Under the Act and Regulation respecting Tourist accommodation establishments, operators of such establishments in Quebec are obliged to hold a classification certificate, authorizing them to operate their establishment. The certificate is valid for 24 months, and takes the form of a sign that must be posted in plain sight.
There are two objectives to the program:
to protect travellers;
to help enhance the quality of accommodation offered.
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.