Gîtes de France spirit

A story of men and women with the same ideal

In France, a team of more than 600 persons at the service of owners and customers through the National Federation and its 95 departmental offices.

43000 owners, 56000 accommodations, 35 million days of holidays, 450 million Euros of direct turnover and a contribution of 750 million to regional economy, including 1/3^rd in currencies (20% of foreign customers).

It’s also 230 million Euros invested in renovation of built heritage.

43800 rural gîtes, 2500 creations per year, for an average investment of 58,400 Euros. Average rental is 16 weeks per year with a 43.4% rate of occupation (calculated on the number of weeks the gîte is opened/occupied). Average price per week : 408 in high season, 267 in low-season and 163 euros per week-end.

10.000 bed and breakfasts, 500 new addresses per year (1500 bedrooms), for an average investment of 42.000 Euros. Average rental is 16 weeks per year, 36 nights stay. Average price of 49 Euros per night for 2 persons, breakfast included, and 17 Euros for a meal in a Tables d’Hôtes.

Philosophy and men

The Gîtes de France label developed throughout the years to become the first network in Europe of home housing and celebrated its 50 years in 2010. 2011 is the 60^th birthday of the creation of the 1^st Rural Gîte in France in La Javie, Alpes de Haute-Provence.

Our reason to be :

• favouring tourist stays in good welcoming conditions and comfort, satisfy to the needs of an authentic, natural, quiet and convivial tourism of discovery and vast spaces,
• contribute to the valorisation and the conservation of local heritage and environment, mainly in rural areas,
• help local development and contribute to retain rural populations by adding complementary ressources.

A stay with the Gîtes de France,  it’s both a time for discovery and resourcing thanks to the 43.000 men and women opening their houses, all unique and different. All these values contribute to make the Gîtes de France a pioneer of sustainable development for rural tourism.

Action of the Gîtes de France

The four great missions of the Gîtes de France
Developing Tourist welcoming and valorisation of rural space in the department of the Alpes de Haute-Provence,
Technical help for project bearers who want to create accommodations,
Promotion: edition, website, trade fairs, Work Councils promotions,
Owner's network/members of the association animation.

Gîtes de France’s Ethic
Why do our owners and our clients chose us?

• To favour countryside stays, mountain or sea, in the best welcoming conditions.
• favouring tourist stays in good welcoming conditions and comfort, satisfy to the needs of an authentic, natural, quiet and convivial tourism of discovery and vast spaces,
• contribute to the valorisation and the conservation of local heritage and environment, mainly in rural areas,
• help local development and contribute to retain rural populations by adding complementary ressources.

The image and notoriety of the label
What makes the difference with other labels

• 50 years of experience and skill.
• 38 000 owners, more than 55 000 housings, more than 350 000 tourist beds.
• 1st European network of ‘’at home accommodations’’.
• 1st network which managed to retain its clients by knowing them.
• A well-known authentic label, respecting its hosts, quality welcoming, the comfort of the accommodations, the quiet and preserved environment of the houses.
• After a recent IFOP enquiry on the notoriety of tourism companies, the Gîtes de France brand is ranked 3rd after the Club Méditerranée and Nouvelles Frontières.
• A company with a commercial visibility on Internet at the same time international, national, regional and departmental.