CHOGM 2026: What It Means for Property Owners in Antigua

The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) runs in St. John's from November 1 to 4, with the Business, Women's, Youth and People's Forums alongside it. Antigua and Barbuda is the smallest country ever to host it.

Heads of government, delegations, journalists and business visitors will all need somewhere to stay and a way to get around. If you own a villa, apartment or home here, this guide covers what the week means for you and how to make the most of it.

How many people are coming

Organisers are planning around the last summit, in Samoa in 2024, which drew about 5,000 delegates. On top of the official delegations, police preparing security for the summit expect more than 100 dignitaries, each of the four forums is planning for around 250 to 300 people, and every country's delegation brings its own media, security teams and support staff.

By June, the national accommodations committee was already handling bookings for 37 of the 56 Commonwealth countries. About 70 property owners had registered to host guests, nearly 50 of them short-term rentals.

"This is not just about hotels," Patrice Simon, Executive Director of the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association and co-lead of the CHOGM accommodations sub-committee, told the Antigua Observer in June. "We need villas, guesthouses, apartments and short-term rentals."

Getting on the official accommodation list

Delegates book through an official CHOGM accommodation portal, and only approved properties are listed. To be approved, a property must register, pass an inspection and be signed off by the Ministry of Tourism's Quality Assurance Unit. The inspection covers cleanliness and housekeeping, fire safety, water quality and sanitation, security, and the overall guest experience.

The listings on the official site already include villas and apartments alongside hotels, many offering special CHOGM rates.

With less than three weeks to go, time is short. If you want to be listed, contact the Ministry of Tourism or the Antigua and Barbuda Hotels and Tourism Association now to ask whether registration and inspections are still open.

Booking guests directly

Not everyone coming for CHOGM books through the official portal. Journalists, forum speakers, business visitors and advisers often arrange their own stays, and many will want a quiet villa or apartment over a busy hotel. If your property is ready, you can market it to them directly.

Listings on the official site give a sense of pricing. A two-bedroom villa in Cedar Valley, for example, is listed at US$200 a night before taxes. One English Harbour property is taking non-refundable bookings for the summit period, with half paid upfront.

If you take guests that week:

Put your terms in writing. Set the deposit, the cancellation policy and the minimum stay before you accept a booking.

Plan for people who are working. Reliable Wi-Fi, a proper desk, and backup water and power matter more than usual.

Sort out transport. Offer airport transfers, and be clear about the drive time to St. John's.

Check your insurance. Make sure your policy covers paying guests, not just your own use.

Deep clean and inspect first. The Ministry's inspection list is a good checklist even if you are not on the official portal.

Getting around that week

Expect delays in and around St. John's. The official traffic plan for the summit has not been published yet, but the rehearsals and the work under way give a good idea of what to expect.

Lockdowns in the city centre. July's security exercise closed the area between Newgate Street, New Street, Parliament Drive and Corn Alley for whole mornings, as the traffic chief warned at the time.

Diversions around town. Drivers were routed via Independence Drive, American Road and Wireless Road to bypass the city.

Park and ride. On September 28 the Prime Minister said the government is considering parking cars at the Rising Sun Grounds and shuttling guests to the main venue, with the area around it cordoned off, as Caribpulse reported.

Roadworks on delegation routes. Public Works crews are patching and resurfacing the roads delegations will use, including Hodges Bay, the routes to English Harbour and Nelson's Dockyard, and High, Newgate and St Mary's Streets in town, working six days a week until the summit, the Observer reported on October 4.

If you have guests or staff on the move that week, build in extra time, schedule cleaning and check-ins away from peak convoy hours, and keep guests updated. We will add the official road closures here as soon as they are announced.

The value lasts beyond the week

"CHOGM is not only about hosting delegates for one week," Simon said. "We want CHOGM to benefit communities across Antigua and Barbuda, not just traditional tourism hubs."

We agree. Visitors who stay in a home rather than a resort see more of the island, and some come back to holiday, buy or invest. A property brought up to inspection standard for CHOGM will also rent better all year round, long after the delegations have gone home.

For the investment side of the summit, read what CHOGM means for the island and its property market.

A property brought up to inspection standard for CHOGM will rent better all year round.

How MORA can help

If you would like your property to earn during CHOGM, or simply to be ready for guests, we can help.

Getting guest-ready. A walkthrough of your property, a clear list of what needs fixing, and our Home Care & Repair team to do the work before guests arrive.

Villa and short-term rental management. We handle bookings, guests, cleaning and maintenance, so you don't have to. See our property management services.

Home watch for owners abroad. Regular checks and a single point of contact on the island while you're away.

You work directly with an experienced team that lives here, led by Monique and Ray. Email hello@morarealtyantigua.com, or call or WhatsApp +1 268 779 4437.

Sources: Antigua Observer, June 19, 2026; Antigua Observer, July 7, 2026; Caribpulse, September 28, 2026; Antigua Observer, October 4, 2026; the official CHOGM 2026 accommodation listings. Figures for registered properties and countries are as reported in June. This article reflects the situation as of mid-October 2026.