The Certification Program, together with the Accreditation Program, forms a comprehensive pathway for hotels aiming to become genuinely LGBTQ+ welcoming. Certification is an in-depth evaluation process that verifies how organizations translate their commitment into concrete policies and practices, ensuring respectful and effective engagement with the LGBTQ+ community.
The Accreditation Program, by contrast, is a preparatory step designed for hotels that are new to LGBTQ+ inclusion or require structured support before undergoing certification. It provides a range of services aimed at building the necessary competencies to address the specific needs of LGBTQ+ guests and employees.
These services include training and consultancy, offering practical tools to support staff education, the development of inclusive internal policies and improvements in customer service practices.
In addition, the Accreditation Program supports hotels in implementing necessary changes within their premises, ranging from physical adaptations, such as gender-neutral facilities, to cultural initiatives that foster an inclusive working environment.
Upon completion of the Accreditation Program, hotels are equipped with the skills and resources required to successfully undergo the Certification audit. Together, Accreditation and Certification work synergistically to provide a structured and credible pathway toward authentic LGBTQ+ inclusion.
QueerVadis is a certification, not a simple label. It is not granted after a short training session or a self-declaration. QueerVadis, validated and certified by RINA, is based on a rigorous and structured set of criteria designed to guide organizations in defining concrete business and marketing policies aligned with DE&I principles, with a specific focus on the LGBTQ+ community.
The program functions as a strategic tool to support long-term sustainability goals, ensure ongoing verification of inclusive practices and promote accountability over time. It also includes an advocacy dimension and is not merely intended as a marketing instrument to access new markets.
Inclusive hospitality cannot be limited to guest-facing communication alone: organizations cannot be truly inclusive toward guests without first embedding inclusion within their internal culture, policies and operations.
From the initial assessment to certification, the process typically takes between three and six months, depending on several factors, including assessment results, organization size and the number of staff involved in training activities.
QueerVadis is open to all destinations and travel companies, ranging from micro-businesses to multinational organizations. Destinations and companies can apply by completing the online application form available on this website.
In this case, we recommend starting with DE&I training in tourism to build foundational knowledge and awareness. There are training providers offering DE&I education in many countries.
In Italy, we recommend Sonders&Beach Academy & Advisoring.
One of the main reasons is that organizations are increasingly required to communicate with their stakeholders—from suppliers to clients—around ESG principles and the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations. QueerVadis supports social sustainability and contributes to multiple, interconnected objectives aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, including gender equality, fair and safe workplaces, wellbeing and health.
The program addresses issues such as harassment and prejudice, while strengthening organizational awareness of both internal culture and customer expectations, with the aim of providing a respectful and genuinely welcoming experience for all.
Costs are primarily determined by the size of the organization. For detailed information, please refer to our pricing page.
Yes. There are no limitations: start-ups are fully eligible to apply for the QueerVadis validation.