Formerly the 
                                   Fédération des Agricotours du Québec   

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INNS AND BED & BREAKFASTSTERROIR CUISINE AND PRODUCTSOBTAIN YOUR CERTIFICATIONOUR GUIDE
You’re one of the best? How will the customer find out?


 The Association de l’Agrotourisme et du Tourisme Gourmand du Québec (formerly the Fédération des Agricotours du Québec), which manages certifications, has been offering the customer the very best of Québec for more than 35 years. And it’s working! 96% of the clientele state that they are more likely to choose a certified establishment. (Source: 4700 evaluation forms in 2008.)

 We are in the Web 2.0 era, in which customers share their comments and their experiences through virtual communities and Web sites, such as TripAdvisor. Never before has the Web had such an influence on the reputation and the patronage of your establishment.  But customers are still customers! The only difference now is that they have a huge variety of information at their disposal to help them in their choices:

These comments, and the number of stars or suns awarded by different organizations, help customers choose an establishment that matches their lifestyle and the desired level of comfort, but certification goes even further, promising to lead them to the best ambassadors for Québec! Thus establishments that have the privilege of holding a certification have a distinct advantage.

  Setting oneself apart in these times of strong competition is the only way to succeed. By obtaining your certification:
  • you’ll have the privilege of posting a premium brand mark on all your publicity tools
  • the Association will help promote your establishment by listing it on its Web sites at www.inns-bb.com,  www.terroircuisineandproducts.com  and in its guide, considered a best-seller by the publishing house, ULYSSES Travel Guides (a publication in this guide is reserved for the establishments which obtained their certification on January 1st)
  • if you operate a lodging establishment and are listed on the BBCanada.com site, the certification seal will appear with you business name in the summarized search results and on your web page. If you have obtained the certification Bienvenue Cyclistes !, your certification seal will also be posted on the Route verte site (www.routeverte.com)  
  • if you are an agricultural producer or operate a restaurant, you will also be listed free of charge at www.agritourismquebec.com, the official portal for agritourism in Québec

 In addition, take advantage of these benefits:

  • a preferential discount rate of 1.9% with Visa and Master Card (minimum monthly fee of $10) + $0.06 for the network costs. The rate for Direct Debit is $5/transaction (minimum monthly fee of $10)
  • the chance to have your establishment voted the “People’s Choice Award” by the clientele as part of the annual Prizes for Excellence awarded by our Association
  • the Gîtes et Auberges du Passant gift certificate promotion from the well-known boutique La Forfaiterie. A marketing concept devoted to the marketing of packages presented in the form of a CD case
  • the promotion of certified establishments by La Forfaitiste, a travel agency that manages bookings for an international clientele
  • access to training, information bulletins, documents to help you manage your business.

For more information, please contact Diane Lamoureux, Director of Member Services, at 514 252-3138 or info@agricotours.qc.ca

 

How to obtain your certification ?

First of all, your establishment must match the concept of one of our certifications. For more information, download the document: CERTIFICATION A PREMIUM BRAND MARK (DOCUMENT AVAILABLE IN FRENCH ONLY).

 

Results of the examination of your application for certification
The committee that awards the certifications will examine your application. You will receive written confirmation of the result. If you are successful, all the documents needed to make the certification official will then be sent to you. Data will be collected electronically from these documents. The purpose of this collection is to obtain the information that will be published on your Web page and in the guide. Your certification and, by the same token, your status as a member of the Association de l’Agrotourisme et du Tourisme Gourmand du Québec (formerly the Fédération des Agricotours du Québec), will begin in June. 
 
 
Applications for certification - Forms
      
Certifications : Gîte du Passanttm or Auberge du Passanttm (Bed & Breakfast or Country Inn )

  
Certification : Table aux Saveurs du Terroirtm  (Terroir Cuisine) or Table Champêtretm  (Country-style Dining)

     
Certifiations :  Relais du Terroirtm (Farm Shops) or Ferme Découverte (Farm Explorations)

The cost of opening and examining & Date by which your application must be submitted

For those who wishes to obtain their certificaiton on January 1st, 2011, the final date for submitting your application is September 17, 2010. 

The cost of opening and examining a file is $100 ($112.88 with taxes). This amount is required when you submit an application for certification. If you submit more than one application for certification, this amount is only required once. This fee is not refundable if your application is refused, or you withdraw your application.

Food jury: specifically for the Table Champêtretm certification, an extra step is required to inspect the quality of the food served. There is a $200 fee (subject to modification) associated with this visit. This fee is not refundable if your application is refused, or you withdraw your application.
 
Annual certification costs  
 
Click here to know CERTIFICATION COSTS (DOCUMENT AVAILABLE IN FRENCH ONLY).
 
Applicable administrative costs should the application be withdrawn
 
Administrative costs will apply if you withdraw your application once the work of listing your establishment in the guide or on the Web site has begun. No refund will be issued if this listing work has already been completed.