1.- Scope of Certification

The scope of certification defines the specific boundaries and coverage of the certification program for vacation rentals. It outlines the types of vacation rental properties and the aspects that are encompassed within the certification.

In the context of the certification program, a vacation rental refers to any type of accommodation facility or dwelling that is offered to travellers or tourists for short-term stays. It encompasses a range of lodging options, including but not limited to apartments, houses, villas, cabins, cottages, condominiums, and other similar forms of temporary lodging.

Key characteristics of a vacation rental within the certification program include:

Short-term Stays: Vacation rentals are intended for temporary stays, typically ranging from a few nights to several weeks or months, rather than long-term residential arrangements.

Offered to Travellers or Tourists: Vacation rentals are made available to individuals or groups seeking accommodation while travelling for leisure, business, or tourism purposes. They cater to a wide range of travellers, including families, couples, solo travellers, and corporate visitors.

Variety of Accommodation Types: Vacation rentals encompass diverse types of accommodations, such as standalone houses, apartments within multi-unit buildings, villas, cabins in natural settings, or any other form of lodging designed for short-term occupancy.

Alternative to Traditional Hotels: Vacation rentals provide an alternative to traditional hotel accommodations, offering more space, privacy, and often additional amenities or unique features that cater to specific guest preferences.

Temporary Home-like Experience: Vacation rentals aim to create a "home away from home" experience for guests, providing them with a comfortable living environment, access to essential amenities, and the flexibility to create their own routines during their stay.

The certification program for vacation rentals includes several key aspects, including sustainability features and legal compliance. There are also exclusions that fall outside the scope of assessment.

Inclusion: Environmental Features
The certification program recognizes the importance of environmental sustainability within vacation rentals. This includes assessing sustainability practices such as energy-efficient appliances, water conservation measures, waste management strategies, use of eco-friendly products, and promotion of sustainable tourism principles.

Inclusion: Social Responsibility
The certification program acknowledges the significance of social responsibility. While not directly evaluating how the owner or property manager runs the business, the program may incorporate criteria related to social responsibility, such as community engagement, guest safety measures, or ethical practices in customer service.

Inclusion: Legal Compliance
To ensure the credibility and legitimacy of vacation rentals, the certification program requires vacation rental properties to comply with local regulations. In regions where it is legally required, the certification program may request a licence number to validate the property's legality and adherence to applicable laws.

Exclusion: Business Operations
The certification program does not assess the day-to-day business operations of vacation rental owners or property managers. Factors such as how the laundry is handled, the diversity of the team, or specific internal business practices are not within the scope of evaluation for the certification.

The certification program is global, and it is applicable to vacation rental properties in all regions and countries worldwide. This ensures that vacation rental properties from diverse locations and destinations can participate in the certification program and benefit from the recognized standards and credibility associated with certification. The global coverage reflects the program's commitment to fostering quality and consistency in vacation rentals on an international scale, while promoting a unified approach to sustainability and compliance across the vacation rental industry.

We currently cover various types of properties: city apartments, townhouses, country homes, cabins, villas, cottages, beach houses, and ski chalets. Through our certification process, we recognize and promote vacation rentals that prioritise sustainability practices, actively contributing to environmental preservation and positively impacting local communities. While these are the property types we currently assess, we are committed to continuous improvement and may expand to include additional property types (e.g. houseboats, treehouses..) in the future to further promote sustainable practices within the vacation rental industry.

The certification for vacation rentals is valid for a period of one year since the issuance of the certificate. During this one-year duration, the certified vacation rental property is recognized as meeting the defined sustainability standards and criteria.

As the certification nears expiration, vacation rental providers can undergo a renewal process to maintain their certified status and continue their efforts in promoting sustainability in the vacation rental industry.

To maintain certification, a property must exceed the previous score each year. The minimum improvement depends on the previous year’s score:

20-30% score = +4% on renewal
31-50% score = +3% on renewal
51% and above score = +2% on renewal

This condition applies annually after the initial validity period of one year has elapsed.

As sustainability is a constantly evolving term, a new version of the standard is projected in the coming years to address the increasing requirements for improvement.

Updated on: 27/09/2024