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

Abandoned (Booking)

Bookings that were ordered on line but later cancelled by the guest or the guide are referred to as Abandoned. This word is used by our software as a Booking Status
See also: Aborted, Blocked, Cancelled, Confirmed, Order, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Out of Service, Quoted, Unblocked Origin: William May

Aborted (Booking)

A Booking that is started but later stopped in mid-process is referred to as Aborted. In that case the entire record is actually deleted from the database. Our software uses this word as a Booking Status.
See also: Abandoned, Blocked, Cancelled, Confirmed, Order, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Out of Service, Quoted, Unblocked Origin: William May

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 propose 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 accomodations 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

Approvals

After content is posted to any table which is setup in the Notification system may also require an administrator to approve each record before it is distributed to users. Not all tables require pre-approval. But if they do a series of fields is use to indicate the administrators approval, the date that was given and any notes necessary. Users are allowed to set their preferences as to what they receive and how frequently.
See also: Notification System Origin: William

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

Attendance Building

Marketing and promotional programs designed to increase attendance at conventions, trade shows, meetings, and events.
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 (Room, Suite or Home).
See also: Common Calendar 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 geographically between the building and the water. Generally means there are no other buildings between the building and the water. Is more specific than Ocean Front Accommodations 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