the City of Perth, and is deeply passionate about community engagement, storytelling, and creating meaningful tourism experiences.

Tabetha is also an active mentor, supporting emerging leaders through the Women in Tourism & Hospitality Mentorship Program.

Connecting with Tabetha

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tabetha-beggs-a57a2771/

Organisations Referenced
Destination Perth: https://www.destinationperth.com.au/
Tourism Western Australia: https://www.westernaustralia.com/en/pages/home
Royal Society of Arts: https://www.thersa.org/

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction to Tabetha Beggs
00:30 – From cheese counter to career beginnings
01:20 – Applying for roles before you’re ready
02:16 – Travel, perspective, and curiosity
03:51 – Growing up in Perth Hills
06:43 – Early career ambitions and work experience
09:47 – Arts, theatre, and life experience
12:51 – The unexpected value of early jobs
16:16 – Moving to the UK and career pivots
18:39 – Taking risks and saying yes
20:35 – Why you should apply anyway
22:34 – Working across the UK in exhibitions
25:00 – Returning to Australia and career challenges
29:34 – Kalgoorlie and unexpected opportunities
36:30 – Transition into tourism
41:28 – Strategic roles and industry involvement
45:00 – Community voice in tourism
55:00 – Mentorship and career growth
60:43 – Networking and volunteering
66:18 – Open-minded travel and learning
68:43 – Storytelling in tourism
75:14 – The evolving role of RTOs
77:30 – Final reflections

Episode Description

In this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen sits down with Birgitta March, a tourism lecturer, PhD researcher, and former international tour guide. Exploring a career that spans continents, sectors, and decades.

From guiding high-end clients in the US to interpreting across Australia and now shaping future professionals in higher education, Birgitta shares a grounded and insightful perspective on the tourism industry.

The conversation dives into the evolving role of tour guides, the importance of language and cultural intelligence, and the challenges facing the sector today — from workforce perception to technology shifts.

Birgitta also shares her current PhD research focused on bridging gaps between tourism education and Indigenous communities, raising important questions about how we teach and represent knowledge in the industry.

What You’ll Take Away From This Episode

•  Why tour guiding is more complex (and valuable) than it’s perceived 
•  The role of language, interpretation, and cultural intelligence in tourism 
•  What makes a great guide - and why extroversion isn’t required 
•  The real challenges facing tour guides today (pay, hours, recognition, tech) 
•  How tourism careers can evolve across guiding, events, and education 
•  Why human connection still matters in an AI-driven world 
•  Insights into tourism education and student pathways 
•  The importance of ethical, community-informed knowledge in tourism training 

About Birgitta March

Birgitta March is a lecturer in Tourism and Hospitality Management at William Angliss Institute and a PhD researcher focused on tourism education.

Her career spans international tour guiding, interpreting, business events, and education. She has worked across Europe, the United States, and Australia, guiding high-end clients, technical delegations, and cultural tours.

Birgitta’s research explores the social identity of tour guides and the role of education in shaping a more inclusive and informed tourism industry - particularly in relation to Indigenous communities.

Connect with Birgitta on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/birgitta-march-tourism-expertise/

Organisations Referenced

• William Angliss Institute: https://www.angliss.edu.au/
• Tour Guides Australia: https://tga.org.au/

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and episode overview
 00:23 – Birgitta’s background in tourism and guiding
 03:20 – Growing up in Belgium and early influences
 06:40 – Studying languages and entering tourism
 13:00 – Moving to the US and guiding high-end clients
 20:45 – Transition to Australia and early tour guiding challenges
 24:55 – Technical tours and interpreting across industries
 30:34 – Moving into teaching and education
 34:21 – Research on tour guide identity and belonging
 36:25 – Key challenges facing tour guides today
 41:12 – AI, tourism, and the role of human connection
 48:45 – Transition to higher education and PhD research
 50:24 – Bridging tourism education and Indigenous knowledge
 55:43 – Final reflections on tourism careers

In this episode, Carmen is joined by Brad Rowe, a tourism consultant with deep experience across product development, infrastructure, and destination management.

We explore his journey from growing up in New Zealand to working on major tourism projects in Queenstown and internationally, including large-scale gondola and chairlift developments.

Brad shares practical insights on experience design, what actually drives return on investment in tourism, and how operators can create moments that guests remember and share.

What You’ll Take Away From This Episode

•  What “experience design” really means in a tourism context 
•  How visitor experience directly links to revenue and ROI 
•  Behind-the-scenes insights into major Queenstown tourism developments 
•  The shift from employment to consulting in the tourism industry 
•  What separates average experiences from truly memorable ones 
•  Why operational detail matters just as much as big ideas 

About Brad Rowe

Brad Rowe is a tourism consultant and the founder of Tourism x Design, where he helps tourism businesses and destinations create innovative visitor experiences.

With more than 15 years in the visitor economy, Brad has worked across tourism development, infrastructure, and destination strategy - helping launch new tourism concepts, scale visitor experiences, and support destinations to build more resilient tourism economies.

The career path he followed was not a conventional one - he took some leaps of faith and rode some waves of tourism growth in mountain biking, chairlifts, tech and destination management.

Today he works as an independent advisor focused on experience design, product development, and commercial strategy.

Connect With Brad on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brad-rowe-nz/

Organisations Referenced

• Brad Rowe Website: https://bradrowe.me/
• Skyline: https://skylineenterprises.co.nz/
• University of Otago: https://www.otago.ac.nz/
• Maverick Tourism: https://maverick-tourism.com/
• Doppelmayr Group: https://www.doppelmayr.com/en/
•  Tourism Bay of Plenty: https://www.bayofplentynz.com/
•  Watershed Lake Sauna Queenstown: https://watershedsaunas.com/

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction and guest welcome
 01:53 – Queenstown’s unique appeal and personal stories
 02:44 – Travel habits and early influences
 04:38 – Childhood and education path
 07:47 – Choosing tourism as a career
 10:42 – Early career and internship experience
 15:20 – Skyline Queenstown and mountain biking development
 20:28 – Gondolas, chairlifts, and infrastructure expansion
 24:24 – International projects and Austrian partnerships
 30:29 – Transition to consulting
 35:20 – Tourism product development and destination management
 37:49 – Visitor experience and ROI
 47:22 – Final thoughts and industry advice

Episode Description

In this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen Bold sits down with Beáta Szablics, whose career has taken her from a small town in Hungary to cruise ships, global product development, launching a luxury expedition brand, and ultimately Antarctica.

Beáta shares how a non-linear career — starting in animal husbandry and moving through tourism operations and wellbeing — has shaped the way she now approaches experience design.

This conversation explores how personal experiences, skills, and interests compound over time, and how they can ultimately position someone to create entirely new types of tourism experiences.

It also opens up a broader discussion on the growing role of wellbeing in tourism, and what it actually takes to translate that into meaningful, place-based experiences.

What You’ll Take Away From This Episode

•  Why no part of your career is ever wasted 
•  How Beáta transitioned from animal care into global tourism 
•  What she learned from 15 years in the cruise industry 
•  The reality of building tourism products from scratch 
•  What it was like managing a luxury camp in Antarctica 
•  Why travellers are increasingly seeking deeper, more felt experiences 
•  How wellbeing is starting to influence tourism in a more meaningful way 

About Beáta Szablics

Beáta Szablics is a tourism professional with over two decades of global experience across tour operations, cruise, and product development.

She has worked across multiple continents, led high-performing teams, and played a key role in launching new tourism products and brands, including a luxury expedition cruise line.

Alongside her tourism career, Beáta has trained in a range of wellbeing modalities including forest bathing, embodiment coaching, and deep rest practices.

She now works at the intersection of tourism and wellbeing, supporting businesses and destinations to create more meaningful, experience-led offerings.

Organisations Referenced

•  Beáta Szablics 

Episode Chapters

00:00 Introduction and personal background
 01:30 Childhood and early aspirations
 02:29 Education and career beginnings
 04:58 Transition into tourism
 07:41 First role in tourism
 09:36 Growth and early challenges
 11:47 Entering the cruise industry
 14:37 Understanding shore excursions
 17:24 Career reflections and growth
 25:06 Realities of cruise life
 27:23 Moving from sea to shore-based roles
 30:00 Building experiences from scratch
 30:48 COVID and career reflection
 33:36 Launching a luxury cruise brand
 42:24 Antarctica experience
 47:09 Wellbeing and tourism
 48:20 Current work and direction

Episode Description

In this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen Bold speaks with Thomas Worry, a Canadian tourism professional whose career has been built across seasonal roles, international experience, and corporate tourism operations.

Thomas shares how he navigated working across Canada’s Yukon — from guest services and RV rentals to guiding Northern Lights tours — and what it really takes to build a career in an industry defined by seasonality.

The conversation explores the realities of tourism careers that don’t follow a straight path, the importance of proactively creating opportunities, and how networks often matter more than formal job pathways.

Thomas also reflects on the bigger picture — from sustainability and crisis recovery to the growing need for stronger alignment between education and industry — and what this means for the future of tourism careers.

What You'll Take Away From This Episode

• What a tourism career actually looks like in practice — not theory

• How to navigate seasonality through multiple roles and income streams

• Why career progression in tourism is driven by initiative, not structure

• The role of education alongside hands-on experience

• How sustainability and industry challenges are shaping future careers

About Thomas

Thomas Worry is a Canadian tourism professional with experience spanning seasonal tourism operations, international travel, and corporate roles.

He has worked across a wide range of tourism settings, including guest services, RV rentals, cruise tourism, and guided Northern Lights experiences in Canada’s Yukon.

Thomas has built his career by combining practical, on-the-ground experience with formal study in tourism management, giving him a well-rounded perspective on both the realities of the industry and its future direction.

His work and interests focus on sustainability, industry development, and the evolving relationship between tourism education and real-world application.

Connect with Thomas on LinkedIn

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn

Organisations Referenced

Royal Roads University: https://www.royalroads.ca/

Yukon Tourism: https://travelyukon.com/

Episode Chapters

00:54 Thomas’s Background and Entry into Tourism

03:09 Navigating Seasonal Work in the Yukon

07:52 Working Across Cruise and Winter Tourism

10:50 Building Networks and Creating Opportunities

16:48 Education, Career Planning and Industry Entry

20:55 Working in Remote Tourism Environments

29:01 The Growth of Winter Tourism and Northern Lights Experiences

35:01 Soft Skills and Career Development in Tourism

43:45 Moving into Corporate Roles and Career Progression

55:40 Sustainability, Industry Challenges and Future Thinking

Episode Description

In this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen Bold speaks with Linda Tillman - Managing Director of Tilma Group and co-founder of the Australian Centre for Regional Events - about the realities of building tourism and events capability in regional Australia.

Linda shares how a university assignment on rural tourism resulted in a 20-year career working alongside regional communities, and how she built a business focused on helping destinations grow through tourism and events.

The conversation explores the critical role events play in regional economies, why so many events are under pressure, and the persistent challenges that haven’t changed in decades.

Linda also introduces a bold idea for the future — regional support hubs designed to take pressure off event organisers and allow them to focus on what actually matters: creating great experiences.

What You'll Take Away From This Episode

 • Why events are critical to regional tourism and community development
 • The three core challenges facing regional events: people, money, and compliance
 • How outdated operating models are contributing to burnout and “same-same” events
 • Why volunteering models need to evolve to attract younger people
 • The opportunity to rethink how events are supported through shared services and regional hubs

About Linda

Linda Tillman is the Managing Director of Tilma Group, a consultancy she founded in 2008 to support regional and rural communities through tourism and events.

She has spent nearly 20 years working across Australia on destination development, event strategy, and industry capability building, partnering with government, regional tourism organisations, and local communities.

Linda is also the co-founder of the Australian Centre for Regional Events, which focuses on strengthening the long-term sustainability of events through training, mentoring, and capability development.

Her work sits at both the strategic and grassroots level — helping shape big-picture tourism strategies while working directly with operators and communities on the ground.

Connect with Linda on LinkedIn

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn

Organisations Referenced

Tilma Group: https://tilmagroup.com.au/

Australian Centre for Regional Events: https://australianregionalevents.com.au/

Episode Chapters

 01:48 Getting to Know Linda
 06:10 Early Career Interests in Tourism
 11:33 Discovering a Passion for Regional Tourism
 15:05 First Role in Local Government
 16:26 Travelling Australia and Career Direction
 19:28 Breaking into the Industry Through Networking
 24:06 Starting Tilma Group
 33:29 The Role of Events in Regional Tourism
 36:39 Launching the Australian Centre for Regional Events
 37:38 Challenges Facing Regional Events
 41:34 Workforce and Volunteering in Regional Communities
 44:11 Skills, Capacity and Capability Gaps
 46:09 Rethinking the Event Model

In this episode of Tourism Matters, Carmen Bold speaks with Professor Anne Hardy — tourism researcher, consultant, academic, and Chair of Destination Southern Tasmania — about how research can shape tourism decisions.

Anne shares the story of her career in tourism academia, from studying tourism’s impacts on communities to leading innovative projects like Tourism Tracer, which used smartphone technology to track how visitors move through destinations. She also discusses her research in Antarctica exploring whether travel experiences can influence environmental behaviour.

The conversation explores why tourism operators rarely access academic research, how behaviour change theories can improve visitor experiences, and why the industry needs stronger connections with universities.

Anne also reflects on redundancy after a 20-year academic career and her mission to help researchers communicate their work more effectively with industry.

What You'll Take Away From This Episode

 • How tourism researchers study visitor behaviour and decision-making
 • The Tourism Tracer project and how technology tracked visitor movement
 • What Antarctica tourism reveals about behaviour change and sustainability
 • Why tourism businesses should engage more with academic research
 • How behaviour change theory can improve visitor experiences and operations

About Anne

Professor Anne Hardy is a tourism researcher whose work focuses on tourism behaviour, mobility, sustainability, and research communication.

Across a 20-year academic career she has published more than 80 journal articles and four books, with her research cited over 3,000 times. Her work has been presented at international forums including the United Nations World Tourism Organization and the United Nations Environment Program.

Anne is particularly known for pioneering projects such as Tourism Tracer, which tracked visitor movement across destinations using mobile technology, and for her research exploring how travel experiences — particularly in Antarctica — can influence environmental behaviour.

She is currently Chair of Destination Southern Tasmania and now works to bridge the gap between tourism research and industry practice.

Connect with Anne on LinkedIn

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn

Organisations Referenced

Destination Southern Tasmania: https://southerntasmania.com.au/

Omineca Consulting: https://www.ominecaconsulting.com/

Antarctic Treaty System: https://www.ats.aq/

Google Scholar: https://scholar.google.com/

University of Tasmania: https://www.utas.edu.au/

Episode Chapters

 02:58 Travel Preferences and Experiences
 05:58 Early Life and Education in Tasmania
 08:55 Career Path: From Law to Tourism
 11:58 Academic Journey and Research Focus
 14:58 Impact of Family on Career Choices
 17:59 Understanding Academia and the PhD Process
 21:00 Communicating Research and Industry Engagement
 23:42 The Evolution of Academic Communication
 26:46 Anne’s Career Journey and Experiences
 31:44 Innovative Research and Technology in Tourism
 38:04 Transformative Travel Experiences
 49:31 Navigating Career Changes and Future Aspirations
 53:39 Embracing the Radical Sabbatical
 56:38 Navigating Academic Careers
 01:00:07 Understanding Human Behaviour in Tourism
 01:04:50 The Importance of Communication in Research

In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Matt Scott about his journey through international tourism, tour guiding and product development.

Matt shares how early travel experiences and cultural exposure led him into the tourism industry, including years guiding tours across Europe and developing high-end travel experiences. The conversation explores the importance of training, customer service and adaptability in tourism, along with insights into product development, river cruising and sustainable tourism practices.

What you'll take away from this episode

 • How international travel and cultural exposure shaped Matt’s tourism career
 • What it takes to succeed as a professional tour guide
 • Why training and customer service excellence are critical in tourism
 • Insights into tourism product development and creating memorable travel experiences
 • The operational complexity behind the river cruise industry
 • How sustainability and First Nations tourism are shaping the future of travel

About Matt

Matt Scott has built an international career across tour guiding, tourism product development and regional tourism. His experience includes guiding tours across Europe, developing travel products and working within the cruise and tourism sectors.

Matt has also worked across tourism development roles in Australia, contributing to projects focused on sustainable tourism, regional development and cultural tourism initiatives.

Connect with Matt on LinkedIn

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn

Organisations and industry references mentioned

Fat Tire Tours: https://fattiretours.com
Backroads Tours: https://www.backroads.com
City Wonders: https://citywonders.com
Many Rivers: https://manyrivers.org.au/

Episode Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and early travel experiences
 03:00 Early life, gap years and cultural exposure
 09:00 Volunteering and discovering tourism
 12:00 University and first steps into the industry
 18:00 Camp counselling and international experiences
 21:00 Living in Paris and working as a tour guide
 26:00 Training and professional development in tourism
 30:00 Seasonality and life as a tour guide
 32:00 Creating memorable experiences for travellers
 39:00 Moving into tourism product development
 46:00 Insights into the river cruise industry
 53:00 Returning to Australia and new career opportunities
 56:00 Exploring Australia through tourism work
 59:00 Navigating the tourism industry during COVID
 01:02:00 Moving into regional economic development
 01:04:00 First Nations tourism and cultural engagement
 01:09:00 Sustainable tourism and future industry challenges

In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Emma Rhoades about her career journey and her current work supporting tourism businesses through workforce development at the Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC).

Emma reflects on returning to university later in life, re-entering the workforce after raising children, and finding her place in the tourism industry. The conversation explores workforce challenges across tourism, the importance of networking and building relationships, and practical advice for people looking to start or grow their careers in the industry.

What you'll take away from this episode

 • Why networking is one of the most powerful tools for building a tourism career
 • How career paths in tourism often evolve through unexpected opportunities
 • The workforce challenges facing tourism operators today
 • Why passion and persistence matter when building a career in tourism
 • Practical advice for job seekers looking to enter the tourism industry
 • How industry organisations are supporting tourism operators and employees

About Emma

Emma Rhoades works as a workforce advisor with QTIC, supporting tourism businesses across Queensland with workforce development, industry challenges and career pathways.

Her career journey includes returning to university later in life and re-entering the workforce after raising children. Emma is passionate about helping people navigate careers in tourism and connecting industry operators with the support they need.

The Industry Workforce Advisor Program is supported and funded by the Queensland Government.

Connect with Emma on LinkedIn

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn

Organisations and industry references mentioned

Queensland Tourism Industry Council (QTIC) https://www.qtic.com.au

Accor Heartist Ethos: https://group.accor.com/en/group/people-at-our-heart/our-heartist-ethos

Episode Chapters

 00:00 Introduction and early career aspirations
 03:00 Education and early career interests
 06:00 Working at Telstra and stepping away for motherhood
 08:00 Returning to university and rediscovering career direction
 11:00 Navigating career transitions and self-reflection
 13:00 Connecting with the tourism industry
 19:00 Emma’s role at QTIC and workforce support
 22:00 Workforce challenges across the tourism industry
 26:00 Promoting tourism careers and industry opportunities
 29:00 Advice for job seekers entering tourism
 34:00 Networking strategies and building relationships
 39:00 Final reflections and support for tourism professionals

In this episode of Tourism Matters, join Carmen Bold as she chats with Sarah-Jane Tilbury about building a career in tourism that spans international travel, operational leadership and general management.

Sarah-Jane shares her journey from growing up in the UK and entering the tourism industry through travel and car rental, to moving to Australia and stepping into senior leadership roles. The conversation explores leadership, team dynamics, commercial thinking and the challenges of managing tourism businesses through major disruptions such as COVID-19.

What you'll take away from this episode

 • Why leadership in tourism is about empowering teams to succeed
 • How careers in tourism often evolve through unexpected opportunities
 • The importance of commercial thinking in tourism operations
 • Lessons from managing tourism businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic
 • Why networking and strong industry relationships matter in tourism careers
 • Advice for professionals looking to move into general management roles

It’s funny. It’s honest. And underneath the laughter is a really sharp conversation about what modern tourism leadership actually looks like.

About Sarah-Jane

Sarah-Jane Tilbury is a tourism leader with experience across travel operations, hospitality and visitor attractions. Her career has taken her from the UK to Australia, working across multiple tourism sectors and ultimately stepping into general management roles.

Known for her people-first leadership style, Sarah-Jane focuses on empowering teams, building strong organisational cultures and delivering high-quality visitor experiences while maintaining strong commercial performance.

Connect with Sarah-Jane on LinkedIn

Connect with Carmen on LinkedIn

Organisations and industry references mentioned

Hepburn Bathhouse & Spa: https://hepburnbathhouse.com/

Belgravia Leisure: https://belgravialeisure.com.au/

SEA LIFE Melbourne Aquarium: https://www.visitsealife.com/melbourne/

SeaLink: https://www.sealink.com.au/

Tourism Holdings Limited: https://www.thlonline.com

Episode Chapters

 00:00 Introduction to SJ Tilbury and her tourism career
 03:00 Early life in the UK and first exposure to travel
 06:00 Starting a career in tourism and travel industries
 09:00 Moving into the car rental sector
 12:00 Career growth in tourism operations
 15:00 Leadership lessons and managing teams
 18:00 Moving to Australia and new tourism opportunities
 21:00 Working with Tourism Holdings Limited
 25:00 Transition into senior tourism leadership roles
 29:00 Managing visitor attractions and working with animals
 33:00 Empowering teams and leadership philosophy
 39:00 Education, conservation and visitor engagement
 45:00 Balancing commercial success with team wellbeing
 49:00 Navigating tourism operations during COVID-19
 57:00 Team culture, leadership and difficult conversations
 01:00:00 Career transitions and networking in tourism
 01:08:00 Executive roles and industry leadership
 01:12:00 The rise of wellness tourism
 01:20:00 Advice for aspiring tourism professionals