083 | THRIVE 2030, Australian MotoGP and Building What You Actually Own

In this episode of the Tourism Hub Podcast, host Despina Karatzias dives deep into the critical question of ownership in the tourism and eventsindustry. She challenges listeners to reflect on how much of their business’s success relies on external factors they do not control. With nearly two decades of experience in tourism operations, Despina shares her recent journey of introspection and renovation within her own business, the Institute of Excellence.

Despina discusses two significant headlines that have recently impacted the tourism sector: the updated Thrive 2030 Action Plan, which sets ambitious goals for Australia’s visitor economy, and the impending relocation of the Australian MotoGP from Phillip Island to Adelaide. She highlights the importance of understanding how these developments influence small and medium businesses, particularly in regional areas.

Listeners will gain insights into the difference between borrowed momentum from external events and true ownership of customer relationships and brand authority. Despina emphasises the need for operators to build sustainable foundations that can withstand market changes, urging them to assess what they genuinely own versus what they rely on. This episode serves as a wake-up call to the tourism community, encouraging proactive engagement with digital capabilities and direct customer connections.

As a special opportunity, Despina announces a free live training session on March 26th, focused on Digital and AI Readiness for 2026, along with a chance to win a comprehensive business diagnostic package. Tune in to discover how to navigate the evolving landscape of tourism and take actionable steps towards building a resilient business.

Minister for Sports and Events Steve Dimopoulos clip courtesy ABC Melbourne Instagram.

Pino’s Trattoria, an Italian restaurant in the heart of Cowes, and the magic of Pino’s captured in this video featuring owner, Rosa Scarlato, who started the restaurant with her late husband and the restaurant’s namesake, Pino, in 1991. Check out this tribute from MotoGP. Phillip Island local story, Rosa How a Phillip Island local became a MotoGP™ icon!

00:00 How much of your business peak depends on something you do not control
01:38 Despina Karatzias hosts the Tourism Hub Podcast
05:36 Australian MotoGP to relocate from Phillip Island to Adelaide from 2027
07:45 We are going to unpack both Thrive 2030 and Phillip Island story
09:05 Centre Thrive 2030 is Australia’s national tourism strategy
17:16 What does Thrive mean for small and medium businesses
18:58 Australian MotoGP to move from Phillip Island to Adelaide in 2027
21:57 The decision to pull Australian MotoGP from Phillip Island reveals structural dependency
27:59 The question each of us needs to answer honestly is if the event changes tomorrow
28:57 The 2030 strategy asks all of us to build businesses that endure beyond single cycle
30:07 Thrive tells us where the opportunity is pointing and MotoGP Storey shares insights
33:18 Large organisations will move to capture that growth in ways that small businesses cannot
37:03 I’m launching the Digital and AI Growth Diagnostic for tourism businesses
40:45 Thrive 2030 is about courage. The courage to look at our businesses with complete honesty
43:58 Let’s be better than we were yesterday

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Show hosted by Despina Karatzias and brought to you by Tourism Hub in association with Institute Of Excellence.

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