2013-02-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — Bath Tourism Plus (BTP) and Bath Rugby are teaming up to provide a range of promotional incentives that will encourage sport fans and visitors who arrive in the UNESCO World Heritage City of Bath to experience the city’s most popular sport.
For the first time in the club’s history, advisors in the Visitor Information Centre (VIC) will be entering into the Match Day spirit by wearing Bath Rugby shirts on days when there is a home game and be promoting and selling tickets for all of Bath Rugby’s home games alongside rugby shirts, caps, key rings and souvenirs, to sports fans and sightseers who are keen to experience a live sporting event.
To celebrate the start of this service, an official launch took place in the VIC on Saturday 16 February 2013 where four of Bath Rugby’s first team were onsite to meet fans and sign autographs.
Vicki Smith, Sales and Marketing Director of Bath Rugby remarked: “Bath Rugby are at the heart of this historic city, and so is the tourism it attracts. Partnering with Bath Tourism will benefit the city by bringing world famous rugby and a calendar of exciting events to our many thousands of visitors for a long time to come. We are looking forward to an innovative, strategic partnership going forward.”
In addition, BTP will also be providing an accommodation booking widget on Bath Rugby’s website, allowing people to search for and book accommodation with Bath Tourism, without having to leave Bath Rugby’s website. This is a first for both organisations, which will now allow travelling fans the ability to purchase both tickets and accommodation as well as seek information on attractions, museums and events taking place in the city.
Nick Brooks-Sykes, Chief Executive of Bath Tourism Plus said: “The impact of Bath Rugby on the city’s tourism economy cannot be understated: not only do retailers, restaurants and bars feel the financial impact on match days, but the city also benefits from great TV coverage as broadcasters delight in the beautiful city backdrop to the Rec. I am therefore pleased that BTP is forging an even stronger working relationship with Bath Rugby Club and that our new, strategic partnership is beginning to deliver results for both parties. Clearly, we hope this to be a winning formula!”
The partnership between BTP and Bath Rugby is a continuation of the on-going support Bath Rugby has given BTP when they recently hosted a familiarisation visit from Visit England’s overseas business representatives back in January. It will also continue in the form of competitions that will be used in marketing activity to promote the city and surrounding area.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
For further information or images to illustrate this information, please contact Audra McSherry at Bath Tourism Plus on 01225 322434 or email: audra_mcsherry@bathtourism.co.uk.
Bath Tourism Plus
Working with the public and private sectors, Bath’s destination marketing organisation, Bath Tourism Plus, takes full responsibility for co-ordinating the work of a busy tourist information centre, the marketing of Bath and the surrounding area to leisure and business travellers, PR activity to attract the nation’s top travel writers, a conference office, and development of Bath’s official destination website www.visitbath.co.uk. For more information about the services that Bath Tourism Plus offers to meetings, conference and incentive travel businesses, see www.bathconference.co.uk.
Travel to Bath
Bath is easy to access from all over the UK and the world. Bristol International Airport is just 15 miles from Bath and operates flights from the USA, as well as most major European and UK airports. An express bus service to Bristol Temple Meads train station operates throughout the day, and Bath is just a 20 minute train journey from there. See: www.bristolairport.co.uk . High speed, direct train services operated by First Great Western link Bath Spa train station to London and its major airports. Bath Spa train station is well situated, just 5 minutes level walk into the city centre’s main shopping and tourist areas. See: www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk . Bath is easy to access by car, from junction 18 of the M4 motorway which links Bath to Bristol, London and South Wales. There are 3243 pubic car parking spaces in Bath with the main long stay car parks at Charlotte Street and Avon Street. There are three Park & Ride services on the outskirts of the city which operate fast, frequent services into the city centre, offering a hassle free, cost effective way of reaching the city centre. There is also a Park & Ride service that operates on Saturdays only from the University of Bath.
###
Bath Tourism Plus to s’port Bath Rugby