IN recognition of her far-reaching impact, Sandals Foundation Executive Director Heidi Clarke has been selected to receive the prestigious ‘Trailblazer Award: Women Shaping the Future of Travel,’ as part of the 2026 Skift IDEA Awards.

The Skift IDEA Awards are the travel industry’s way of recognising excellence in design, creativity, and innovation with winners being a beacon of where the industry is heading.

Presented in partnership with Women Leading Travel, the Trailblazer Award honours a woman whose career demonstrates exceptional leadership, resilience, and influence in shaping the future of travel.

Clarke, who heads the philanthropic arm of Sandals and Beaches resorts, has harnessed the power of tourism to strengthen communities and expand opportunity across the Caribbean.

Sandals Foundation Executive Director Heidi Clarke in her element with one of the many children who benefit from the work of the foundation.

Since the launch of the not-for-profit Sandals Foundation in 2009, Clarke has led initiatives that improve lives across the Caribbean, with a focus on education, community development, and environmental conservation in the nine islands where Sandals and Beaches resorts operate.

Under her care, the foundation has touched more than 1.8 million lives, supporting more than 2,600 schools, close to 200 large-scale conservation initiatives, and mobilising more than 32,500 volunteers across the region, among other extraordinary projects.

“It is truly an honour to be recognised, and I am immensely proud of what our team, together with our incredible partners, has made possible,” said Clarke.

“I believe the success of any business should also be measured by the opportunities it creates for others to rise, empowering generations and strengthening communities. Tourism has an extraordinary footprint, and when we harness that reach with purpose it can be a tremendous force for positive change across our Caribbean region,” added Clarke.

Her work has championed tourism as a force for positive, lasting change, bringing together communities, governments, non-profit organisations, businesses and travellers to address local needs and strengthen the destinations that sustain the industry.

Born and raised in Jamaica, she has spent nearly two decades developing programs that strengthen communities, expand economic opportunity and advance environmental stewardship throughout the Caribbean.

“Heidi is a true champion for the Caribbean and has dedicated her career to creating opportunities for its people and building a stronger future for the region,” said Adam Stewart, executive chairman of Sandals and Beaches Resorts and president of Sandals Foundation. “She leads with tremendous heart and purpose, and with an unwavering belief in the potential of our Caribbean communities. Her work through the Sandals Foundation is at the heart of who we are at Sandals Resorts and Beaches Resorts, and reflects our deep and enduring commitment to the region we call home. This recognition is incredibly well-deserved, and we could not be prouder of Heidi and the contributions she continues to make,” added Stewart.

The Skift IDEA Awards are now in their eighth year. The 2026 winners were evaluated through an initial review by the Skift Editorial Team, followed by an independent judging panel of travel and business leaders representing top hospitality organisations.