Glossary
This Glossary is provided to help guests understand more about the rental of inns, resorts and vacation rentals. It is not comprehensive but serves as a primer for terms guests may encounter in renting specialty lodging. Not all terms apply to all properties or managers.
24-Hour Assistance Services
These services offer on-the-spot and immediate assistance for unexpected problems that can arise during your trip. The hotline operates 24/7 for help anytime, any place while traveling. (Origin: CSA Travel Protection)
Advance Lodging Reservation
A Booking for a set period of time in the future such as renting a lodging property for a week or weekend. Advance Lodging Reservations require the owner or manager to keep the property available for the guest's exclusive use on the dates booked. In return, Advance Lodging Reservations are only cancelable in accordance with the owner or manager's terms and conditions. (Origin: Merchant Account Terms)
After Hours
Managers and Owners provide service during long hours, but most are not open 24 hours a day. Calls, assistance and other services provided outside of normal business hours are referred to as after hours. (Origin: Industry)
After Hours Fees
Charges to Guests or Owners for services provided after hours. Essential services such as loss of water, power or heat are usually provided free of charge. After hours calls for non-essential services usually bear a fee. (Origin: Industry)
AHMA - American Hotel & Motel Association
A trade association that offers benefits and services to hospitality properties and suppliers. It propses legislation affecting hotels, sponsors seminars and group study programs, conducts research, and publishes Lodging magazine. (Origin: AHMA.org - Link: AHMA.org)
Amenities
The features and benefits associated with a property such as furniture, equipment, furnishings, resort priviledges and so forth. Amenities widely between types of accommodatons such as hotels, motels, cabins, bed and breakfasts; and also between one unit and another. (Origin: Industry)
Amenity Fee
A certain amount paid to an owner or property complex above and beyond the rental rate that allows the renter access to certain amenities (golf, tennis, beach chairs etc.) (Origin: Industry)
Arrival Date
The date at which a guest arrives or is allowed to arrive and use a property. In lodging this also usually includes a time before which the guest is not allowed access. (Origin: Industry)
Attractions
General all-inclusive term travel industry marketers use to refer to products that have visitor appeal, like museums, historic sites, performing arts institutions, preservation districts, theme parks, entertainment and national sites. (Origin: Industry)
Availability Calendar
An online calendar which can be updated to allow renters see the dates open for a certain property. (Origin: Industry)
Back to Back
When one booking immediately follows another booking without a day between them, that is referred to as a back to back. In that case, cleaning must be done between when one guest checks out and the next checks in. (Origin: William May)
Beach Front Accommodations
Buildings or rooms and living units in a building which is along side a body of water and generally with a reasonably level geographiphy between the building and the water. Generallly means there are no other buildings between the building and the water. Is more specific than Ocean Front Accommodtions which may not be on a beach. See also: Ocean Front Accommodations (Origin: Industry)
Bed & Breakfast
A small inn or lodge that provides a room and a breakfast. Often a B&B is in a residential home setting and/or a historic building converted to a quaint lodging facility. B&B's are not Vacation Rentals. (Origin: Industry)
Bed Tax
City or county tax added to the price of a lodging facility. (Origin: Industry)
Best Practices
Those policies and procedures that best suit an industry and lead to satisfied customers, good vendor relations and success for business owners. In lodging, best practices are many and varied. In short they can be summarized as being good neighbors with good customer service. (Origin: William May)
Blocked (Booking)
When an Owner reserves use of their own home the booking is referred to as a Block or Blocked. This word is used in the Computer Booking system. See also: Abandoned, Aborted, Cancelled, Confirmed, Order, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Out of Service, Quoted, Unblocked (Origin: William May)
Blue Ribbon Inspection
A lodging unit that has been inspected and meets the standards of the Vacation Rental Industry Association (VRIA). Designated as "Blue Ribbon" and "Inspected Vacation Rental (IVR)" These include rules for outfitting, cleanliness, maintenance and truthful advertising, The terms Blue Ribbon and IVR are trademarks owned by the Vacation Rental Industry Association. See also: IVR, Inspected Vacation Rental, VVR, Vertified Vacation Rental (Origin: VRIA, VRMG)
Booking Disclosure
After confirming a guest's dates, rates and charges it is necessary to reference the basic terms which govern the order and to secure the guest's approval prior to accepting payment. That is done by reading a disclosure statement and marking it complete in the booking system. See also: Booking, Terms and Conditions (Origin: Sunspots)
Booking Fee
An additional charge assessed by owners and managers for completing paperwork, handling credit cards, arranging housekeeping and coordinating a lodging property rental. (Origin: Industry)
Business Travel
Travel for commercial, governmental or educational purposes with leisure only as a secondary motivation. (Origin: Industry)
