Scotland’s Travel Industry Stars Shine at SPAA Sparkle Awards 2026

Scotland’s outstanding travel professionals have been recognised at the 2026 Sparkle Awards, with winners from across the leisure and business travel sectors celebrated at an awards event in Edinburgh. Sparkle is the only travel agent award scheme where nominees are judged anonymously.

The Scottish Passenger Agents’ Association (SPAA) Sparkle Awards were held on Friday 4 September at the Kimpton Hotel, Edinburgh, recognising the individuals whose expertise, service and commitment make a difference to Scotland’s travelling public and to the businesses they support.

Now firmly established in the travel industry calendar, the Sparkle Awards put the spotlight on individual achievement, celebrating front-line consultants, managers, account managers, team leaders and those providing vital agency support.

Stewart Travel and QA Travel both enjoyed double success in this year’s awards. Caitlyn Bale of Stewart Travel was named Touring & Adventure Consultant of the Year, while colleague Diane McKee took the Leisure Travel Manager of the Year title.

QA Travel also collected two awards in the business travel categories, with Deborah Clark named Business Travel Team Leader of the Year and Susan Main winning Business Travel Consultant of the Year.
Barrhead Travel’s Gemma Harbinson won the Agency Support Award, while her colleague Julie Taylor was highly commended in the Special Recognition Award.

The Special Recognition Award itself was presented to Andy Stewart of ATPI.

The full list of 2026 SPAA Sparkle Award winners is:

LEISURE CATEGORIES
Leisure Consultant of the Year
Gill Steel – Murray Travel
Touring & Adventure Consultant of the Year
Caitlyn Bale – Stewart Travel
Luxury Consultant of the Year
Donna Payne – Hays Travel
Leisure Travel Manager of the Year
Diane McKee – Stewart Travel
Cruise Consultant of the Year
John Ferguson – Thorne Travel

BUSINESS CATEGORIES
Business Travel Team Leader of the Year
Deborah Clark – QA Travel
Business Travel Consultant of the Year
Susan Main – QA Travel
Business Travel Corporate Account Manager
Maggie Monteith – BCD Travel
Business Travel Operations Manager
Caroline Runciman – D P & L Travel

LEISURE OR BUSINESS TRAVEL CATEGORIES
Agency Support Award
Gemma Harbinson – Barrhead Travel
Newcomer of the Year
Aimee Campbell – Love to Travel
Rising Star of the Year
Erin Daniels – Clyde Travel Management

SPECIAL RECOGNITION AWARD
Winner
Andy Stewart – ATPI
Highly Commended
Julie Taylor – Barrhead Travel

SPAA President Alan Glen says,

“The Sparkle Awards are all about the people who make our industry what it is. They recognise the individuals delivering exceptional service to customers, supporting their colleagues and businesses, and building careers within both leisure and business travel.

“Every year we see just how much talent there is within Scotland’s travel sector, from newcomers and rising stars at the beginning of their careers to hugely experienced professionals who have made an exceptional contribution over many years.

“Congratulations to all our 2026 winners and finalists. The standard of entries was extremely high and being shortlisted for a Sparkle Award is an achievement in itself.”