This year marks a poignant time at Hosts International. We’ll soon be celebrating the 25 year anniversary of Peter Brown acquiring Hosts international LTD, a company that had been established in 1988, and developing it into one of today’s most trusted homestay providers in the UK and Ireland. It has also been 25 years since my own journey with the company began and I gradually became the quiet but steady foundation to Peter’s not-so-quiet force behind the company’s growth. I feel incredibly humbled by Hosts International’s success and how far the company has come over these years. As we approach one year since we lost Peter, our life-time CEO, my beloved husband and wonderful father to our young daughter, I also feel an immense sense of responsibility to continue Peter’s legacy and the values he championed throughout his life. Here are some ways in which I hope to honour his memory.

The Peter Brown legacy initiative

Peter was the passionate voice behind our company’s growth. He was a straight-talking, generous man from the north of England who truly cared about people, from our partners and hosts to our own team. We always remember his brilliant ability to interact with people and the anecdotes he used to share. Over the coming year, we’ll be introducing several initiatives that celebrate Peter’s values and keep his spirit alive within the industry he gave so much to.

Putting Peter’s core values into practice

The Peter Brown Homestay Excellence Award will recognise outstanding host families who embody the spirit of exceptional homestay provision. Peter always believed deeply in the value of homestays for students. It’s at the core of what we do at Hosts International, so we want to celebrate this often-undervalued sector. A Peter Brown Bursary Fund will offer free or subsidised homestay accommodation to students in need. Partnering with our top partner schools, we want to ensure financial circumstances don’t prevent students from experiencing quality homestay accommodation. We’re also renewing our commitment to empowering women in international education, which is something Peter supported in action long before it became a widespread conversation. Last but not least, we plan to form a Hosts International’s Executive Advisory Board, drawing on trusted voices in the sector to shape and support care-led, ethical practice for the future.

Looking ahead with greater purpose

Over the coming months I’ll be sharing more details about each of these initiatives with you. They reflect Peter’s unwavering belief in the power of homestays to transform student experiences and his commitment to supporting people at every level of our industry. Peter had many stories, and we still miss hearing them – his humour, his directness and the quiet wisdom he shared will never be forgotten. I hold these tales dear and hope to keep them safe for our little daughter to hear one day. To everyone who’s worked with us, stood by us or simply believed in what we do – thank you from the bottom of my heart. You’re such an important part of Peter’s legacy too. Would you like to share a story about Peter or perhaps get involved in these initiatives? Get in touch with me anytime – I’d love to hear any of your thoughts and memories.   Warm wishes,   Harsha Brown