Antigua and Barbuda is intensifying efforts to attract more international conferences, meetings and incentive travel programmes as tourism officials market the destination at one of the region’s leading business events.

Representatives from the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority (ABTA) are participating in FIEXPO Latin America 2026 in San José, Costa Rica, where they are promoting the twin-island nation as a premier destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences and Exhibitions (MICE).

Chief Marketing Officer Charmaine Spencer and Marketing Officer Alfonsina Olmos are representing Antigua and Barbuda at the event, which brings together meeting planners, international associations, event organizers, policymakers and tourism stakeholders from across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Tourism Minister Charles Fernandez said the country’s participation forms part of a broader strategy to diversify the tourism product and expand into high-value segments of the industry.

“Business events and conferences represent a high-value segment of the tourism industry. Our success in attracting and hosting major international meetings has demonstrated that Antigua and Barbuda can compete with the best destinations in the world,” Fernandez said.

He added that FIEXPO provides an important opportunity to engage directly with decision-makers and forge new partnerships that could lead to future conferences and business events being hosted in Antigua and Barbuda.

CMO of the Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority meets with tourism partner

The destination’s presence at the event comes as its MICE sector continues to gain international recognition. In 2025, Antigua and Barbuda was named the Caribbean’s Leading Meetings and Conference Destination at the World Travel Awards, following a series of successful regional and international events hosted throughout the year.

The country also recently hosted the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association’s Caribbean Travel Marketplace and is preparing to welcome delegates from across the Commonwealth for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) later this year.

Spencer said FIEXPO offers a valuable platform to showcase the destination’s growing capabilities and strengthen relationships with key industry players.

“The MICE sector has become an increasingly important pillar of Antigua and Barbuda’s tourism industry. We have demonstrated our ability to successfully host events ranging from regional meetings to major international conferences, and that reputation continues to grow,” she said.

According to Spencer, one of the major trends emerging from this year’s FIEXPO is the increasing demand among Latin American buyers and event planners for new destinations that can offer unique experiences for meetings, conventions and incentive travel programmes.

She believes Antigua and Barbuda is well-positioned to capitalize on that demand through its combination of modern meeting facilities, strong airlift, cultural attractions and welcoming environment.

Tourism officials say the destination’s ability to blend business with leisure experiences continues to make it an attractive choice for conference organizers seeking memorable and productive event locations.

The Antigua and Barbuda Tourism Authority expects its participation at FIEXPO to help generate new business opportunities and further strengthen the country’s standing within the global meetings and events industry.