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.

Absentee Vacation Rental Manager

Company posing as vacation rental managers who does not actually reside in the geographic area. Actually only a booking agent, who sub contracts to freelance housekeepers. Being absent imposes unnecessary risk on property owners and guests.
See also: Property Manager, Vacation Rental Manager Origin: Vacation Rental Association

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: Vacation Rental Association

Advance Payment

Payment by the renter to the owner equaling a portion of the total rental amount. The advance payment is applied to the total rent cost.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

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: Vacation Rental Association

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: Vacation Rental Association

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

Algorithm Lock (Algo Lock)

A digital button lock that uses pre-determined codes known by reservation software and the lock to allow access

- Has no need to be re-programmed manually at the door
.- Can not be programmed over Wi-Fi
- Is not a mechanical keysafe or lock box
- Work similarly to hotel type card locks
- Usually also has a physical key to use.
See also: Wi-Fi Lock, Algorithmic lock, Keysafe, Algo Lock, Card lock Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Alumni

Someone who previously hired a professional service such as a property manager, advertising agency, attorney, accountant, etc. but no longer does so. Should not be used for a company, but rather for its owner or CEO. Generally not for the sale of goods whose buyers are referred to as Customers.
See also: Client Origin: Wm. May

Amenities

The features and benefits associated with a property such as furniture, equipment, furnishings, resort privileges and so forth. Amenities widely between types of accommodations such as hotels, motels, cabins, bed and breakfasts; and also between one unit and another.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

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: Vacation Rental Association

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: Vacation Rental Association

Attendance Building

Marketing and promotional programs designed to increase attendance at conventions, trade shows, meetings, and events.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

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: Vacation Rental Association

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: Vacation Rental Association

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: Redstone Systems

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: Vacation Rental Association

Beach View

When guests can see a beach (Salt or Fresh Water) from some area of the property, not necessarily from all area of the property. May include Full, Partial or Peekaboo Views.
See also: View, City View, Mountain View, Resort View, Water View Origin: Vacation Rental Association

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: Vacation Rental Association

Bed Codes

Short-hand code that allows guests to instantly see the number and sizes of beds in a lodging property. Rather than a description, or a totaling, each bed is represented by a Letter symbol. For example: QQKTTL means a home has two queens, one king, two twin beds and a sleeper sofa.

The codes are as follows:

K = King
Q = Queen
F = Full
T = Twin
C = Futon Couch
M = Mattress
A = Air Mattress
L = Sleeper
S = Sofa
D = Day Bed
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Bed Tax

City or county tax added to the price of a lodging facility.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

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