Roman Baths scoop top tourism 'Oscar'

[B&NES]

THE Roman Baths has won the award for the best large visitor attraction of the year at the South West England Tourism Excellence Awards.

The annual awards organised by South West Tourism – the regional tourist board for the south west of England – aim to promote and reward quality in the local tourism industry.

South west winners – including the Roman Baths – will now be entered into the national Enjoy England Excellence Awards, the winners of which will be announced in London in April 2005.

Malcolm Bell, Chief Executive of South West Tourism, said: “Quality is at the core of South West England’s new regional tourism strategy ‘Towards 2015’, and I would like to congratulate Bath & North East Somerset Council for investing in its products and services, to provide a customer experience that exceeds expectations. Well done.”

The Roman Baths was assessed on its customer service, staff training and development, on interpretation for visitors, provision for disabled guests and the presentation of the monument. It was also judged on its marketing and on care for the environment.

The judges were impressed by the fact that the building is heated by thermal energy derived from spa water and by the use of local produce in the Pump Room restaurant.

They marked the attraction on special events for the local community during school holidays, on the use of customer feedback and by the provision of visitor information in 22 different languages.

The attraction's publicity and popular state-of-the-art website were included in the assessment and views were sought on how well the attraction overcomes the challenges of providing for disabled visitors in a site that is 20 feet below ground.

The judges were impressed by the education provision in the Roman Baths' themed classroom at the heart of the site and by its work with Bath Foyer, a sheltered housing scheme for vulnerable young adults.