Lali Odosashvili, PhD

Assistant Professor

Affiliated Programs

Education

PhD, Hospitality (2025)
University of South Carolina (SC)
Masters, Hospitality Business Management (2019)
University of Delaware (DE)
MBA, Business Administration in Tourism (2017)
Ilia State University (Tbilisi, Georgia)
Bachelor, Business Administration and Management (2015)
Ilia State University (Tbilisi, Georgia)

About Me

I'm originally from the Republic of Georgia, a small country in Eastern Europe. My academic journey brought me from Ilia State University in Tbilisi to the University of Delaware for my master's in Hospitality Business Management, and finally to the University of South Carolina where I completed my PhD in Hospitality & Tourism Management.
My professional experience spans both industry and academia. I've worked as a Tourist Information Center Operator in Georgia, served as a Research and Marketing Analyst at the Greater Wilmington Convention & Visitors Bureau, and held leadership roles in business development and marketing at Hybrid Interaction Ltd. This combination of frontline service, destination marketing, and business strategy gives me a comprehensive understanding of how the hospitality and events industry operates at multiple levels.
What drives my teaching and research is the belief that tourism and events are powerful tools for economic and cultural development. Having witnessed this firsthand, I'm passionate about helping students understand how their work can create meaningful impacts on communities and economies. At Widener, I'm excited to share my international perspective while learning from the rich history and opportunities in the greater Philadelphia region.
I take Widener's mission personally - your success truly matters to me, and I'm here to help you develop both the technical skills and cultural intelligence needed to thrive in our increasingly global industry.

My research focuses on the intersection of policy, governance, and sustainable tourism development, particularly in emerging and transitional economies. Key areas include:

Tourism Policy and Governance - Examining how governmental frameworks and policies shape tourism development trajectories, with special attention to post-Soviet nations
Economic and Socio-Cultural Sustainability - Investigating the long-term impacts of tourism development on local communities and economies
Travel Motivation and Behavior - Using advanced methodologies like means-end chain theory to understand what drives travelers' decisions, especially in post-crisis contexts
Gambling Tourism - Exploring resident perceptions and policy implications of gambling tourism development through social exchange theory
Cross-Cultural Tourism Development - Comparative analysis of tourism evolution across different political and economic systems, drawing insights from both English and Russian-language research

My work aims to bridge theoretical frameworks with practical applications, helping destinations develop tourism strategies that benefit both visitors and local communities while preserving cultural and environmental integrity.

Publications

Odosashvili, L. (2025). Balancing the odds: New York residents’ perceptions towards online gambling, extension of Social Exchange Theory. Journal of Gambling Issues. https://doi.org/10.4309/DZMT3131
Odosashvili, L., & Martin, D. (2025). Tourism development in post-Soviet nations: A comparative systematic review of English and Russian language research. International Journal of Tourism Sciences, 24(1), 39–60
] Subedi, S., Odosashvili, L., & Kubickova, M. (2025). A look into travel motivation post-crisis: Insights from means-end chain theory. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 63, 421–433. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2025.05.013
Martin, D., Odosashvili, L., & Subedi, S. (2024). Understanding Travelers’ Motivations and Preferences Relating to Sustainable Behavior: Configural Analysis of Traveler Mindfulness. Tourism Analysis, 29(2), 159–174. https://doi.org/10.3727/108354223X16894206734543