The 2026 collaboration coincides with America’s 250th anniversary and sets the table for the nationwide Global Ties Network to showcase their communities’ excellence, culinary traditions, and impact through exchange.
Washington, DC, July 9, 2026 – Global Ties U.S. is proud to announce the third consecutive year of the Dinner Diplomacy Program, a public-private collaboration with Marriott International. Launched in 2024, the Dinner Diplomacy Program is a small grants initiative that connects U.S. citizens with global leaders traveling to their communities on international exchange programs, making shared meals possible. The 2026 program will help 20 Global Ties Network member organizations showcase their local communities and their commitment to excellence and citizen diplomacy, with a particular focus on drawing in new home hospitality hosts.
“Global Ties U.S. is thrilled to partner with Marriott International for the third year of the Dinner Diplomacy Program,” said Katherine A. Brown, Ph.D., President & CEO. “This collaboration offers a powerful opportunity to strengthen our communities through the shared experience of culture and food, while deepening strategic relationships with leaders from around the world.”
The Global Ties Network is the national infrastructure for citizen diplomacy in the United States, comprising 70+ community-based nonprofit organizations that serve all 50 U.S. states and implement a variety of professional exchange programs that bring thousands of exchange participants to U.S. cities, small towns, and rural communities each year. In our last reporting year, the Global Ties Network engaged almost 20,000 U.S. citizen diplomats to connect 4,000+ international visitors to their U.S. counterparts.
To date, the Dinner Diplomacy Program has served Global Ties Network member organizations in 40 U.S. communities and seeded upwards of five dozen activities that connected U.S. communities with international visitors through shared meals. With nationwide celebrations of America’s 250th anniversary, this third year of collaboration sets the table for the Global Ties Network to showcase America’s culinary traditions and celebrate the spirit of exchange.
“The Dinner Diplomacy Program brings the power of exchange to life by creating opportunities and meaningful experiences,” said Apoorva Gandhi, Senior Vice President of Community Engagement and Business Councils. “Marriott International is pleased to continue its collaboration with Global Ties U.S. in support of a program that celebrates lasting international relationships and reflects our shared commitment to connecting people through the power of travel.”
To learn more about this partnership and to see the impact of the 2025 Dinner Diplomacy Program, visit the Global Ties U.S. website.
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Global Ties U.S. is the national leader for connecting people and communities in the United States with global leaders through international exchange programs. Our work advances U.S. strategic priorities abroad and boosts prosperity at home by harnessing the diplomatic potential of our country’s greatest asset: our people. Since 1961, Global Ties U.S. has partnered with the U.S. Department of State to implement the flagship International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) and a wide variety of other international exchange and public diplomacy programs. We proudly lead the Global Ties Network, which comprises more than 70 nonprofit organizations that serve all 50 U.S. states and host these visitor groups in their local communities.
Marriott International, Inc. (Nasdaq: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of compelling brands across luxury, premium, select, midscale, extended stay, and all-inclusive, with approximately 10,000 properties in 146 countries and territories, as of June 11, 2026. Marriott franchises, operates, and licenses hotel, residential, timeshare, yacht, outdoor, and other lodging products all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy®, its highly awarded travel platform. For more information, please visit our website at www.marriott.com, and for the latest company news, visit www.marriottnewscenter.com. In addition, connect with us on Facebook and @MarriottIntl on X and Instagram.