Beáta Szablics: From Hungary to Antarctica, and a New Way of Thinking About Tourism

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.

Connect with Beáta on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/be%C3%A1ta-szablics-93b3a5137/

Organisations Referenced

Your Nature Anew: https://yournatureanew.com/

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