Casas Brancas' Quality Scheme

The Quality scheme arose in 2002 with the creation of the Association of Casas Brancas. Casas Brancas had the intention of developing a network of enterprises with a quality standard that justified its promotion as a group. Initially, this association was just for local accommodation companies but it was later widened to restaurants and tourist entertainment companies, with a standard for each economic sector. Nowadays, the association has 61 members from the coast of Alentejo to the coast of Algarve, Costa Vicentina.

Casas Brancas was created because of the need to organize, in an integrated manner, touristic initiatives of the region such as rural accommodation, restaurants and nature activities. The goal was to adopt a new and complementary perspective on services and quality requirements so as to respect and satisfy the customers and promote a quality image of tourism in that region. The Quality Scheme was paramount in the existence of Casas Brancas since it was created to satisfy the need (felt by the entrepreneurs of the region) of a quality standard that could be able to combine the promotion of associated companies and the formalization of the relation between businesses that already existed.

The Quality Scheme is a tool that allows the association to choose which companies may enter the network. It is a commitment to quality that specifies requirements and complementary criteria for accommodation, restaurants and tourist entertainment in a flexible way while respecting the differences between establishments that value and complement the system. In order to be a member a company must fulfill all requirements, and at least 5 complementary criteria. It is vital that the company adds value to the network.

This new concept is important as a product and institutional innovation since it creates a set of structured services and is centered in the development of the economic, social, cultural and environmental aspects of sustainability present in the Quality Scheme itself.

Visit the official website: http://www.casasbrancas.pt

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Postal Address	Travessa do Botequim, nº 6, 7630-185 Odemira - Portugal
Phone Number	(+351) 96 298 31 08
Webpage	http://www.casasbrancas.pt/
Released	15/11/2012
Country	Portugal
Organization Type	NGOs, Partnerships, Networks, Projects
Topics	Value Chain Management & Fair Trade , Knowledge Networking, Training and Education , Natural Heritage & Biodiversity , Human Rights & Labour Rights , Travel, Transport & Mobility
Operational level	Regional