FAQs about Hosting
International Visitors
What is hosting a visitor?
The term "hosting" means bringing a visitor to your home for dinner, or to a restaurant, which allows the international visitor to learn more about American culture first-hand.
The dinner can be as simple as one of New Orleans' favorite meals, red beans and rice, or as gourmet as you would like.
Remember, the point is for you to share a part of your life with the visitor(s) and to learn about the visitor(s) in a relaxed setting. The only requirement is that hosts pick-up visitors from their hotel and bring them back after dinner.
Here are additional commonly asked questions:
What are the benefits of hosting visitors?
Hosting visitors exposes you and your family to world cultures, customs and outside perceptions of the United States. Lasting friendships and business contacts often form. It is not uncommon for our members to be reunited with a former international visitor in their home country.
Is this a daily occurrence?
No! You may host as often as you like. Refer to the Upcoming Visitors page of the web site and contact us if there is a particular visitor that you would like to meet. Requests for hosts are sent to the NOCDC membership via email.
When would I do this?
Dinnertime is the most common. Occasionally, members will meet a visitor for breakfast, lunch or Sunday brunch. Members also can take the visitors out to eat at a restaurant.
How many visitors will I host?
You may host as few as one or as many visitors as you like. Upon receiving an email notification from the NOCDC about an upcoming group needing hospitality, simply reply to the message and indicate which visitors of the group you would like to host.
Must I house a visitor?
No! Visitors and their U.S. Department of State interpreters and English Language Officers stay in our area hotels. However, some prefer home stays, so let us know if you are interested in housing an international visitor.
Must I speak a foreign language?
No! If you do, that's great, but if you don't, you will be given either English-speaking visitors or those accompanied by U.S. Department of State interpreters.
Where are the visitors from?
The visitors sent to New Orleans through the IVLP and other programs are from all over the world.
Can I get reimbursed for the meal?
Normally the cost of home hospitality is not reimbursed, however you may want to check with your accountant to determine if it is tax-deductible. On some occasions the agency in D.C. does allocate funds for home hospitality, in which case the cost of the food is reimbursed by NOCDC. (NOCDC notifies its members in cases where hospitality reimbursement is available.)
If you have more questions, please call NOCDC at (504) 529-1509.