Amanda Hardy, spa manager at Serenity Spa, Seaham Hall, County Durham has been named Spa Professional of the Year at The 2021 Hotel Cateys. The judges described her at a “true spa professional”, who has achieved excellence in both in the spa environment and the wider hotel.”

The winners of the awards, organized by The Caterer magazine were revealed at a ceremony at London’s Park Plaza Westminster Bridge hotel.

Hardy was recognised for her professionalism and innovative response the the pandemic in 2021.

Spa manager’s award recognition

The awards highlighted a number of successful programmes that Hardy has implemented during her role as manager. Under her direction, the Serenity Spa at the five-red-AA-star Seaham Hall hotel in Durham has held its luxury status for four years.

Serenity Spa took took Spa Team of the Year in the North East Beauty Awards 2019, and North East Spa of the Year in the Professional Beauty Awards in 2017 and 2018. The team also won the Good Spa Guide’s Best Customer Service award for three consecutive years and achieves consistently high TripAdvisor ratings.

Hardy’s efforts to retain and attract customers throughout the pandemic saw her initiate a programme of video sessions, as well as running competitions through partnerships with local brands. And when the hotel reopened, she created an in-room spa products and services menu for guests.

Award-winning management at Serenity Spa

Serenity Spa has 17 treatment rooms, a swimming pool, outdoor hot tubs, spa garden with immersive infinity pool, a herbal sanarium, a salt sauna and hydrotherapy pool. In the past 18 months, Hardy has added a waterbed relaxation zone and a cosy-corner hideout, pre-empting the interest in holistic health and wellbeing following the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hardy has worked at Seaham Hall for over nine years, starting her career as a spa receptionist in 2012, working her way up the management ladder in various roles including assistant spa manager, spa guest relations manager and spa operations manager. She was appointed manager of the award-winning coastal spa in 2019.

Events at Seaham Hall

Hardy also organised Summer at Seaham Hall, a series of events featuring local artists and performers. During the pandemic, she mobilised a team to support local charity the East Durham Trust and pursued personal development through a world spa and wellness mentorship programme, securing Christine Belnser of the Four Seasons Dubai as her mentor.

She has recently enrolled in a diploma in hotel management and in turn has mentored several members of the Seaham Hall hotel team through to promotion and actively encourages cross departmental training to help with managerial progression across the hotel.

“I am honoured to be surrounded by such positive individuals and passionate teams that have supported and enabled my continued progression.  To win the Spa Professional of the Year award brings me enormous joy,” said Hardy.

What the judges said about the Spa Professional of the Year