As Hosts International marks this special anniversary, we are taking a moment to reflect on the people, values and relationships that have shaped our journey. At the heart of that story is Peter Brown, whose dedication helped establish homestay accommodation as an important and trusted part of the international education experience.
Peter’s life’s work was rooted in his belief that education could open doors and that, with the right opportunity, everything was possible. One of his greatest joys was travelling the world, often to remote and less accessible places, to help bring education and opportunities to students who might otherwise never have had the chance to experience them. Together, Peter and Harsha built Hosts International over the past 25 years, continuing a journey that began in 1988 and has remained steady and resilient through changing times and countless challenges. For Peter, the journey was never simply about building a business. It was about creating opportunities, connecting people and believing in what was possible.
For more than 25 years at the helm of Hosts International, Peter brought integrity, warmth, laughter and quiet strength to everything he did. He believed passionately in the value of homestay accommodation and the difference a welcoming host family can make to a student’s experience.
His commitment to quality, his belief in people, his loyalty to those around him and his passion for meaningful cross-cultural experiences continue to influence the way Hosts International works today.
To honour Peter’s life and legacy, we are proud to introduce a number of initiatives designed to carry those values forward.
Peter was known for being friendly, transparent, open and straight-talking. He was a trusted and respected voice within the international education and homestay sectors, and he valued honest conversations, shared experiences and strong professional relationships.
In that same spirit, Harsha Brown will lead and convene the Peter Brown Advisory Circle, bringing together a small group of trusted industry peers and long-standing connections who share the values and approach that Peter held so strongly.
The Advisory Circle will:
Rather than being a formal board, the Advisory Circle will be a collective of like-minded individuals: people Peter respected and Harsha continues to trust.
Their knowledge, honesty and integrity will help support the next chapter of Hosts International.
For Harsha, this is also a way of honouring Peter’s approach to life and business: collaborative, thoughtful, resilient, human, real and grounded in strong relationships. At the same time, she continues to lead the company with her own strength, care and vision.
Host families are at the very heart of the homestay experience.
Every year, exceptional hosts go above and beyond to ensure international students feel safe, welcomed and supported. Often, it is the small things that make the biggest difference: a warm welcome after a long journey, a shared meal, a conversation at the end of the day or simply making a student feel that they belong.
The Peter Brown Homestay Excellence Award will recognise host families who embody the care, reliability and heart that Peter believed every student deserved.
Nominations will be accepted annually and reviewed by the Hosts International team, taking into account relevant criteria, student and partner feedback, and the experiences shared by those who have worked with our hosts.
The selected host will receive a certificate, a small thank-you gift and recognition across Hosts International platforms.
It is our way of celebrating the people who make such a meaningful contribution to the international student experience.
Peter strongly believed in giving people opportunities.
In collaboration with our trusted partners, Hosts International will offer a select number of free or subsidised homestay places each year in Peter’s name.
The Peter Brown Homestay Bursary will support students from underrepresented backgrounds or those experiencing financial hardship, giving them the opportunity to experience a safe, supportive and enriching homestay in the UK or Ireland.
For Peter, homestay was about much more than accommodation. It was about people, connection, cultural exchange and creating experiences that students could carry with them long after they returned home.
This bursary will help make those opportunities accessible to more students.
Another important part of Peter’s legacy is his belief in fairness and opportunity.
He believed in giving people a chance, particularly women and young professionals. His quiet feminism could be seen in the way he supported his wife, daughter and colleagues, encouraging them to grow, develop and take the lead.
That belief continues to form part of the culture at Hosts International.
As part of Peter’s legacy, we remain committed to mentorship, training and greater visibility for women across the international education and homestay sectors.
This commitment is reflected in our company culture, our approach to hiring and development, and our wider legacy initiatives.
A legacy is not simply about looking back. It is about taking the values that mattered and carrying them forward.
Peter believed in people. He believed in doing things properly. He believed in relationships built on trust, in giving others opportunities and in the power of homestay to create genuine cultural connections.
These are values that remain deeply embedded in Hosts International.
Through the Peter Brown Advisory Circle, the Homestay Excellence Award, the Homestay Bursary and our continued commitment to empowering women, we hope to ensure that Peter’s influence continues to make a positive difference across the international education community.
We would love to hear from schools, education partners and host families who have a story, memory or experience that captures what Peter meant to them. If you knew Peter through Hosts International, international education or the wider homestay community, I would genuinely love to hear from you. Whether you have a special memory, a story to share or simply a few words about the difference Peter made to you, I would be very grateful to hear from you.
We also welcome nominations and opportunities to collaborate on these initiatives.
If you would like to get involved, please contact Harsha Brown at [email protected].
Peter’s legacy lives on through the people he inspired, the relationships he built and the values he believed in. And, most importantly, through the continued work of making international students feel safe, welcomed, supported and at home. Thank you for helping us keep his memory and legacy alive.
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