YTL Hotels, owner of the soon-to-open Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel and Bath-based utility company Wessex Water, has strengthened its grip on the ancient spa town’s wellness facilities by acquiring the operating contract of Thermae Bath Spa.

YTL Hotels, which is the hospitality division of Malaysian infrastructure conglomerate YTL Corporation, has obtained the contract from former operators Thermae Development Company for an undisclosed fee.

The deal ensures that jobs at Thermae Bath Spa, which employs more than 170 people, will be safeguarded, while the name will also remain.

Henk Verschuur, who was Thermae Bath Spa managing director prior to the deal and will be retained as an advisor to YTL Hotels, says: “This heralds the start of a very exciting future. I am extremely proud of what we have achieved at Thermae Bath Spa since opening and am confident that its future is in safe hands.”

Thermae Bath Spa will be operated by Bath Hotel and Spa Limited (BHSL) a YTL Hotels subsidiary set up to manage both the spa and the Gainsborough Bath Spa Hotel, although the two will remain as separate businesses. The actual Thermae Bath Spa buildings and supply of the natural thermal water are owned by Bath & North East Somerset Council.

“This represents a further major investment by YTL and demonstrates their long term commitment to Bath,” says BHSL chair Colin Skellett.

“YTL Hotels has worldwide experience in managing spas and hotels and look forward to making a positive contribution to the future wellbeing of Bath.”

The news comes just weeks after Bath Tourism Plus, together with the city’s top 10 hotels, launched a high-profile marketing campaign pitching the west country spa town as the UK’s ultimate 'detox' location.

Councillor Paul Crossley, leader of Bath & North East Somerset Council, adds:

It is a statement of confidence in the city and is a key element in the vision for Bath as a leading spa destination and an important building block in the creation of a spa

quarter in the city.”