The Velvet Door Selection
How we choose the establishments listed on The Door
Being on The Door is not automatic. It is the outcome of an editorial selection process applied to every establishment, without exception.
What we verify
Our selection rests on public, verifiable data. We do not perform on-site audits — we apply a rigorous editorial filter based on:
The legal existence of the establishment (commercial register entry, licence where relevant). The consistency of public information (address, declared activity, website). Online reputation (reviews, reports, history). The absence of any signal linked to trafficking, coercion, or exploitation.
This filter varies by establishment type. A strip club is evaluated differently from a tantric spa or a love hotel. Roughly 55–65% of establishments we examine pass selection.
What we require from establishments that claim their listing
When an owner claims their listing on The Door, they sign an honour declaration. This is not an administrative form. It is a commitment.
They sign the following text:
Accuracy
The information provided about my establishment (contact details, opening hours, description, photos) is accurate and up to date. I undertake to correct it whenever it changes.
Freedom of staff
Every person who works in my establishment — employees, contractors, performers, instructors — does so of their own free will, without constraint or coercion of any kind, under conditions that respect their dignity, and is paid in accordance with the law.
Consent and nature of the services
Participants are adults. Every activity rests on their informed and revocable consent; a refusal is always respected, without consequence. No service offered includes a sexual act, paid or otherwise.
Legality and safety
My establishment complies with the legislation in force in its country of operation — employment law, hygiene, personal safety, protection of minors — and holds the required authorisations.
Transparency
Prices, access conditions and house rules are communicated clearly to customers before they visit. No service is offered without being described.
Responsibility
I report to The Door any significant change (closure, change of management, incident, legal proceedings). I answer any request from The Door within 72 hours. I accept that my listing may be removed in the event of a breach of this declaration or of a credible report.
Mandate
I am the legal representative of this establishment, or a duly authorised agent.
What we exclude
Certain types of establishments will never appear on The Door, regardless of circumstances:
Brothels, including in countries where prostitution is legal. The Door references experiences, not sexual transactions.
Any establishment that has been the subject of credible reports or proceedings for human trafficking, exploitation, or coercion.
Any place involving minors, directly or indirectly.
What we are not
The Door is not a certification body. We do not issue labels, badges, or ethical scores. We perform editorial work: we select establishments that meet our criteria, and we remove those that no longer do.
Being on The Door means that, at the time of selection and based on the information available to us, the establishment meets our conditions. This does not constitute an absolute guarantee — but it is a filter no one else applies in this sector.
Our conviction
We believe the best way to fight doubtful practices is not censorship — it is the visibility of good practice.
When ethical establishments are easy to find, problematic ones lose their clientele naturally. Not by prohibition, but by obsolescence.
That is The Door's role: make the good ones so visible that the wrong ones have no place left.
Right of withdrawal
Any establishment may request the removal of its listing at any time, without justification, by emailing contact@thedoor.vip or via the contact form. Removal is effective within 72 hours.
Any user may report an establishment via the report form on each listing. Every report is reviewed.