Dictionary
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.
Site Inspection
An assessment tour of a destination of facility by a meeting planner, convention or trade show manager, site selection committee, tour operator, wholesaler or incentive travel manager to see if it meets their needs and requirements prior to selecting a specific site for an event. After site selection, a site inspection may be utilized to make arrangements.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Ski-In Accommodations
Building, rooms or living units in a ski resort area where guests can ski to the building or reasonably close to it. Could require guests to remove skis to access the building or its grounds. Not necessarily down hill to the building but access would usually be without major obstacles between the slopes and the accommodations.
See also: Ski-Out Accommodations, Ski-In Ski-Out Accommodations Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Ski-In and Ski-Out Accommodations
Building, rooms or living units in a ski resort area where guests can get out to access the ski lifts and return from the ski lifts directly from the slopes. Could require guests to walk short distances to reach snow. Not necessarily down hill to and from building to the slopes but access would usually be without major obstacles between the slopes and the accommodations.
See also: Ski-In Accommodations, Ski-Out Accommodations Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Ski-Out Accommodations
Building, rooms or living units in a ski resort area where guests can get out to access the ski lifts. Could require guests to walk short distances to reach snow. Not necessarily down hill from building to the slopes but access would usually be without major obstacles between the slopes and the accommodations.
See also: Ski-In Accommodations, Ski-In and Ski-Out Accommodations Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Smoking Penalty
The fee charged to guests for smoking in a No Smoking lodging facility. Usually the fee is significant due to the costs associated with cleaning facilities sufficiently to return them to a no smoking condition; and to deter unauthorized smoking.
See also: No Smoking Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Sold Out
When a destination, location or unit has no available dates left for sale, it is tempting to refer to those as Sold Out.
See also: See Noso Origin: Istay
Spa
(1) A small pool usually indoors and accommodating 2 to 12 people who can sit in and enjoy the hot water usually 100 to 104 degrees Fahrenheit. Usually self contained including pumps, air jets, covered when not in use and treated with chlorine or similar chemical to keep the water sanitary. Also called a hot tub. (2) A business which offers health and therapeutic treatments such as massage, facials and exercise.
See also: Hot Tub Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Spa Hot Tub Cleaning Fee
A certain amount above and beyond the rental rate charged to renters wishing to use a hot tub.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Spouse Program
Special activities planned for those who accompany an attendee to a convention, trade show or meeting. Note that programs today are not simply for women, but rather for men and women, spouses and friends. Programs must be creatively designed to interest intelligent and curious audiences.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
State or Province
A State or Province is a sub-area of a Country. For our purposes Countries hold States. States hold destinations, Destinations hold Locations and Locations hold Properties, Resorts or Venues.
See also: Province, Country, Destination, Location Origin: Redstone Systems
Stay Over
See Hold Over.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Sundries
Incidental supplies provided along with rent of a lodging property such as paper goods, soaps, salt/pepper and other kitchen basics. Many managers provide a started supply of such things. Most do not provide an unlimited stash.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
SunPartners
A company which owns and offers vacation rental home ownership on a fractional basis. Segments of homes, usually 2 months in length are sold to owners who share ownership in one of several legal arrangements.
See also: Fractionals Origin: Istay
Sunspots Network
A group of independent real estate agents and lodging managers who utilize the Sunspots central office for a variety of services that support the offering and delivery of quality vacation rentals. Members subscribe to the best practices of the lodging industry and are contractually obligated to provide a consistent quality guest and owner experience.
Origin: Vortex
Sunspots Vacation Rentals Network
Network of Vacation Rental Management Companies, each independently owned and operated operated by trained and certified managers in various geographic areas.
See also: Sunspots Network Origin: Vortex Link: SunspotVacationRentals.com
Sunspotters
A program where guests who frequently rent from membes of the Sunspot Vacation Rentals Network and are given special privileges for their loyalty. Also referred to as a "Frequent Stayer" club. There is no charge for joining Sunspotters
Origin: Sunspot Vacation Rentals
Tariff
Rate of fare quoted and published by a travel industry supplier (i.e. hotels, tour operators, etc.) Usually an annual tariff is produced in a booklet form for use in sales calls at trade shows.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Tenant
A person or persons who rents a real estate property for an extended stay. As opposed to a "Guest" who rents a property for a short stay. The difference between a Guest and a Tenant is usually determined by local governing bodies such as states, counties, cities or home owner associations. Many jurisdictions consider tenants to be those who stay for more than 30 days. Tenants and Guests have different rights of use for the property.
See also: Guest Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Termination
The basis on which a party to a contract - written or verbal - may terminate the contract.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Terms & Conditions
The list of conditions, usually in writing and often printed on a website, that govern a contract or order. They spell out how payments are handled, what the policies and procedures are, what happens in the case of certain events. They govern the customer's comportment and obligate them to other rules and regulations.
See also: Rules, Regulations Origin: Istay