UNI/PdR 131:2023 is the Italian reference standard for certifying the accessibility of accommodation facilities. The V4A® label does not replace the standard nor does it conflict with it: it operates on a complementary level and goes beyond the “compliant/non-compliant” dichotomy, offering travelers practical information that is quantified and tailored to specific needs. All this is made possible by the proprietary V4AInside method—patented and registered accessibility analysis software—and the Access Needs Score, developed directly by Village for all based on experience gained from 2008 to the present.
What is UNI/PdR 131:2023?
UNI/PdR 131:2023 is a Reference Standard developed by UNI—the Italian standards body—in collaboration with Accredia, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry for People with Disabilities. It defines the requirements that a lodging or sports facility must meet to be certified as “accessible” by an accredited certification body. Compliance is verified through inspections and the completion of questionnaires.
The significance of the regulation is clear: it establishes a verifiable national standard, provides access to incentive programs (Budget Law 234/2021, PNRR funds for compliance), and offers an institutional framework that was previously lacking in the Italian hospitality market.
What is V4A®?
V4A® — Village forAll® — is the international quality label for accessible hospitality. Since 2008, we have personally visited every facility affiliated with theV4A® Network: today, there are approximately 100 facilities across 16 Italian regions and Croatia. Information is collected on-site using the V4AInside method—proprietary, patented, and registered accessibility analysis software—which generates objective, measurable data: measurements in centimeters, available equipment, assistive devices, available services, reception procedures, and any other information necessary to help consumers understand the level of accessibility the facility can offer.
These data are linked tothe Access Needs Score, a score that travelers can view and filter based on their specific accessibility needs—not a binary assessment; YES/NO. It is a detailed profile based on several categories: Seniors, Families with children, dietary needs, mobility needs, visual needs (visually impaired/blind), hearing needs (hard of hearing/deaf), cognitive needs, social needs, etc…
Where V4A® goes beyond regulatory certification
UNI/PdR 131:2023 answers the question , “Does this facility comply with accessibility regulations?” It is an important question for the market and for public administration, but it is not the question a traveler asks before booking. Travelers ask practical questions: “Can I get into the bathroom with my electric wheelchair? Will I find staff capable of accommodating my needs? Will my mother, who has mobility issues and dietary needs/intolerances, be welcomed as a guest and not as a problem?”
A compliance certificate does not answer these questions. The V4A® system does, and it does so in three concrete ways.
- Level of detail by type of need
The Access Needs Score is not simply a “accessible/inaccessible” label. It is a structured rating system that breaks down accessibility by type of need: mobility, visual needs, hearing needs, cognitive needs, dietary needs (intolerances, allergies, specific diets), seniors, and families with children. The same facility may be excellent for a family with a child in a manual wheelchair but less suitable for a blind traveler—a single label would never indicate this. V4A’s Access Needs Score does.
- Data measured on-site, not self-reported
The inherent risk of any accessibility labeling system is self-certification: the facility fills out a form, receives the sticker, and displays it. V4A® does not accept self-certifications. Every facility in the network is visited in person by trained staff who apply the V4AInside™ method, take measurements with instruments, photograph the space, and speak with the facility’s management and staff. The practical result: the published data is observed data, not self-reported data. The trust travelers place in the brand is proportional to the reliability of this data collection.
- Further information available upon request — “Anyone can ask”
A regulatory certification provides a result that can only be positive or negative. V4A® provides a result while allowing for further inquiry. Anyone—traveler, operator, or agency—can request additional information about a property in the network: specific measurements, detailed photographs, or clarification on available assistive devices and amenities. A response is provided because the data exists; it has been collected and is stored in the V4AInside™ database. This changes the nature of the relationship between the user and the brand: V4A® is not a static certification but a continuous information service.
How V4A® and UNI/PdR 131:2023 complement each other
The two tools address different questions and complement each other.
| Size | UNI/PdR 131:2023 | V4A® |
| Nature | Certifiable technical standard | Quality seal + information service |
| Question answered | “Is the facility up to code?” | “Is this facility right for me?” |
| Result | Certification (compliant / non-compliant) | Access Needs Score broken down by different types of needs |
| Verification | Inspection by an accredited body | Direct V4A® inspection since 2008, using the patented and registered V4AInside™ method |
| Product data | Compliance with regulatory requirements | Dimensions, photographs, descriptions |
| Ability to update information | Validity of the certification | Annual update and in-depth analysis upon request |
| Audience | B2B, public sector, institutional market | End traveler, tour operator, travel agency, B2B |
| Geography | Italy | Italy, Croatia — international |
A property that obtains UNI/PdR 131:2023 certification demonstrates that it meets regulatory requirements. A property that joins theV4A® network demonstrates something different and complementary: that it has chosen to provide travelers with objective, measured data and to allow for further exploration at any time. The two go hand in hand. A responsible property does both.
For accommodation providers: what this means in practice
For those who manage a lodging facility, the integration of regulations and certification works as follows:
UNI/PdR 131:2023 certification is an institutional investment that provides access to adaptation funds (PNRR, Budget Law 234/2021), ensures compliance with public obligations, and establishes legitimacy in dealings with contracting authorities, public bodies, and tenders.
Affiliation with theV4A® brand is a business and relationship investment. It provides visibility among a specific audience of travelers with accessibility needs and integrates the property into theV4A® guides (over 280,000 downloads since 2017, including 45,000 in 2024 alone), transfers operational expertise to staff through training and manuals provided as part of the affiliation process, and develops an improvement plan that enables properties to embark on a virtuous cycle by enhancing their tourism offerings.
These two aspects—institutional and commercial—reinforce one another. A UNI-certified facility that joins the V4A® network sends a clear message to the market: “Not only do we comply with standards, but we’re also ready to provide full transparency to travelers who want reassurance before booking.”
For travelers: what’s changing
Travelers with accessibility needs don’t want just a sticker. They want to know: Does the shower have a seat, or is it just a floor-level shower tray? Is the bathroom door 80 or 90 cm wide? Does the front desk have informational materials for the visually impaired? Is the restaurant accustomed to handling celiac disease and multiple allergies? Is there staff trained to accommodate people with autism?
UNI/PdR 131:2023 specifies whether the structure meets the regulatory threshold. V4A® provides insights into how the structure performs against each of these requirements, using data collected on-site and offering the option to request additional information.
For travelers, it’s not a choice between two options. It’s a system in which the standard ensures compliance and V4A® ensures objective and reliable information gathered directly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is V4A® a certification? No.V4A® is a voluntary quality label for accessible hospitality, based on a proprietary, patented, and registered method (V4AInside™) and on on-site visits to facilities. A certification, in the technical sense, is one issued by an accredited body in accordance with a standard—such as UNI/PdR 131:2023.
Does a facility have to choose between UNI/PdR 131:2023 and V4A®? No. The two tools address different needs and work together. The standard demonstrates compliance with requirements, whileV4A® provides travelers with detailed operational information.
What is V4AInside™? It isV4A®’s proprietary accessibility analysis software—one-of-a-kind, patented, and registered. It collects objective data during site visits: measurements, equipment, services, and reception procedures. It serves as the technical foundation for the Access Needs Score and the Improvement Plan.
What is the Access Needs Score? It is a scoring system broken down by type of accessibility need—mobility, visual, hearing, cognitive, dietary, seniors, families with young children, etc. It replaces the binary YES/NO classification with a profile that travelers can consult and filter based on their specific accessibility needs or disabilities.
Can I request additional information about a facility in theV4A® network? Yes. Anyone can request further details because the data was collected on-site and is available in the V4AInside database.
Does V4A® operate only in Italy? The network includes properties in 16 Italian regions and Croatia, covering 44 tourist destinations. The brand is international in nature and scope.
To join the V4A® network or to request information, please write to info@villageforall.net or fill out the request form at this link https://www.villageforall.net/unisciti-a-noi/
