Travel Industry Talent Takes Centre Stage as SPAA Sparkle Awards 2026 Honour Top Professionals

Written By: Hrittik Shaw

Hrittik Shaw

Bio-Hrittik Shaw is a travel news writer with a passion for uncovering global tourism trends, aviation developments, destination insights, and hospitality innovations. He specialises in producing well-researched, data-driven, and engaging reports that simplify complex travel industry developments for a global audience. His work focuses on tourism policies, airline news, sustainable travel, infrastructure, emerging destinations, and international travel trends, helping readers stay informed about the rapidly evolving world of travel.

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September 5, 2026 12:47 PM

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Scotland has turned the spotlight on the people who help travellers turn holiday ideas into real journeys, with the 2026 SPAA Sparkle Awards recognising travel professionals from across the country’s leisure and business travel sectors. Held on September 4 at the Kimpton Hotel in Edinburgh, the event brought together consultants, managers, corporate travel specialists and agency support professionals whose work often takes place behind the scenes.

A celebration of Scotland’s travel workforce

Organised by the Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA), the awards focus on individual achievement rather than simply celebrating travel companies. The programme covers everything from leisure and luxury holidays to touring, adventure, cruising and corporate travel. Importantly, SPAA says nominees are assessed anonymously, putting emphasis on their achievements and customer service rather than the profile of their employer.

Stewart Travel and QA Travel enjoy a strong evening

Two companies emerged particularly strongly from this year’s ceremony. Stewart Travel collected two awards, with Caitlyn Bale named Touring & Adventure Consultant of the Year and Diane McKee taking the Leisure Travel Manager of the Year title. QA Travel also secured two honours, with Deborah Clark recognised as Business Travel Team Leader of the Year and Susan Main named Business Travel Consultant of the Year.

A broad picture of modern travel

The winners also demonstrate how wide the travel industry has become. Gill Steel of Murray Travel won Leisure Consultant of the Year, while Donna Payne of Hays Travel received the Luxury Consultant of the Year award. John Ferguson of Thorne Travel was recognised in the cruise category, highlighting the continuing importance of specialist knowledge as travellers increasingly look for tailored experiences rather than one-size-fits-all holidays.

Business travel gets its own spotlight

Corporate travel was another major component of the awards. Maggie Monteith of BCD Travel was named Business Travel Corporate Account Manager of the Year, while Caroline Runciman of D P & L Travel won Business Travel Operations Manager of the Year. The recognition reflects the complexity behind business journeys, where itinerary changes, traveller support and corporate requirements can make professional assistance particularly valuable.

Scotland’s tourism economy gives the awards wider significance

The ceremony comes against a backdrop of substantial activity in Scotland’s visitor economy. VisitScotland’s latest available tourism figures show that Scotland recorded approximately 92 million tourism visits in 2024, combining overnight and day tourism, while total visitor spending reached around £11.4 billion. International visitors accounted for 29% of overnight tourism visits but generated 54% of total tourism expenditure.

International travellers are becoming increasingly important

International tourism is particularly significant to Scotland’s travel industry. Official VisitScotland statistics show that overseas visitors made approximately 4.4 million trips to Scotland in 2024, spent 30.7 million nights in the country and generated almost £4 billion in expenditure. Average international visitor spending was about £912 per trip, considerably above the average spending associated with domestic overnight tourism.

The United States remains a major market

American travellers continue to represent an especially valuable market for Scotland. VisitScotland reports that the United States remained Scotland’s largest international source market in 2024, accounting for 22% of overseas trips and 36% of overseas expenditure. American visits increased by 21% compared with 2023, while spending rose 17%.

Government strategy puts value on sustainable tourism

The Scottish Government’s wider tourism policy provides another layer of context. Its national tourism strategy, Scotland Outlook 2030: Responsible Tourism For A Sustainable Future, aims to position the country as a leader in responsible tourism while ensuring that tourism benefits businesses, communities, residents and visitors. The government says recovery and future growth should support sustainable jobs and create value for communities.

People remain central to the visitor economy

That policy direction makes recognition of travel professionals particularly relevant. A 2026 Scottish Government tourism leadership group update identifies skills and organisational capability among the priorities within VisitScotland’s visitor-economy framework. Its market-development work also includes attracting inbound leisure visitors, business events and corporate travel through intermediary relationships.

Responsible growth is becoming a bigger priority

Scotland’s tourism ambitions are also moving beyond simply increasing visitor numbers. Government strategy emphasises responsible tourism, community benefits, sustainability and protecting Scotland’s natural and cultural heritage. This is increasingly important as popular destinations manage the benefits and pressures associated with growing visitor demand. A Scottish Government survey published in August 2026 found that 48% of adults in Scotland agreed tourism was good for their local area, while 12% disagreed.

Newcomers and rising stars point to the industry’s future

The Sparkle Awards also looked beyond established professionals. Aimee Campbell of Love to Travel won Newcomer of the Year, while Erin Daniels of Clyde Travel Management was named Rising Star of the Year. Gemma Harbinson of Barrhead Travel received the Agency Support Award, demonstrating that the industry is recognising not only customer-facing consultants but also the wider teams responsible for keeping travel businesses running effectively.

Recognition extends to long-term contribution

The awards’ Special Recognition category honoured Andy Stewart of ATPI, while Julie Taylor of Barrhead Travel was highly commended. Such awards add a longer-term dimension to the ceremony, acknowledging contributions that extend beyond individual sales or a single customer interaction. For an industry built around relationships and repeat travellers, that experience remains a valuable asset.

Why the awards matter to travellers

For travellers, the significance of the Sparkle Awards goes beyond who collected a trophy in Edinburgh. The event highlights an aspect of modern travel that can easily disappear behind websites, apps and automated booking systems: human expertise. When a journey involves multiple destinations, specialist experiences, cruises, luxury arrangements or business commitments, experienced travel professionals can play a valuable role in coordinating the details and responding when plans change.

Scotland’s travel story is ultimately about people

As Scotland works to strengthen its international appeal while developing a more sustainable visitor economy, the people connecting travellers with its destinations remain an important part of that story. The 2026 Sparkle Awards offer a timely reminder that behind Scotland’s mountains, islands, cities and historic attractions is an industry of professionals helping visitors experience them. For travellers planning their next Scottish escape, that human connection may be just as memorable as the destination itself.