Rhodri Thomas

Professor Rhodri Thomas holds the position of Professor of Tourism Management at Leeds Beckett University's Carnegie School of Sport. He previously served as Dean of the School of Events, Tourism and Hospitality Management (2015-2023). With dual PhDs from the University of Exeter (Management Studies) and Leeds Beckett University (Public Policy in Tourism), his academic credentials include a PGCE from the University of Leicester. He is a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and Fellow of the Institute of Travel and Tourism.

His research focuses on public policy for small tourism firms, academic knowledge impact, and sustainable tourism practices. Notable projects include ESRC-funded studies on research evaluation systems and OECD-commissioned policy analyses. He has presented globally at academic and practitioner conferences, including keynotes in China, India, and the USA.

Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Policy Research in Tourism, Leisure and Events, Thomas emphasizes critical discourse and accessibility in scholarly publishing. His work bridges academia and industry through initiatives like internship programs and policy consultations. Recent research highlights include examining tourism policy failures and digital skill gaps across six countries.

• Awards: HEA Principal Fellowship, ITT Fellowship
• Teaching: PhD supervision with focus on knowledge transfer mechanisms
• Grants: ESRC (£), European Commission, OECD, UK government

Thomas leads Leeds Beckett's tourism research in areas such as event legacy analysis, policy performance metrics, and SME sustainability frameworks. His work often critiques conventional impact assessments while advocating for more inclusive evaluation methodologies.