When asked how the 2026 OCA Annual Convention was and what will be one of the fondest memories of their time on St. Kitts & Nevis in the Eastern Caribbean, many OCA members attending the February event will answer with one word: “Amazing.”
“Amazing” could also be used to describe the weather, camaraderie among the more than 180 attendees, the Park Hyatt St. Kitts venue and the island nation’s variety of terrain and sandy beaches.
“‘Amazing,’ to me is a different level of a descriptive …,” said 2026 OCA Chair Bill Luttmer of A&A Safety Inc., who when asked if “amazing” describes this year’s convention, replied: “Yes, I really do … I feel like everything we did was pulled off seamlessly – it exceeded expectations!”
While OCA annual conventions have been held in many places since the association began the yearly trips more than 50 years ago, this year’s February 7-14 destination was the first to be on the dual-island nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
“We’ve had some European convention sites lately, and Bill and Lori (Luttmer) really wanted that atmosphere of ‘people being together,’ which you don’t get with your European (venues) because there is so much going on,” said OCA Director of Member Events Dave Rule, who works with the association’s member leaders in identifying the convention spots. “This was more confined,” – said Rule of St. Kitts and Nevis – “as there are only three big hotels on the two islands.”
Located approximately 1,250 miles southeast of Miami, St. Kitts and Nevis were ruled at different times in their history by both the British and French before earning independence in 1983. St. Kitts, where OCA members spent most their time, is the largest of the two islands and is about 100 square miles in size. For comparison, the cities of Cincinnati, Cleveland and Toledo range from 80-to-84 square miles.
“The Park Hyatt St. Kitt’s was perfect,” said Rule, as he described how each room provided ocean views looking toward Nevis. “We had 95 of the 120 rooms … So, it was mostly OCA people there. That’s really the atmosphere that Bill and Lori wanted – for the group to have a lot of time to hang out together …”
Luttmer said when selecting which of the islands’ hotels to choose for the 2026 Annual Convention’s venue, the Park Hyatt felt right. “This is the spot,” he remembers saying on the initial tour, adding that its accommodations made all the difference. “… Whether our folks wanted to see people in the industry or not, you were going to be together,” he laughed of OCA’s high occupancy of the hotel. “I think that is why we do these trips. That was my vision with Lori; we are big proponents of having the group be together for meaningful time as much as possible.”
With nearly one planned group event each day – from a Prayer Breakfast and Super Bowl party to theme events, a sunset cruise and more – the 182 attendees from 26 OCA member companies had plenty of opportunities for meaningful time together.
Following Saturday’s arrival and welcome reception, OCA members convened for Sunday’s Kick-Off Prayer Breakfast to share fellowship and learn about the week’s events and culture of St. Kitts and Nevis. Following an afternoon of opportunities involving dolphin trips and a train tour of former sugar cane fields and mills along the same rails once critical to the islands’ sugar production and economy, OCA members reconvened for a Super Bowl 60 watch party – which saw the Seattle Seahawks defeat the New England Patriots 29-13.
With Monday and Tuesday providing further opportunities to enjoy the islands – from ATV exploring, rainforest hikes, ziplining, shopping and more – Wednesday’s group activity day provided another “amazing” day of camaraderie.
“The Amazing Race – OCA Annual Convention Style” premiered with nearly every attendee participating in the St. Kitt adventure that was part scavenger hunt, exploration and learning, teambuilding, sightseeing, competition and more. Teams comprised of 20 convention goers boarded open-air jeeps to travel throughout the island and collect a variety of facts, items and photos and learn various local phrases with help from their local drivers and residents. At the final stop, members congregated for rum punch and other refreshments.
“It was surprising how much fun people had,” said Rule. “Some of the groups were hyper competitive, and others were like: ‘This is just a scenic tour; just get us to where we need to be at 1 o’clock,” he laughed. “… Our people are competitive; they compete against each other (for bids and work). Here they competed with each other. So that was a lot of fun.
“It’s a beautiful place to drive around; it has some of the most beautiful scenery as any of the islands I’ve seen in the Caribbean,” Rule added. “I think people really enjoyed that – it was a tour of the island without being a tour.”
The annual convention’s final two days continued the fun of both small and large group activities. Along with Thursday’s sailing, snorkeling and shopping and Friday’s 4×4 adventures and tours, the last two nights provided events for OCA’s contingent to take part. Thursday evening was the convention’s Theme Event at Carambola – a venue named after the star fruit – featuring nice dining, a local craft market and beach. Friday evening was highlighted with a sunset catamaran sail.
While the 2026 OCA Annual Convention can be summarized as amazing, Rule delved a little deeper about the success of the association’s first visit to St. Kitts and Nevis. “People loved that we had something new this year, and that we had multiple events where the whole group was together.”
Seven(th) Heaven – aka Paris in 2027
Announced in St. Kitts is the location of the 2027 OCA Annual Convention – Paris, France, March 10-17.
“No matter what time of year it is, there is so much to do in and around Paris,” said Rule of OCA’s first convention in France’s largest city and capital. “Obviously, Paris has all the cultural things – the Eiffel Tower; the Seine River; the museums, which are easy and fun to do; and really good, wonderful dining. But there are a lot of really nice part- and day-long trips outside the city to visit, the chateaus, to go to Champagne Country, to go to Normandy … I think it’s just a great cultural experience.”
And as OCA takes pride in providing access to new things for members, Rule is planning the same for Paris in 2027. “Our approach is going to be that we are going to show you new and different things that you probably have never experienced …”
Asked if the success of the OCA-style Amazing Race may travel to France, Rule answered: “Perhaps … Think of what we might do in Paris?”
More information about the 2027 OCA Convention to come.