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.
Trip Cancellation
Provides reimbursement for certain unused, non-refundable expenses due to cancellation of your trip caused by a covered reason.
Origin: CSA Travel Protection
Unilateral Termination
When one party terminations a contract prior to the term of the contract, the other party may delcare it a unilateral action and access termination fee.
See also: Termination, Termination for Breach, ,Mutual Termination Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Unit
May refer to a room, suite or living area (such as a condo, cabin or home) which is offered to Guests for lodging use and rent. The unit includes all amenities described and associated with the unit including the grounds upon which it rests.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Unwelcomes
When a guest or tenant misuses a property, misbehaves, fails to pay as agreed or violates other conditions of the owner or manager's terms they are referred to as unwelcome and not allowed to rent the property again.
See also: Industry Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: Unwelcomes.org
Use Fee
A proper term for the cost of renting a lodging property. May include rent, housekeeping and other charges.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Usual and customary charge
Those charges for necessary treatment and services that are reasonable for the treatment of cases of comparable severity and nature. This will be derived from the mean charge based on the experience in a related area of the service delivered and the MDR (Medical Data Research) schedule of fees valued at the 100th percentile and the Anesthesia Relative Value Guide.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Vacation Rental
A house, condo or other living unit used for short-term rental, usually in a resort or recreational area and having sleeping quarters, bath and kitchen. Also known as a Holiday let., Holiday Home, Holiday Cottage, Holiday Villa, Guest house or (in France) a Gite.
See also: Holiday Let, Holiday Home, Holiday Cottage, Holiday Village, Guest House, Gite Origin: Vacation Rental
Vacation Rental Angels
Voluntary program from Vacation Rental Association. Members who regularly donate vacation home use to charitable causes are listed on VacationRentalAngels.com website and display the VRIA Angel Icon.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: VacationRentalAngels.com
Vacation Rental Manager
A company that provides comprehensive lodging management services to multiple second homes such as cabins, condos, cottages, houses, villas, etc. Such managers operate local offices, housekeepers, staff, marketing, advertising, accounting and reservations. May also refer to a person at such firm who is in charge of properties.
See also: Property Manager, Absentee Vacation Rental Manager, Corporate Vacation Rental Manager Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Vacation Rental Travel Insurance
A form of travel insurance, purchased from a carrier who agrees to reimburse guests for some expense if they are forced to cancel their travel plans including their rental of a vacation rental home. Covered events usually these include death in the family, personal injury or flight delays. Highly recommended.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
View
What can be seen from an area of the property, not necessarily from all areas of the property.
See also: Beach View, City View, Mountain View, Resort View, Water View Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Visitor
A traveler who goes to a place other than his home to experience life in a different location. Usually means a stay of a short destination.
See also: Traveler Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Visitors Center
Travel information center located at a destination to make it easier for visitors to plan their stay; often operated by a convention and visitors bureau, chamber of commerce, or tourism promotion organization.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
VRAI - Vacation Rental Association
Trade organization that promotes the use and advancement of the vacation rental industry. Umbrella organization for VROA - Vacation Rental Owners Association, VRMG - Vacation Rental Managers Guild and VRGA - Vacation Rental Guests Association. The term VRIA is a Trademark owned by the Vacation Rental Association.
See also: Vacation Rental Owners Association Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: VRAI.org
VRGA - Vacation Rental Guests Association
Trade association of guests who frequent vacation rental homes, organized to advocate for the benefit of its members
Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: VRGA.org
VRMA - Vacation Rental Managers Association
The Vacation Rental Managers Association is a trade association of companies that act as sales agents and managers for vacation homes, condos and similar lodging.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: VRMA.org
VRMLS - Vacation Rental Multiple Listing Service
The world's first Multiple Listing Service (MLS) for Vacation Rentals this is an Open-Listing and Open-Distribution system. Owner and Manager Members can post Properties once and have them distributed to websites around the world. Website Publisher Members can retrieve records and display the on their website.
Similar to the MLS's which have server real estate brokerage for decades; VRMLS is owned by the Vacation Rental Association a Not-For-Profit organization. The term "VRMLS" is an owned trademark.
See also: VRIA Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: VRMLS.org
VROA - Vacation Rental Owners Association
The Vacation Rental Owners Association (VROA) was a trade association comprised of members who own homes and vendors who support them. Became the Vacation Rental Association (VRIA) to support all constituents in the industry.
See also: VRIA, VRMG, VRMLS, VRMA Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: VROA.org
VVR - Verified Vacation Rental
A lodging unit that has submitted documentation and been verified as a legitimately owned and operated vacation rental by the Vacation Rental Association (VRAI.org). Designated as "Verified Vacation Rental (IVR)". Does not include physical inspection as is included in the "Inspection Vacation Rental (IVR)" Program. The term IVR are trademarks owned by the Vacation Rental Association.
See also: IVR, Inspected Vacation Rental, Blue Ribbon Rental Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Water Front Accommodations
Buildings or rooms and living units in a building which is along side a body of water, salt or fresh water. Could be major oceans, estuaries, lakes, rivers or streams. Generally means there are no other buildings between the building and the water. Not necessarily Beach Front.
See also: Ocean Front, Beach Front Origin: Vacation Rental Association