Once again, the Hotel Palace Berlin sets standards when it comes to conferences. This February, it was officially designated a “VDR Certified Hotel” and “VDR Certified Conference Hotel”. The hotel’s General Manager is delighted: “The certification provides official confirmation that we offer conference planners a superior product and a uniform standard of quality, thus giving us a decisive edge over the competition.

The certification is jointly issued by the Business Travel Association of Germany (Verband Deutsches Reisemanagement e.V., or VDR), the German Society for Association Management (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Verbandsmanagement e.V., or DGVM), the German Convention Bureau e.V. (GCB) and the Association of German Event Planners (Vereinigung Deutscher Veranstaltungsorganisatoren e.V.).

The official “Certified Conference Hotel” seal assures customers that they can expect the highest standards in service and conference facilities. Customer service is particularly important in the assessment for certification. Thus initial enquiries must be replied to within 24 hours; a single contact person must be available to respond to customers’ wishes before, during and after the event; and invoices must be sent within two weeks after the end of the event. However, the quality of customer service is by no means the only aspect that is evaluated; conference facilities (i.e. room size, ceiling height, equipment), the flexibility of catering services provided, and the standard of the available amenities of interest to overnight business travellers are all important factors.

Since quality management is an on-going process, certification is granted for a period of one year and is only renewed after another positive assessment. We are prepared for the challenges of maintaining the VDR’s standards of excellence.