This year's judging panel brings together an extraordinary breadth of expertise from the founders who shaped the British spa industry to the operational experts who’ve run them. Between them, they represent the full spectrum of what makes a truly outstanding spa.
Meet our 2026 judging panel...
Caroline Hirons
Caroline Hirons is considered the most powerful woman in the skincare industry. Starting her career on the shop floor, and continuing the beauty industry legacy of her mother and grandmother, Caroline Hirons has devoted her life to skin. A world-renowned expert and advanced facialist, her no-nonsense, science-first approach and extraordinary depth of knowledge have earned her the titles ‘The Queen of Skincare’ and ‘The Most Powerful Woman in Beauty’. Caroline has consulted for leading global brands and retailers, been awarded the CEW Achiever Award, authored the bestselling skincare book of all time, is the Aesthetics Ambassador for The British Beauty Council and has twice won BABTAC’s Outstanding Contribution to the Industry award.
Noella Gabriel
Noella is the CEO and Co-Founder of ELEMIS. With more than 35 years of experience in the industry, she has played a pivotal role in shaping the brand from its inception, drawing on her background as a beauty therapist, aromatherapist, and nutritionist. Internationally recognised for her expertise in treatments, education, and product innovation, Noella has been instrumental in establishing ELEMIS as a leader in personalised, results-driven skincare.
Sue Harmsworth MBE
Sue Harmsworth MBE has been a pioneer in the spa and wellness industry for over 50 years. Founder of global brand ESPA, which she sold in 2017, Sue has designed over 500 award-winning spas in 65 countries and developed innovative products and wellbeing programmes worldwide.
Honoured with an MBE and multiple global awards, Sue now focuses on preventative health and uniting the worlds of medicine and wellbeing. Sitting on the board of the Global Wellness Institute and various other advisory boards, she also advises owners and investors on integrative wellness, medical destinations, aesthetics, and skincare.
Fuelled by her commitment to enhancing spa care for cancer patients and championing wellness in public health, Sue founded the Standards Authority for Touch in Cancer Care in 2020. The SATCC is a registered charity that sets the gold standard in spa holistic cancer care, by connecting expert oncology training, spa therapists and wellness providers with those touched by cancer. To date the SATCC has trained 600 spas in the UK & Ireland.Andrew Stembridge
Andrew Stembridge
Hospitality Executive Andrew Stembridge has spent more than two decades creating, relaunching and repositioning luxury hotels and hospitality brands. As former Executive Director of Iconic Luxury Hotels, he helped shape a collection of some of Britain's most celebrated hotels, including Cliveden House, Chewton Glen and The Lygon Arms.
Widely recognised for his expertise in luxury hospitality, wellness, brand development and guest experience, Andrew has built a reputation for transforming distinctive properties into market-leading destinations.
Named Hotelier of the Year in 2010, he is a former Chairman of the Master Innholders and a Fellow of the Institute of Hospitality. Andrew recently concluded his role with Iconic Luxury Hotels and will announce his next hospitality venture shortly.
Oliver Patrick
Co-Founder of Future Practice and Clinical Director of Pillar Wellbeing, Oliver is a physiologist and leading authority on lifestyle medicine, longevity and evidence-based wellness.
Cathy Ball
Multi-award-winning Spa Director and hospitality leader, Cathy Ball brings over 30 years of expertise in the hotel, spa and wellness industry.
Since being appointed to Calcot Hotel’s board in 2003 to lead in the opening of the new spa, the hotel’s membership and wellness offering has been a consistent and significant revenue driver, supporting the growth of Calcot Hotel from 20 to 35 bedrooms, and elevating the brand’s growth from one hotel to a portfolio of four thriving properties with over 450 employees.
Most recently, Cathy assisted in the vision and execution of Calcot’s £5 million spa expansion project, staying on as a consultant for the final stages of the project following her retirement. It is the most recent winner of Boutique Hotelier’s Hotel Spa of the Year and Professional Beauty Hotel Spa of the year. Hotel Catey’s Spa Professional of the year 2016; Runner up of European Spa Manager of the year 2010; Professional Beauty Top 100 Industry influencers 2020.
Beverley Bayes
Beverley Bayes, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Sparcstudio is an award-winning spa and hospitality designer renowned for her unique signature style that effortlessly blends form and function with informality and a touch of ‘barefoot luxury’.
With projects in the UK, Europe and around the world, she specialises in the wellness/ fitness hotel and Spa sectors. Recognised as one of the top 25 designers in the UK in The Brit List Designers of 2021 & in 2024 & 2025. Beverley’s work, with her team at Sparcstudio has helped to transform and create ‘game-changing’ immersive, hotel spa and wellness facilities in locations including Calcot Spa & Grainstore fitness club, Dormy House Spa, Cottonmill Club Spa at Sopwell House, South Lodge Spa & Reeds Luxury lodges for Exclusive Collection, Coworth Park Spa for the Dorchester Collection & Third space sites across London.
Beverley is also known for her human-centric & biophilic approach, always seeking to establish a link to the outside and nature. This is evident in projects including The Spa & Reeds Lodges at South Lodge, & Aqua Sana Forest spa concept at Longford Forest, Ireland, Longleat Forest, & Woburn Forest.
Beverley works alongside Sparcstudio co-directors Neil Fairplay and Tom Howell on the company’s spa and wellness projects which have recently included the Coworth Park Spa Dorchester Collection, Champneys Mottram Hall and the 16,985 sq feet Harrods Hair & Beauty Salon, within the knightsbridge store.
Beverley is regularly invited to share her expertise and experience on boards and panels as well as contributing to industry publications & articles providing insights and experience on subjects such as sustainability, future trends in wellbeing design, Biophilic design etc.
Amanda Afiya
After working at the Hyde Park Hotel (now the Mandarin Oriental) in the late 1980s, Amanda trained as a journalist with The Caterer. She worked there for 27 years, working her way up from a reporter and sub-editor to the role of editor, overseeing the publication of the weekly magazine, daily online content, and group events such the Cateys and Hotelier of the Year.
Today, she runs her own business offering editorial services and advising operators on PR, marketing and communications, and careers. She is also a founding director of Sauce Intelligence, a hotel and restaurant consultancy that offers mystery guest audits and training solutions for independent and group businesses.
Amanda is a trustee and director of the Royal Academy of Culinary Arts and its charity Adopt-A-School and is an ambassador of Hospitality Action.
She has collaborated in the writing of three cookery books - The Hand & Flowers Cookbook, Michael Wignall’s recently launched eponymous cookbook, and Josh and Holly Eggleton’s forthcoming book celebrating 20 years at The Pony Chew Magna.
Amanda has recently joined respected book publisher Jon Croft Editions as a consultant where she helps hospitality professionals and businesses fulfil their dream of creating their own book.
Sarah Camilleri
Editorial Director and Publisher of European Spa Magazine, Sarah has spent more than two decades reporting on the global spa and wellness industry and is widely recognised as one of the sector's leading editorial voices.
Unlike traditional industry awards, the Good Spa Guide Awards combine consumer voice with independent expert assessment recognising spas that excel not only operationally but in delivering outstanding guest experiences. The awards celebrate hotel spas, day spas, destination spas, innovation and sustainability across the UK.
Scarlet Spy
14th July 2026
