To find out all about the benefits of the official classification program, rules and operation of this program, unique in North America, read on.

Requested by the industry
The official classification program was introduced in response to a long-standing request by the industry, looking for a reliable instrument for measuring the supply of accommodation in Quebec.

Objectives
There are two objectives to the program:

• to protect travellers;
• to help enhance the quality of accommodation offered.

Many benefits
The program has many benefits, i.e.:

• travellers can count on a complete and reliable description of accommodation in Quebec;
• establishment operators have a detailed reference to help them develop products adapted to their target markets, while ensuring healthy competition;
• developers and policy makers have specific data on the supply of accommodation, so that they can come up with promotional strategies tailored to the available resources.

The Act respecting tourist accommodation establishments and its associated Regulation, adopted in June 2000 and December 2001, respectively, require that tourist accommodation operators in Quebec:

• have an official classification certificate;
• display the sign attesting to their classification outside the building at all times, in a conspicuous place (see the signs below).

The classification certificate serves as authorization to operate an establishment and replaces the operating permit used before the Act was adopted. It is valid for 24 months (48 months for educational institutions).

In 2001, the Minister responsible for Tourism mandated the CITQ to classify seven categories of accommodation covered by the Act and Regulation.

Under the terms of this agreement, the CITQ agrees to:

• draw up classification grids specific to each class for which it is responsible;
• visit and classify all establishments for which it is responsible every two years, with the exception of educational institutions, which are classified every four years.

	Hotel establishments Establishments offering lodging in one or more adjacent buildings. Classified on a scale of 0 to 5 stars
	Bed and breakfast establishments Private homes operated as accommodation establishments by their owners or occupants. They may have up to five rooms, and prices include breakfast on site. Classified on a scale of 0 to 5 suns
	Tourist homes Furnished cottages, apartments or houses with a kitchenette and one or more bedrooms. Classified on a scale of 0 to 4 stars
	Resorts Establishments offering lodging, meals or cooking facilities, recreational activities and equipment. Classified on a scale of 0 to 4 stars
	Hospitality villages Establishments where participants offer lodging in their homes for up to six guests, along with breakfast, lunch or dinner and group activities. Classified on a scale of 0 to 4 stars
	Youth hostels Establishments providing dormitory or private rooms for travellers of all ages, and meals or cooking facilities. Classified on a scale of 0 to 3 stars
	Educational institutions Establishments offering visitors rooms in residences used by students during the school year. Classified on a scale of 0 to 3 stars

You can also consult this document, which defines the different classification levels, by class.

Each class of establishment has its specific evaluation grid adapted to its own conditions. Each one was prepared by an advisory committee made up of operators and various tourism industry representatives. The internationally recognized criteria applied were agreed on by consensus, then tested in establishments, re-evaluated and finally approved by the Quebec Minister responsible for Tourism.

These criteria will be regularly reviewed and updated so as to take account of developments and changing conditions in the industry.

The CITQ’s classifiers are equipped with electronic notebooks containing all the evaluation grids. During their classifications they directly enter all the results of their evaluation into the notebooks, which automatically calculate the final result. This ensures strict compliance with standards and rapid results.

The evaluation criteria essentially concern:

• quality of physical facilities (bedroom, bathroom, common areas, outside, etc.);
• appearance;
• cleanliness;
• services offered, including adapted services for people with physical disabilities;
• certain safety considerations.

Although the services are listed and evaluated, the quality of service delivery by the staff of the establishment is not evaluated by the CITQ. This part of the work – customer service – has more to do with a quality control program that may be introduced at a later date.

We encourage you to consult the classification guides for the different classes in our documentation centre, to find out about all the criteria governing the work done by CITQ classifiers.