INDUSTRY ORGANSATION CASE STUDY – The Bath Priory Introduction This case study comprises an introduction to The Bath Priory plus background details, information about facilities and amenities, and a summary of the hotel’s Green Policy. Many thanks to The Bath Priory for making this information available.
The Bath Priory is a quality work placement provider with Springboard’s INSPIRE Work Experience Scheme. (Click on the INSPIRE logo for details.)
Introduction The Bath Priory is a luxury hotel, restaurant, and spa set in beautiful gardens and located a short stroll from the Georgian City of Bath - an ancient city and an extremely popular visitor destination that has for many years been on the ‘milk run’ tour of the UK for incoming tourists. In keeping with a luxury hotel, every detail is considered at The Bath Priory. Friendly and welcoming faces greet you, the smell of freshly cut flowers is in the air, genuine warmth and a wonderful atmosphere fill the elegant rooms. The scene is set for total relaxation.
Views from the windows over the gardens delight and in the summer the wisteriacovered building is bursting with colour and energy. Springboard Education at: http://education.springboarduk.net and http://resource-gateway.co.uk To contact us directly email: education@springboarduk.org.uk
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Background Privately owned by Andrew and Christina Brownsword, the staff at this country house hotel are genuinely welcoming and the atmosphere is of warmth and total comfort, making customers feel as though they are guests in a wonderful private house rather than a hotel. The Bath Priory Hotel recently announced its membership of the world renowned, highly prestigious Relais & Chateaux association. The 2011 Relais & Chateaux guide features 500 hotels and restaurants that are amongst the most exceptional establishments across the world. 29 UK properties feature and The Bath Priory now joins sister hotel Gidleigh Park as a member. The restaurant, under the direction of two Michelin starred Executive Head Chef Michael Caines MBE, serves superb modern European cuisine. Private dining is also offered for special events in The Pavillion, The Orangery and The Terrace.
Awards and Accolades The hotel and its superb restaurant have won many awards, for example In October 2010 the Bath Priory Restaurant was voted number 3 in the South West in the first Food List Supplement Top 100 British Restaurants in the Sunday Times, compiled in association with Hardens. This is a great accolade for Head Chef Sam Moody; Sam’s mentor and Executive Head Chef, Michael Caines MBE takes the number one slot in the UK at sister hotel Gidleigh Park.
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Some of the Awards and Accolades received by The Bath Priory Hotel and Restaurant The Sunday Times: 3rd in the Southwest in the Top 100 British Restaurants, October 2010 Michelin: One Michelin Star for Acclaimed Food 1999-2009 The AA: Four Red Stars; Three Rosettes (for culinary excellence); AA "Chefs' Chef of the Year Award" 2008: Michael Caines MBE South West Tourism Excellence Awards: Gold Award for best Small Hotel, 2009/2010 CondÊ Nast Traveller Magazine Readers’ Awards: Gold List Award 2008 "Best For Food" (Worldwide Awards) UK Top 100 Restaurant Awards: Ranked 48 in the inaugural UK Restaurant Awards, 2008 Gardens: Bath in Bloom, Best Hotel Garden - Bath City Council 1996, 2004, 2008, 2009; Garden Media Guild "Journalist of the Year 07/08" - Head Gardener Jane Moore; RHS Recommended Garden ; RHS Chelsea Flower Show: Silver Medal Good Food Guide: In the Top 40 UK Restaurants (2008) Toptable: Fifth place in the UK in the Toptable Dining Awards 2008; Toptable Gold Award 2008 (voted by Toptable diners) Egon Ronay: In the top 25 Restaurants in the UK (2005) Toptable Gold Award 2010: Voted by Toptable diners
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Facilities and Amenities On arrival, the parking problems at other city hotels are effortlessly overcome by the hotel's own off-street private parking. Bags are swiftly transported into the lobby and, as you are shown to your room, the stresses from everyday life quickly disappear. The elegant public rooms - the Drawing Room and the Library - are ideal places to sit back, relax and simply enjoy some "me time"; read a book, indulge in an afternoon tea or play a board or card game. From the sun terrace you can gaze out for hours over the beautiful Victorian gardens.
The Rooms All 27 rooms at The Bath Priory are luxuriously appointed. They are split into four categories, ranging from Classic to Premier Deluxe. The hotel also has one Junior Suite, with a romantic four poster bed, and four Family Suites in the adjacent building. Every room, each named after a flower, is unique. Heather and Lilac offer "Romeo and Juliet" balconies overlooking the gardens. Others, such as Carnation and Bluebell, boast four poster beds, a popular choice for romantic weekends. All rooms have crisp white linen, plumped up pillows and supercomfy beds to guarantee that perfect night's slumber. Local interior designer Carole Roberts mixes elegant throws with interesting finishes; fabrics from fabric houses such as Colefax and Fowler and Pierre Frey with Stark carpets, period furniture and lighting. The four luxurious and welcoming suites, situated in “The Lindens� (an adjacent building) provide the perfect retreat for families. Each light and spacious suite is well equipped with its own kitchenette and lounge area and has glorious views over the gardens. Springboard Education at: http://education.springboarduk.net and http://resource-gateway.co.uk To contact us directly email: education@springboarduk.org.uk
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Fresh vibrant flowers, fruit, bottled water, bottlegreen sparkling presses and lemonade greet you in your room, while slippers and fluffy robes are just waiting to be slipped into. The ensuite bathrooms are spacious, marble clad and contemporary, with top of the range skin care and bath lotions to make that soak in the bath a little more special. Each newly refurbished room also benefits from the latest technology, with modern televisions, Satellite TV, ISDN lines and modem points. The Garden Spa The Bath Priory's splendid new Garden Spa is just right for a luxury country house hotel. The indoor heated pool is beautiful and intimate; a pool-side sauna, elliptical steam pod and shower complete the picture. As the name suggests, French doors open directly onto the immaculate gardens and allow the sunlight to flood in and wash over this dreamy space. The light and airy Fitness Suite, which overlooks the gardens, is well equipped with the full range of cardiovascular machines and free weights, inviting guest to burn off a few calories after their over-indulgent, but scrumptious afternoon tea! The Fitness Suite offers a mixture of resistance, aerobic and cardio equipment including a multi-purpose personal workout machine which allows users to do more than 200 different exercises without making any adjustments. Beauty treatments at the Garden Spa are simply blissful and a spot of pampering should surely be included in any stay. The four new treatment suites provide a tranquil and calm environment in which guests can totally relax. The dual treatment suite, complete with a walkin double shower, is perfect for couples or friends. Business Meetings Business clients enjoy fine dining, attentive service and elegant, calm spaces, flooded with natural sunlight. The meeting rooms provide the perfect environment for key business decisions to be made or to encourage creativity in those "blue sky" brainstorming sessions. Two of the three meeting rooms have direct access onto the beautiful, clipped gardens, with French doors opening onto their own private terrace. The dedicated Events Manager helps make this a superb venue.
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Social and Environmental Responsibility Corporate Social Responsibility Policy The Bath Priory Hotel values its people, guests and the environment equally and is committed to continuous improvement in its approach to Corporate Social Responsibility. All employees are encouraged to follow the principles of the policy to assist the hotel in meeting its CSR objectives and the hotel’s ‘Green Team' ensures that these policies are regularly reviewed and assessed. As members of the Green Tourism Business Scheme, the leading sustainable tourism certification scheme in the UK, the organization is assessed against a rigorous set of criteria, covering a range of areas, like energy and water efficiency, waste management, biodiversity and more.
The Bath Priory was awarded the Green Tourism Business Scheme Silver Award. The hotel also holds a Certificate of Environmental Improvement.
Green Policy The Bath Priory aims to continuously improve its green activity through the following steps: • Up-keeping good general maintenance of the hotel building. • Maintain a level of no litter and an excellent visual impression at all times. • Remaining a no smoking property. Management and Marketing • Continue to increase staff environmental awareness, creating a green culture. • Continue to hold Green Team meetings regularly. • Promote the hotel’s Green Tourism Award and efforts in on-site and offsite activities. • Support both local and international social responsibility projects and remain active in the community. • Offer a range of family focused green activities and ensure we remain an accessible business.
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Energy and Water • The staff team constantly strives to reduce the hotel's carbon footprint by monitoring energy use • Decreasing energy requirements by better design of refurbished areas and installation of energy efficient equipment wherever possible, for example to save electricity timer switches were installed in key staff areas. • Low energy lighting and individual heating controls in the rooms. • Operating green laundry practices where possible. • Ecological water treatment is managed in the Spa through use of the ‘Ozone' system. • Every effort is made to ensure noise and light emissions to the surrounding neighbourhood are minimised. • Actively encouraging guests to re-use their towels if they are staying for a few days. Purchasing • Bath Priory is committed to responsibly sourced food products and ingredients, following seasonal trends and reducing food miles by sourcing from the local area whenever possible. Quality ingredients are sourced from artisan suppliers within the area, with bread and meat (and most vegetables and cheeses) originating within a few miles of the hotel. • All departments are encouraged to use local suppliers and contractors where possible to actively support the local community and reduce delivery and travelling mileage. • Fair-trade and ethical products are purchased where possible and ecofriendly cleaning products used when available. Waste Management: • The hotel recycles all waste paper, glass, cardboard and plastic bags and has invested in a waste compactor. • Waste food and used kitchen oil are collected, composted and recycled. • Sound gardening practices and composting are used. • Any hazardous waste substances are minimized and effectively disposed of. Travel: • Guests are told about a pedestrian route into the city through the park, passing by the famous Royal Crescent, and are offered options for car free activities and cycle hire in the local area. • Most staff members live locally and are encouraged to walk when possible. For further information about The Bath Priory please visit: http://www.thebathpriory.co.uk Springboard Education at: http://education.springboarduk.net and http://resource-gateway.co.uk To contact us directly email: education@springboarduk.org.uk
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