Galgorm puts Ballymena on the world stage with six luxury resort and spa awards
Megan Wright, Galgorm Collection Director of Revenue and Sales, and Lynsey Gordon, Galgorm Collection Chief Operating Officer, being presented with the award for Global Winner for Luxury Spa Village by World Luxury Awards Assistant Manager Adri Bradbury.
Thursday 22 October 2026
Galgorm has secured six prestigious titles at the 2026 World Luxury Awards, including three global wins recognising the Ballymena resort’s golf, spa and wellness facilities among the best in the international luxury hospitality industry.
The County Antrim destination claimed three worldwide honours alongside three Northern European awards, marking another major achievement for one of Northern Ireland’s best-known luxury resorts.
The awards were presented on Saturday 17 October at the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in Romania, where leading names from the international luxury hospitality, spa and wellness sectors gathered for the annual ceremony.
Six awards for Galgorm
Galgorm received three Global Winner titles in the following categories:
• Luxury Golf Resort
• Luxury Spa Village
• Luxury Golf Resort Spa
The resort also secured three Northern European Winner titles:
• Luxury Resort
• Luxury Spa Resort
• Luxury Thermal Spa
The recognition highlights the international standing of Galgorm’s Thermal Spa Village, golf facilities and wider resort experience, bringing further attention to Ballymena and Northern Ireland as destinations for luxury tourism.
Major investment in accommodation and wellness
The awards follow continued investment at Galgorm, including a recent £3 million programme aimed at enhancing accommodation and expanding the resort’s spa and wellness offering.
The programme included the refurbishment of six junior suites, with private hot tubs installed on balconies overlooking the River Maine, alongside upgrades to 45 superior guestrooms.
A further £1 million was invested in the development of the Forest Spa Garden, a woodland wellness retreat featuring relaxation cabanas, private hot tubs, a sauna and forest walkways.
More recently, Galgorm’s Forest Dens have also been upgraded, with outdoor hot tubs replacing the previous outdoor bathtubs to offer guests greater comfort and privacy in the woodland setting.
A proud achievement for the Galgorm team
Colin Johnston, CEO of Galgorm Collection, welcomed the international recognition and paid tribute to the team behind the resort’s success.
He said:
“We are incredibly proud to see Galgorm awarded three global titles at the 2026 World Luxury Awards, recognising our Thermal Spa Village, golf and wider resort offering, alongside three further titles in Northern Europe.
“These awards reflect the commitment of our team to delivering exceptional experiences across every aspect of Galgorm, from our spa and golf facilities to our accommodation and wider hospitality offering.”
Mr Johnston said continued investment remained central to the resort’s ambitions, with the awards providing recognition for its ongoing development.
He added:
“We continue to invest in evolving what a luxury resort experience can be, creating new opportunities for guests to relax, unwind and enjoy the unique surroundings of Galgorm. To have that commitment recognised on the international stage is a tremendous achievement for the entire team, and we are delighted that the award wins help shine a spotlight on Northern Ireland as a world-class destination for luxury hospitality and wellness tourism.”
International recognition for a County Antrim destination
Set within 550 acres of parkland near Ballymena, Galgorm offers accommodation ranging from luxury guestrooms and suites to cottages, Forest Dens, shepherd’s huts, log cabins and group residences.
Its Thermal Spa Village is a major attraction, complemented by golf, restaurants and a range of leisure facilities.
The latest awards follow Galgorm’s inclusion in the Irish Independent’s Hot 100 of the Best Hotels in Ireland in both 2025 and 2026.
Galgorm is the flagship property of Galgorm Collection, which also operates The Rabbit Hotel & Retreat in Templepatrick, The Old Inn in Crawfordsburn and Roe Valley Resort in Limavady.
How the World Luxury Awards are decided
Established in 2010, the World Luxury Awards recognise achievements across the international luxury hospitality and wellness industries.
Winners are selected through voting by guests, travellers and industry professionals, with organisers reporting that more than 250,000 international travellers participate annually during a three-week voting period.
For Galgorm, the six latest titles provide further international recognition as the resort continues to develop its accommodation, golf and wellness experiences, while bringing worldwide attention to the Ballymena area.
