In the Visit London Annual Awards for 2009, the RCP is the only venue to have been shortlisted for both the ‘Business Venue of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Customer Service of the Year’ awards.
The awards acknowledge the huge importance of the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions sectors of the tourism industry. In the ‘Business Venue of the Year’ category, judges pay special attention to innovative business tourism products reaching new market segments, as well as the upgrading of or creation of new facilities. The ‘Outstanding Customer Service’ category looks for individuals or teams who have shown exceptional commitment to customer care and service in all aspects of hospitality and contact with guests, and it is the whole of the RCP’s events team that is being considered.
The awards come in a year which has marked a number of major achievements and developments for the RCP, combining to make a very strong case for the respective awards. These include:
- For an unprecedented second year running, winning the ‘No I UK venue’ award from BDRC, the leading market research company, based on detailed analysis of customer feedback. This shows the increased strength and robustness of the College’s processes for achieving customer satisfaction.
- Making further extensive investment in DDA provision, including improvements in the Wolfson, its main lecture theatre, access to reception and internal and external glass lifts. This work won a commendation in the conference industry’s main awards, the M&IT awards, particularly for its efforts to adapt a building not originally built for such provision. The work also saw the College chosen for the Royal Mail’s national conference on accessibility in February.
- Capitalising on its elevation to Museum status in April 2008 to optimise its significance for customers and to consolidate its offering as a venue which, in terms of facilities, award-winning architecture and heritage, represents a unique proposition. The process has included investment in new display cabinets, facilitating client options such as tours of our collections and special displays.
- Significantly extending its nationally renowned physic garden to make it the largest display of its kind in the UK. It is available for delegates’ relaxation and for specific events such as garden parties and receptions.
The winners of the awards will be announced in November. “We can be confident of our case, because it is our customers who are telling us about the exceptional standards we are achieving across all aspects of our facilities and services,” said Clive Ostler, the College’s General Manager, Marketing and Facilities.