The power of in-person encounters in international projects

In international collaboration, few things are as vital as genuine human connection. In the ENRICHER hubs project, we had the opportunity to meet our project partners face-to-face in Georgia recently. Our hosts showed us the power of hospitality in partner encounters.

Finding time for hospitality experiences in a tight schedule

When travelling abroad for business, days are often filled with busy schedules and sitting inside meeting rooms and conference halls. That was also the case during our recent project trip to Tbilisi. Our ENRICHER hubs project team followed a tightly scheduled agenda, which included a full-day seminar, an internal project management meeting, a student workshop, evening entertainment, a field trip, and visits to newly launched green tourism hubs in two partner universities located in different parts of the country. During the evening and visits, we got to experience Georgian hospitality.

Hospitality refers to the relationship between hosts and guests, welcoming visitors, and bonding people closer together. Throughout history and across continents and cultures, hospitality has meant offering shelter, food and drink as well as friendship to strangers. Generosity and sharing are qualities that resonate all over the world. (Lashley 2015.)

Our Georgian hosts took great pride in organising several events and activities throughout our three-day stay in the country. Each activity was thoughtfully connected to our sustainable tourism project. Our programme included a walking tour in Old Tbilisi, an introduction to the beautiful campus of our host Caucasus University, a welcome dinner with Georgian cuisine, music and traditional dancing, and excursions to family-owned businesses and a winery. All of them involved fascinating storytelling and immersion in cultural traditions. The hosts shared interesting details about local ways of life. We learned that Georgians are proud of their rich cultural heritage.

The roots of Georgian hospitality

Georgia is located on the eastern corner of the Black Sea, bordering to Russia in the north and Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey in the south. Georgia has a smaller population than Finland: less than four million people, a third of them living in the capital Tbilisi (World Bank 2025). Georgia is located on the ancient Silk Road between East and West (Unesco s.a.b.). Thus, Georgians have a long tradition of welcoming and hosting people from all ends of the Earth.

Georgia’s diverse geography — stretching from the snow-capped Caucasus Mountains to the sunny Black Sea coast — creates a unique climate where skiing, sunbathing, winemaking, and vibrant urban life all coexist within a single country.

The pleasant climate of the country ensures that there is a constant supply of fresh produce. Food is an essential ingredient of Georgian hospitality. Meals typically consist of delicious vegetables as well as generous servings of meat and bread. Each region has its unique version of the traditional khachapuri bread. Every visitor will taste Georgian dumplings, khinkalis, filled with spiced meat. Aubergines, tomatoes, pomegranates, cucumbers and wallnuts play a central role in Georgian dishes.

The climate of Georgia is particularly suited for growing wine. Georgia is proud of its ancient viticulture, making wines in underground qvevris, where wine is fermented, stored and aged in large egg-shaped vessels. Georgia has been producing wine for eight thousand years already. It is known as the ‘cradle of winemaking’ and its ancient method is listed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. (Unesco s.a.a.) Wine is an integral part of the national character of Georgians. The most famous statue in the capital, the Kartlis Deda, the Mother of Georgia, overlooking the city from its hilltop location, holds a sword in one hand and a bowl of wine in the other, symbolising friendship and hospitality. (Georgia s.a.a.)

Hospitality based on warmth, openness and generosity

Georgian hospitality is a way of life and a vital part of the cultural identity (Salukvadze & Salukvadze 2019). At the heart of Georgian hospitality is the supra, a traditional feast led by a tamada (toastmaster). Supras are not about food and drink only. They centre around storytelling, mutual respect, and bonding. Guests are honoured and treated as part of the family, and every toast deepens the connection. In Georgian culture, a guest is considered a blessing and visitors are welcomed whole-heartedly.

We got to experience a supra in Tbilisi. It involved delicious food, a lot of wine as well as several toasts by the tamada. Guests were also invited to give toasts. There were courtesies and compliments all around. While the hospitality was remarkable, the sheer quantity of food served was overwhelming, and unfortunately, a significant portion went to waste. Indeed, a defining feature of the supra is excess: the table overflows with so much food and drink that guests cannot possibly consume it all (Cupra 2020).

Living at a cultural crossroads, Georgians are renowned for their warmth and openness. Their generosity towards guests and eagerness to share traditions made a lasting impression during our visit. As part of the project collaboration, we were honored with a rare invitation to the business and home of two local partners — an exceptional gesture in international cooperation. At the eco-tourism facility Tigi’s Home, we witnessed the traditional baking of Georgian bread in a clay oven and enjoyed a homemade lunch featuring local delicacies. It was an experience that left us with unforgettable memories. In the heart of the Kakheti wine region, our partner institution, Telavi State University, welcomed us into their own wine cellar for a tasting session. The university also offers a Master’s programme in Wine Tourism. Georgian wine will continue to captivate global travellers for years to come.

Hospitality is often a family affair in Georgia, with elders playing a key role in welcoming and hosting. This creates a warm and inclusive atmosphere where everyone feels valued. When we visited the businesses, several family members were involved. At the cheese factory, the sons of the family were hosting us, and at the eco-tourism place, it was the mother of the owner who was baking bread, cooking and serving us food.

Trust is built through personal encounters

In Erasmus+ and other international projects, digital tools are essential, but they cannot replace the magic of face-to-face interaction. In-person meetings and hospitality are vital for trust building between people and creative collaboration across cultures (Molinsky & Hahn 2024).

Sharing meals and stories as well as getting to know the culture of the hosts build bonds that emails never can. Hospitality experiences can foster deeper connections between international teams. Researchers (e.g., Dunbar 2017) have discovered that people who eat together have greater trust, wellbeing, and stronger social networks. Also, the World Happiness Report (Helliwell et al. 2025) concludes that hospitality activities like sharing meals enhance interpersonal bonds and make people happier. It applies also to professional contexts.

In the ENRICHER hubs project, in-person meetings and shared experiences in Georgia have not only advanced the tasks but also deepened relationships between partners. Now we certainly understand why our hosts wanted to include many elements of Georgian hospitality in the itinerary.

Project success is not just about deliverables. It is about cultural understanding and building connections between people. By embracing the warmth and generosity of Georgia’s hospitality, we have enriched our project and ourselves. Next time we plan a meeting, we will make sure to include elements of hospitality. Maybe the most important item on the agenda is simply sharing a meal.

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