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.
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
Resort View
When guests can see some or all of the resort they are staying in, from some area of the property, not necessarily from all area of the property.. May include Full, Partial or Peekaboo Views
See also: View, Beach View, City View, Mountain View, Water View 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 Animal (Dog)
A Service Animal has a skill which directly reduces the effect of a disability and so can legally accompany their disabled handler anywhere they can legally go. In the United States, Service Animals are legally protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. As Therapy Dogs do not provide direct assistance they are not protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Not to be confused with therapy animals which have no protection under the Act.
See also: Therapy Animal Origin: FreeMyPaws.org Link: FreeMyPaws.org
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
Setting
The type of area in which a property is located. Such as at the Beach, in the Mountains, part of a Resort or in the City.
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
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