Who are we?

Association des Villages d'Accueil du Québec (A.V.A.Q.)

The Villages d'Accueil association is a non-profit making organisation grouping ten members who represent some 650 lodging units between 360 families from different regions of Quebec: Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Mauricie, Centre-du-Quebec, Hautes-Laurentides, Portneuf, Côte-de-Beaupré, Québec and Montréal. Our organisation's mission is to work collectively to the recognition, the promotion and the development of tourists lodging allowing the discovery of local culture by privileged interactions with the population in different regions of Quebec.

The association began in 1995 in order to put together an auto-tour "Le gout du Québec" and to get acknowledgement for family guest houses as tourists lodging facilities in the elaboration of government politics of the time. In 2003, following the "Tourisme Québec" recommendations, the association was created and recognized by the "Corporation de l'industrie touristique du Québec" (CITQ) where it has a seat on the administration counsel. In fact, the association, since, is registered to the CITQ as an official lodging establishment category and possesses its own criteria of selection and evaluation.

Mission

The "Villages d'accueil du Québec" association works collectively to get acknowledgement, the promotion and the development of tourists lodging allowing the discovery of local culture by privileged interactions with the population in different regions of Quebec.

Objectives

To be known as spokesmen for family lodging for tourists in Quebec to the many government authorities, organisms, firms, travel wholesalers, tour operators and associations who deal with the development and promotion of tourism in Quebec, Canada and foreign countries.

To initiate and assure the consultation and partnership between the "Villages d'accueil" of Quebec.

To increase the promotion and acknowledgement of the "Villages d'accueil" product to all the organisms, associations, firms, medias who take part in selling and/or inform on Quebec's tourism.

To promote and represent the "Villages d'accueil" in events who aspire to meet directly with the customers: shows, fairs, exhibitions.

To intervene with the government authorities, organisms, firms, travel wholesalers, tour operators and associations to represent when necessary to obtain services, grants and contributions in the interest and promotion of the association and its members.

To participate, organize, propose and encourage all form of activities or projects aiming to develop new markets or new clientele and/or aiming to prolong the season of tourism and/or the length of the night stays.

To organize training or information sessions for members or families in order to maximize criteria such as the quality of the welcoming, the security, the comfort and the services.

To favour exchanges between the members and if needed to offer training on all subject who are relevant to the improvement of the "Villages d'accueil" management (insurance, classification grids and criteria, fiscal politics, etc.)