A tectonic shift in conferences where decisions get made
by Cdr. Bud Slabbaert
2026 will be a regional transformation moment for hosting international conferences in the Caribbean. CHOGM is Antigua’s moon-landing moment, and the rest of the Caribbean will be watching. It is an “historic moment” that will showcase Antigua globally and bring unparalleled economic benefits. It will put competition pressure on the region. This isn’t a beauty contest.
CHOGM, or the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, is a biennial flagship summit where presidents, prime ministers, and ministers from all 56 Commonwealth nations meet to set priorities, negotiate policies, and enhance cooperation. As the Commonwealth's highest decision-making forum, it addresses key global and regional issues.
The CHOGM meeting places Antigua at the center of global attention as 6,000 delegates will be attending. Not forgetting the international press corps that will highlight Antigua internationally. This visibility strengthens Antigua’s credibility on the world stage as a host and leading destination for future summits, forums, and high-level negotiations. It may have the looks of the WEF (World Economic Forum) in Davos Switzerland. This position may bring significant economic advantages.
What other locations in the region can learn from how Antigua is preparing for CHOGM 2026 and what each can do to rise and be best positioned to compete with Antigua and how hosting may reshape a country’s long-term position as a global conference destination. It will be a strategic national effort to bring infrastructure and hospitality accommodations to top levels. It will serve as a proof of concept for high-level security, smooth and efficient logistics for thousands of delegates, and airport and airlift operations. The upgrades will remain and national readiness will remain in place long after the symposium.
A stronger conference and events sector reduces reliance on traditional tourism and contributes to economic diversification. Local businesses, from hotels to transport, to restaurants and catering, gain experience in handling large-scale international events. It will bring significant economic benefits to local businesses such as taxis, tour operators, and shops. Cultural programming and national showcases during an event play a role that should not be underestimated as they will strengthen tourism and ethnic identity.
Active involvement of the Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF), which is running a full CHOGM planning course and coordinating security and logistics for the event. The ABDF is conducting specialized CHOGM planning and coordination training to handle the influx of leaders and delegates. A two-week Operational Planning Seminar brings together security planners, military personnel, and technical teams. Training is supported by Canadian security experts, strengthening intelligence planning and operational readiness. Security protocols, transportation flows, and emergency readiness are being modernized which can also be beneficial in hurricane disaster situations.
What can the other islands do to catch up meet similar standards. The manifesto for high-level conferences on an island in the region might read: We believe the Caribbean is entering a new era, one where islands are not just destinations, but decision-making platforms. The world will look to this region with new expectations. Our island is ready to meet them. We believe conferences should not be defined by size, but by impact. Not by spectacle, but by substance. Not by isolation, but by intelligent connection. We are more than an island. It is a crossroads, a meeting point where languages mix, ideas collide, and momentum begins. We believe the future belongs to islands that can host the world without losing themselves. Islands that are open, multilingual, modern, and confident. Islands that understand that access is power. We are the readiest to lead the Caribbean’s next chapter in global conferencing. Where clarity meets connection and where leaders meet the future.
When it is about smaller events like executive retreats the manifesto would be: Our island is where leaders go when the stakes are high. It is “THE QUIET ROOM” and most exclusive island for leaders who need clarity, privacy, and excellence, that makes one think better, to negotiate a deal, to imagine the future, and to solve the problem no one else can solve.. There is a moment in every major decision when the noise becomes too loud. The emails, meetings, deadlines and pressure and then there is our island. It is not a conference destination for everyone. It is for the few who understand that privacy is power, that focus is a competitive advantage, and that the right environment can change the outcome of a conversation.
After Antigua hosts CHOGM, when the region is recalibrating, other islands needs to step forward with a bold, differentiated identity. Destinations that offer unique experiences and raise standards are likely to attract conference opportunities. It can become the island that is a catalyst, a place where ideas sharpen, conversations deepen, and futures take shape. Where the world meets the region, and the region meets the world.