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Our certification

TÜV Rheinland

Minimum standards for all certified serviced apartments:

separate living and sleeping area (at least a sitting area in addition to the bed)
kitchen with cooking facilities, refrigerator and cooking utensils (tableware, cutlery)
towels and bedding in a hotel-like standard
washing machine in the house

: AA = Economy
For a little priceAA = Economy
certified apartments for basic demands: The house has a functional furnishing with a basic comfort. The equipment is in good conditions and of a sufficient quality. Functionality is more important than living comfort, the services offered are reduced to a minimum.
“Economy” – 50 % of criteria met

: AAA = Value
No frillsAAA = Value
No frills – certified apartments for standard demands: The house’s overall furnishing and equipment promised good comfort. Optically, the house is appealing. Nonetheless, particular importance is attached more to the functionality than to the decoration and comfort.
“Value” – 65 % of criteria met

: AAAA = Superior
With superior extrasAAAA = Superior
With superior extras – certified apartments for upscale demands: The house’s visual appearance is very pleasant and in good conditions. The apartments are furnished very comfortably. Special attention is devoted to the decoration and cosiness of the house.
“Superior” – 80 % of criteria met

: AAAAA = Excellent
The connoisseur’s treatAAAAA = Excellent
The connoisseur’s treat – certified apartments for highest demands: The house’s furnishing is of a high-quality and promises high to exclusive comfort. The materials, forms as well as technical comfort are well matched. Location and infrastructure of the house meet highest standards. The service is extensive and hotel-like.
“Excellent” – 90 % of criteria met

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About the certification

Apartmentservice has the first - and still only - official certification system for the classification of serviced apartments. In 2005 the certification system has been presented to the public. It was realized in cooperation with TÜV Rheinland. Since then, the interest in the certification of apartment houses is constantly growing.

How does the guest benefit?

Guests can reliably trust the certified categories. With the help of the certification both business travellers and vacationers know exactly which standard the respective temporary home will provide. The standards for serviced serviced apartments range from AA/”Economy” for basic demands, here at least 50 percent of the criteria are met. Highest demands are fulfilled in the AAAAA/”Excellent” category, where at least 90 percent of the critera are fulfilled.

To stay comfortably home away from home, cooking facilities and a refrigerator, tableware and cutlery belong to the minimum standard of any certified serviced apartment. Also cooking utensils as well as a washing machine will be found.

Starting at superior quality (AAAA), amenities such as a separate working space or an extra bed by request, additional cooking pots and pans as well as a free-of-charge iron and ironing board are guaranteed. Special comfort is granted in all AAAAA-certified houses, the highest possible category. There, the guests can expect to enjoy a sofa, a DVD player and a hi-fi system, an electric stove with four hotplates, wireless LAN as well as a parking place next to the house.

In the course of the certification, attention is also given to the operator´s concept. On our website interested persons can distinguish between three different concepts:

Residence

Hotel with apartments in a separate building

Hotel with apartments in the same building

Why is a certification needed?

In the niche segment of serviced apartments it is sometimes difficult to decide for the perfect "home away from home". An orientation similar to the stars of the German Hotel Association (DEHOGA), which applies to the hotel sector only, was not known for many years. In 2005, Apartmentservice presented a first certification which defined the minimum criteria.

The certification was developed in cooperation with the well-known independent institute TÜV Rheinland. Though inspired by the hotel industry, the concept for certifying serviced apartments is different to the assignment of the hotel stars. It meets the special requests of apartments for long-term stays: many services which are requested by the guests in serviced apartment are not queried in the hotel business. On the other hand, many services which are self-evident in a hotel, can not be offered in corporate housings or are only optional.

Since 2005, guests can choose between serviced apartments in four categories - always according to their individual needs. With the help of the certification system, the different quality standards for serviced apartments become transparent for the guests and thus better understandable. In the certification process, special attention is given to customer orientation as well as the service quality of the apartment houses.

Since the launch, Apartmentservice certifies several houses every year. Experts keep pointing out the great importance of an independent and accredited certification. Trust the proven quality!

AAAA Superior