Acorn Awards 2025: Poppy Roberts, Grantley Hall

Age 23

Position Assistant spa manager, Grantley Hall

Nominator Maisy Pollard, senior marketing executive, Grantley Hall

At just 23, Poppy Roberts is already playing a pivotal role in shaping the guest experience and commercial success of the Three Graces Spa at Grantley Hall.

Since joining the hotel as a spa therapist, host and receptionist at the age of 19, Roberts has risen quickly through the ranks, progressing to assistant spa manager and taking on leadership of a 30-strong team. In the past year, she’s helped deliver a 28% rise in spa revenue year-on-year, including a record-breaking rise after six months. This unprecedented achievement was delivered through a blend of guest experience enhancements, commercial insight and operational leadership. Her proactive approach to competitor analysis and strategic partnerships with skincare brands has also driven growth in spa day sales.

Roberts has twice stepped in as interim spa manager, overseeing all operations during a six-month leadership gap, while continuing to develop her own skills – completing first aid, mental health training, and Grantley Hall’s leadership programme ‘Beyond Leadership’. Her initiative extends to innovation too: she designed and presented a guest journey proposal to the hotel’s board, with many of her ideas now embedded in daily service.

Recognised as Grantley’s Team Member of the Year in 2024, Roberts is as committed to guests as she is her co-workers. When the hotel was unable to hire a peloton bike for a guest at short notice, Roberts dismantled her own bike at home and created a personal workout area in the guests’ room.

Outside the hotel, she champions careers in spa and wellness through talks at colleges and involvement with the UK Spa Association. She’s also in line to join the York & North Yorkshire Junior Hospitality Board.

Empathetic, motivated and unafraid to lead from the front, Roberts is a standout young professional making a clear mark in luxury hospitality.