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.
Rescheduling
When a guest or the lodging provider reschedules already booked dates for lodging or other travel services. The travel provider may not always be capable of changing dates and to do so may be limited or prohibited by the prior booking contract. If allowed, often there is a fee for rescheduling.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Reservation Fee
An additional charge assessed by owners and managers for completing paperwork, handling credit cards, arranging housekeeping and coordinating a lodging property rental.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Reservation Systems
Computerized systems leased to travel agencies offering airline, hotel. Car rental and selected tour availability and bookings. Systems are affiliated with major carriers, including American (Sabre), United (Apollo), Eastern (System One), TWA (PARS), and Delta (DATAS II) and feature flight schedules of the sponsoring and other carriers, plus additional travel products.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Room
Commonly referred to a sleeping space usually with a single room unless otherwise specifically indicated.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Room Blocks
Several rooms held for a group.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Rustication
Vacation in a rustic, rural or remote Inn, Lodge or Resort
Origin: William May Link: Rustications.com
Scheduled Departure Date
The date on which a guest is originally scheduled to leave on a trip.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Scheduled Return Date
The date on which guest is originally scheduled to return to the point where the Covered Trip started or to a different final destination.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Security Deposit
A payment guests make to property owners or managers to pay for any damage or overage fees they may incur. Not common in hotels or motels but more common for vacation rental cabins, condos and homes. If a guest incurs such charges they are subtracted from the deposit prior to its return. Sometimes called a Damage Deposit.
See also: Damage Deposit, Deposit Waiver Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Seniors
Travelers over a certain age, usually 55, who receive certain benefits not afforded to the general public, such as discounts, early entry or other privileges.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Service Order
When guests or owners request maintenance, additional housekeeping or other services from managers or other vendors. Owners may choose to purchase services using this system. If for essential services there is usually no charge to guests. But charges apply to non-essential services
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Share By Owner
Timeshare unit dates that are rented directly from the owner, rather than through a property management firm.
See also: Direct Marketing terminology, Client, Owner, Target, Lead, Complex, Hijack Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: VRIA.org
Short-Term Rental
Synonymous with Vacation Rental, Holiday Let, Holiday Home. A cabin, condo, apartment, house or villa available for rent on a nightly, weekly usulaly for under 30 days, but occasionally longer. Usually fully furnished including a kitche, bath and sleeping area.
See also: short term, short term rental, Vacation Rental, Holiday Let, Holiday Home, mid-term rental, long-term rental Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Shoulder Season
The period between peak and low periods when business is stronger, but has room from growth.
See also: Travel Seasons, Peak Season, Low Season Origin: Vacation Rental Association
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
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