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In a move destined to leave an indelible footprint on the cobbled streets of Antigua, Guatemala, the city’s UNESCO-listed heart is about to host what could be the most transformational tourism event of the year: REMOTE Immersion 2025. And true to its name, it’s not just an event—it’s a movement.

From 19 to 22 May, REMOTE Immersion Antigua is no ordinary gabfest of travel agents and PowerPoint presentations. It’s a carefully choreographed ballet of visionaries, innovators, and hospitality trailblazers—all passionately committed to reshaping the narrative of tourism across Latin America and the Caribbean. With 215 handpicked participants descending on the colonial jewel of Central America, this is a gathering of minds with purpose.

Antigua

“Some are joining us for the first time. Others are long-time REMOTERS. All of them bring purpose—and they are the essence of REMOTE,” declared Marcelo Pontes, Commercial Director of REMOTE Latin America, with a conviction that might just convince even the most jaded of frequent flyers.

Curated Encounters in a Colonial Wonderland

This isn’t a cattle call. The REMOTE ethos is refreshingly personal. Across three mornings, participants will engage in up to 51 intimate, curated meetings—not in sterile convention halls, mind you, but in atmospheric, soul-soaked corners of Antigua. We’re talking about settings where the walls whisper stories from the Spanish colonial era.

Representing 15 Latin American countries, 85 boutique lodges and destination management companies (DMCs) are meeting with 86 elite travel designers from markets as diverse as Australia, Belgium, Argentina, and the United States. The result? A bubbling pot of ideas, strategies, and partnerships with serious potential to redefine the travel experience in the region.

Afternoons promise immersive local experiences. There will be no tired sightseeing here—instead, guests will dive headlong into cultural rituals, natural wonders, and artisanal encounters designed to forge memories and meaningful understanding.

Evenings? Think less of conference dinner and more of fireside storytelling. REMOTE’s “Talks & Seeds” sessions wrap the day in inspiration, offering insights that aim not just to inform but to stir the soul.

Humans & Technology: Harmony, Not Hostility

This year’s Talks & Seeds series explores a timely and timeless theme: Humans & Technology—Embracing Synergy in Tourism. In a world where AI threatens to do everything but pour your morning cuppa, REMOTE is taking a more considered stance. Technology isn’t the villain—it’s a partner—but only if it learns to play nice with humanity.

Award-winning archaeologist Francisco Estrada-Belli is headlining the series, whose work with LiDAR redefines how we uncover ancient Mayan cities. Also taking the stage: Karolina Guilcapi of Sated Ventures, who’s pioneering the delectable art of culinary anthropology; Elizabeth Frels from Ker & Downey, who’s taming AI to elevate—not erase—the human touch in travel planning; and a powerhouse multinational panel dissecting the Latin American travel supply chain like a well-cooked empanada.

A Sustainability Blueprint, One Brick at a Time

But let’s not romanticise it—Antigua is more than photo ops and artisan wares. REMOTE is walking the talk on sustainability with boots on Guatemalan soil.

The event’s sustainability strategy—meticulously aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals and GSTC Criteria—was crafted in partnership with the NGO Regenera—the result? A roadmap that’s localised, practical, and impactful.

From cutting single-use plastics and trimming energy use to championing clean cookstove projects that benefit 14 rural families, the sustainability initiatives here aren’t decorative—they’re essential. Over 70 tonnes of CO₂ will be offset through the Estufas Chispa initiative, delivering a clean air legacy for families cooking over open fires for generations.

Even the event’s footprint is deliberate. REMOTE’s team has teamed up with 11 local hotels and Viaventure Central America to ensure that every dish, pillow, and interaction embodies respect for Antigua’s cultural identity and natural heritage. And in a city whose heartbeat echoes through its volcanic vistas and vibrant plazas, that’s not just a nicety—it’s necessary.

Planting a Legacy: Tourism for the People, By the People

If REMOTE is the mind, then REMOTE Legacy is the heart.

On 21 May, a free Spanish-language event—co-hosted with Guatemala’s tourism chamber CAMTUR—will welcome students, local guides, tourism professionals, and community leaders to a morning of inspiring talks. It’s an offering for the global elite and the people who make tourism possible. After all, tourism without locals is like a postcard without a stamp—nice to look at but going nowhere.

The program will feature voices from Guatemala, Costa Rica, and the United States, each adding colour to the conversation around synergy in tourism. And in this humble, highland setting, synergy isn’t just jargon. It’s the quiet understanding that the future of travel lies in cooperation, not conquest.

Why It Matters

Let’s not beat around the bougainvillea: Latin America has always been a canvas of dreams for the global traveller. But this region stands at a crossroads like the rest of the world. Will tourism be a force for commodification—or a catalyst for change?

REMOTE Immersion Antigua is making a bold bid for the latter. In a world of increasingly algorithmic travel, it’s reminding us of the irreplaceable value of conversation, connection, and—yes—a well-brewed Guatemalan coffee shared over a story.