Homestay Today's New Landlord

Vancouver, Canada, October 15, 2006 --(PR.com)-- Tens of thousands of students from around the world are coming to British Columbia to learn English fluently. The demand often outweighs the accommodation supply available to foreign students, which is one reason why a homestay option is quickly asserting itself as an economic driving force in numerous B.C. cities. Homestay host/expert Cheryl Verstarte is the mastermind behind Homestay Central (www.homestaycentral.com) - the on-line resource in matching and pairing international homestay guests with their Canadian hosts.

Canada is largely unregulated with regards to the homestay industry and finding out about how to successfully set up a homestay can be confusing for the uninitiated. Those looking for concrete, accessible guidelines however, can now consult Cheryl Verstrate’s definitive resource, Homestay 101 For Hosts- How to Start and Run a Successful Homestay (to view it as an ebook, go to: www.homestaycentral.com- also available at www.amazon.ca). According to Verstrate, “Gone are the days when exchange students were just that- exchanging students for a two week period from one country to another. These days, international students are a billion dollar industry.” And she speaks from over 15 years experience as a host and homestay coordinator for various international schools.

It’s estimated that one thousand students alone coming to the West Coast spend approximately $30 million on tuition, housing, food, recreation and other living expenses. The business of learning English is thriving- especially in picturesque locations that offer natural beauty alongside big-city amenities. Cities such as North Vancouver and Coquitlam for example, have been reaping the homestay rewards, with students spending their dollars in the communities in which they live. Hosts collect a fee (depending on where they live) for an arrangement that can be room rental only, to room and board. Some hosts choose to participate to expand their family’s cultural horizons; others also partake to earn the extra income that an international student brings with him/her (especially given the soaring real estate market prices in B.C.). Either way, Cheryl clearly outlines host do’s and don’ts so that there are as few grey areas as possible with regards to why you should become a host and what exactly that entails.

There are numerous forms of homestay options to suit most every student’s needs. Some prefer the tranquility of a farm or island stay, while others prefer to be in a city, close to entertainment, transportation and their chosen school. Some students arrive as professionals, others as college-aged students to homes with two working adults, homes with children, or to single parent households. The biggest bonus for students is they are immersed in the English language as most homes will not speak their native tongue, thereby accelerating the linguistic and cultural learning curves. Cheryl Verstate sums it up best when she says, “As culture-travel continues to expand its borders and boundaries, Canadian homes will continue to open their doors to students who want to learn English in their new ‘home away from home.’” 

For more information or to interview Cheryl Verstrate, please contact:

Kim Plumley
Publicity Mavens
6955 Leland Rd RR 1
Lantzville, BC V0R 2H0

Phone numbers:
Vancouver Island - 250-390-9285
Cell - 604-781-9847
Fax - 1-(604)-628-7245
Give them a call or visit www.publicitymavens.com

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