Skift Reveals Finalists for 2026 IDEA Awards From Over 490 Entries

Skift has announced the finalists for its eighth-annual 2026 IDEA Awards, drawn from a pool of more than 490 global entries. The program honors organizations driving change across travel and hospitality, with independent expert judges scheduled to reveal the winners on August 26.

How are the award categories structured this year?

The 2026 program organizes its finalists into seven distinct criteria groups [1]. The "Industry Innovators" category focuses on forward-thinking projects that make a consumer impact, while "Change Makers" highlights organizations elevating travel as a force for good [1]. "Creative Thinkers" recognizes marketing, strategy, and technology efforts [1].

Service providers addressing business challenges fall under "Problem Solvers," and tech providers offering solutions are grouped in "Travel Technology" [1]. Skift also included dedicated categories for "Short-Term Rentals" to recognize those shaping that specific market, and a "Meetings & Events" category presented by Skift Meetings to celebrate suppliers in the business events space [1].

Which hotel brands lead the Industry Innovators shortlist?

In the hospitality sub-category of Industry Innovators, several major brands and independent properties secured nominations for specific operational and guest-facing projects. Marriott International earned two corporate nods: one for its "Outdoor Collection by Marriott Bonvoy" and another for transforming loyalty upgrades via a "Complimentary Upgrade Engine" [1]. A regional branch, the Marriott Waikiki Collection, was also nominated for a scalable embedded philanthropy model titled "Mai Tais and Burgers" [1].

The Venetian Resort Las Vegas was recognized for its strategy of reinventing a megaresort and creating future luxury hospitality without constructing new buildings [1]. The Social Hub received a nomination for its Rome property, and Virgin Hotels Collection was shortlisted for its "Blueprint for Purposeful Travel" [1]. Miraval Resorts & Spas earned a spot alongside Humin for setting standards in measurable wellness, while Evermore Orlando Resort was highlighted for redefining luxury through "Relational Wellness" [1].

Who is driving change in leadership and community impact?

The "Change Makers" group highlights individuals and brands pushing for progress in leadership, diversity, and community integration. In the Leadership category, Skift recognized Claire Chiang of the Banyan Group for weaving craft and conscience into global hospitality, and Charlie MacGregor of The Social Hub [1]. FIVE Holdings was shortlisted for building an ambitious "Lifestyle Universe," while Hapi's Luis Segredo was noted as a leader behind connected hospitality [1]. Destination leaders also made the cut, including Petra Stušek of Ljubljana Tourism for regenerative city tourism, Bob Jameson of Visit Fort Worth, and Jalsa Urubshurow of Nomadic Expeditions for cultural preservation in Mongolia [1].

For the People & Community category, Banyan Group received a nod for 30 years of hotel retail acting as a force for community good via the Banyan Tree Gallery [1]. Iberostar Group was recognized for protecting nature and empowering communities through destination stewardship [1]. Other community finalists include Amigo Tours for reviving heritage in Yaxunah, Experience Kissimmee for celebrating Latin culinary heritage, and Huna Totem Corporation for its culture-driven approach [1]. Intrepid Travel and Ljubljana Tourism were also nominated for using tourism as a form of reconciliation and co-creating with residents, respectively [1].

How are airlines and business travel evolving?

The Industry Innovators category also tracks advancements in aviation and corporate travel. Airline finalists include Bangalore International Airport Limited for payment-embedded loyalty innovation, and Virgin Australia for redefining flight searches using conversational AI [1]. Lufthansa Innovation Hub was nominated for reimagining the passenger's last mile, and Tradewind Aviation for making regional travel personal [1]. Saudia received a nomination for "The Coolest Ihram," Tangerine & Buzz for an airline soft product collection, and the Massachusetts Port Authority for its Logan Airport Remote Terminal at Framingham [1].

In business travel, AI and compliance dominate the shortlisted projects. Oversee, HRS, and Perk were all nominated for AI-powered corporate travel management and optimization tools [1]. American Express Global Business Travel was recognized for reinventing hotel sourcing, and also shared a nomination with SAP Concur for redefining business travel and expense [1]. Fragomen Nomadic was highlighted for powering cross-border compliance, and Holafly for global enterprise connections [1].

Which destinations and tour operators made the shortlist?

Tourism boards and operators were recognized for unique campaigns and impact models. Discover Puerto Rico earned a spot for bringing its culture to life during the Super Bowl via the Plena Game Report [1]. Ljubljana Tourism was nominated for turning its quietest months into a festival called LUV Fest, while WeatherPromise was shortlisted for giving travelers confidence during the shoulder season [1]. Evaneos was recognized for combining AI with local expertise in Indonesia, and Tourism Kamloops for its "Freeride Ain't Free" initiative [1].

Among tour operators, Intrepid Travel was nominated for decolonizing internal philanthropy and focusing on trust-based giving [1]. Jacada Travel was recognized for creating a blueprint for scalable positive impact in luxury tourism, alongside Butterfield & Robinson and Italian Fix [1].

Who are the rising stars and sustainability champions?

The Change Makers criteria group also honors emerging talent and environmental efforts. Rising Star finalists include Camila Narino of Furnished Finder for shaping workforce mobility, and Yuliia Gelion of SkyTeam for aviation sustainability [1]. Miles Partnership saw two directors nominated: Justin Gibbs for strategy and insights, and August Erickson for development services focused on accessibility [1]. Bloom was also recognized for its contrarian OTA-first country strategy [1].

In the Sustainability category, Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort was highlighted as an independent resort redefining sustainable tourism without compromise [1]. Havila Voyages and Huna Totem were also named as finalists for reshaping the future of travel through sustainable practices [1].