20 years ago the "Residenze d'Epoca Certification Protocol" was born, the first system in the world for the rating of quality standards of historical residences. Since then, every year the Certification Commission of Residenze d'Epoca carries out up to 150 different Quality Controls on thousands of classified structures (to date 8153), rewarding the best castles and historical residences for tourism and events with the awarding of the prestigious Golden Crowns and publication in the Golden Register of Residenze d'Epoca.
The selection is extremely strict: in the last 12 months, less than 1% of the historical residences that have been nominated have managed to pass the selections made by the Certification Commission of Residenze d'Epoca. A limited circle of excellence that today can boast the Golden Crown and have the privilege of entering the restricted circle of the best historical residences in Italy.
Among the pre-requisites required to apply for the Golden Crowns are also the Seal of Quality and the Seal of Excellence, the two prestigious official awards issued by the Italian Register of Historic House of Excellence.
The Seal of Quality is a certificate of excellence granted only after passing 50 strict Quality Controls, and represents a fundamental pre-requisite for the awarding of the Golden Crown or the Double Golden Crown of Residenze d'Epoca.
The Seal of Excellence is the highest level of certification of the Italian Register of Excellent Historical Residences, issued after passing 150 Quality Controls. It is an award reserved every year only for a few selected historical residences, as well as one of the minimum pre-requisites required of the structures that aspire to the Triple Golden Crown.
The Italian Registry of the Historic Houses of Excellence issues two different levels of certification: the Quality Seal and the Seal of Excellence. Two prestigious awards that prove not only the beauty and charm of a historical residence, but also guarantee the high quality level of the services offered.
The strict Certification Protocol that subjects the historic houses to controls is based on 10 different evaluation phases and lasts about 12 weeks (3 months).
For this reason, to date, only 1% of the candidates has been able to pass it successfully and get the prestigious Seal of Excellence.
10
Evaluation phases
100
Quality Controls
1%
Candidates approved
Certification Protocol of Residenze d'Epoca
STEP #1
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Technical sheet and qualifying preliminary evaluation
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Compilling the technical sheet (personal data, technical information, addresses and references)
Prerequisite check
Quality Inspectors’ preliminary evaluation
Customized certification procedures definition
Issue of the formal role to the Certification Committee and commissioner assignment
Certification Protocol of Residenze d'Epoca
STEP #2
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Technical in-depth analysis
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Philosophy and values
Experiences and competences
Management and staff
Focus and fields of specialization
Goals, projects and development plans
Financial, intellectual and human resources
Clientele profile, target
The 4 pillars of Value: uniqueness, charm, prestige, exclusivity
The 4 pillars of Value: uniqueness, charm, prestige, exclusivity
The 4 pillars of Value: uniqueness, charm, prestige, exclusivity
The 4 pillars of Value: uniqueness, charm, prestige, exclusivity
Certification Protocol of Residenze d'Epoca
STEP #3
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Telephone consultation with the Certification Technical Committee
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Profiling and deepening interview
- Philosophy and values
- Experiences and competences
- Management and staff
- Focus and fields of specialization
- Goals, projects and development plans
- Intellectual and human resources
- Financial resources
- Clientele profile, target
Price politics and strategies
Certification Protocol of Residenze d'Epoca
STEP #4
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Area n°1 evaluation "The historic house"
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Year of construction
Restoration and preservation quality
Architectural style
Historical and cultural value
Artistic and monumental value
Uniqueness elements
Atmosphere and charm
Identity and character
Emotional impact
Valuable elements or artistic and cultural relevance
Cosiness and exclusivity of the rooms
Furniture and finishing quality
Care and maintenance
Combination of elements from different historical periods or different styles
Parks and gardens
Historical or important events
Eminent characters
Local integration
Promotion projects
Interiors
Exteriors
Equipment and decorations
Shared areas
Geographic position
Certification Protocol of Residenze d'Epoca
STEP #5
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Area n° 2 evaluation "People and values"
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Philosophy and values
Presence of the owners
Management responsibility
Reception ability
Hospitality culture
Years of activity
Experience in this sector
Competences
Focus and specialisation
Economic stability
Management
Staff and personnel expertise
Accredited references and partners
Partnership
Staff training
Vision e mission
Development plan and long/medium-term perspective
Projects, workplace, improvements
Preservation, restoration and protection programs
Clientele analysis reference target
Certification Protocol of Residenze d'Epoca
STEP #6
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Area n° 3 evaluation "Imagine and reputation"
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Brand strength, visibility and development
Reputation and reliability
Certifications, prizes and recognitions
Articles and reports transmitted by eminent media
Feedbacks provided by the 159.454 Members of the Club of Residenze d'Epoca
On-line reputation (reviews, forums, social networks)
Public relation
Care of the image
Website
Catalogues, brochures and advertising
On-line and off-line promotions
Participation in events, fairs and shows
Photo records and photo gallery
Video and multimedia contents
Storytelling
Communication and language
Affiliation to specialised, luxury, niche or limited-enrolment networks
Presence management on mass or general platforms
Presence on social networks (quality content, publication frequency, interaction level, response time)
Price-related management
Discount and promotions parameters
Evidence quality and quantity
Loyalty marketing customers
Marketing and communication campaigns
Certification Protocol of Residenze d'Epoca
STEP #7
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Area n° 4 evaluation “Quantitative level of services”
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Level of personalisation of services
Hosting and accommodation capacity (furniture, cleanliness, accommodation, timings, sleep quality, shared areas)
Customer service
Food service (multiplicity of food, quality of raw material, wine menu, rooms, furniture and atmosphere)
Management and direction
Food & Beverage staff (chef, head waiter, waiters, etc.)
Greeting and hospitality staff (front desk, reception, director, floor staff, etc.)
Problem solving
Point scored during the preliminary evaluation phase
Result of anonymous Quality Control inspections
Website (style, graphic, usability, loading speed, etc.)
Comparative analysis with other historic residences (architectural style, services, geographic position etc.)
Certification Protocol of Residenze d'Epoca
STEP #8
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Final score
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Data and score examination from 4 to 7 phases
Directive Council’s summing-up and marks
Calculation of final score
Assignation of merit range
(ADDITIONAL INSPECTION: if the final score is below the minimum threshold, an additional formal inspection will be planned on-site and it will negatively affect the final score)
Certification Protocol of Residenze d'Epoca
STEP #9
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Signing of the "Document of Excellence"
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Signing of the “Document of Excellence" of Residenze d'Epoca
Audit planning and adequacy test in order to verify the relevance of the "Document of Excellence"
Definition of the 3 excellence standards:
- Hospitality culture: reception, care, dedication
- Respect: people, values, place
- Valorisation: historical/artistic/cultural heritage, uniqueness, charm
Definition of the terms of issue, use and revocation of the title "Historic House of Excellence" and the Seal of Excellence.
Certification Protocol of Residenze d'Epoca
STEP #10
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Certification issue, title and Seal of Excellence
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Issue of the Seal of Excellence
Issue of the Seal of Excellence
Assignation of the Unique Number of Certification
Assignation of the title "Historic House of Excellence"
Issue of the official certificate "Historic House of Excellence"
Publication on the website www.residenzedepoca.it
Communication campaign to announce the issue of Seal of Ecxcellence
