Glossary
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.
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
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
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
Canceled Stays
The number of guest stays for check-ins during a given period that canceled prior to arrival.
Origin: William May
Dude Ranch
Usually working ranches that accept guests for lodging, food service, horse back riding and other ranch and farm activities.
See also: Guest Ranch, Farm Stay Origin: Wm. May Link: GuestRanchers.org
Farm Stay
Usually operating farms that accept guests for lodging, food service, horse back riding and other farm life activities and experiences.
See also: Guest Ranch, Due ranch Origin: Wm. May Link: GuestRanchers.org
Fleece
Another word for towels, wash cloths and math mats
See also: Textiles, linens, towels Origin: May, William
Guest Ranch
Usually working ranches that accept guests for lodging, food service, horse back riding and other ranch and farm activities.
See also: Dude Ranch, Farm Stay Origin: Wm. May Link: GuestRanchers.org
Hostel
An establishment that provides inexpensive lodging often for students, workers or travelers, some in shared bed or bunk rooms, sometimes with modest individual rooms. Usually baths are across the hall. Many have bending machines and coffee service, but seldom sit down dining.
Origin: Wm. May
Linens
Usually cotton materials used for sheets, pillow cases and other bedding
See also: Bedding, Textiles, towels, fleece Origin: May, William
Name Your Price
An offer to guests to specify the price they want to pay per night for lodging, and the manager then looks for lodging to meet their criteria
Origin: William May Link: VRIA.org
Obscured Rent by Owner (RBO)
When a website makes a property owners identify hidden thereby requiring guests to only communicate through their website dashboard, the rental is Obscure.
See also: Rent by Owner, Rbo Origin: May, William Link: VRIA.org
Rent By Owner
A property that is rented directly from the owner, rather than through a property management firm. Also refers to websites which offers homes directly from owners.
See also: Direct Marketing terminology, Client, Owner, Target, Lead, Complex, Hijack Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: VRIA.org
Rustication
Vacation in a rustic, rural or remote Inn, Lodge or Resort
Origin: William May Link: Rustications.com
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
Termination
The basis on which a party to a contract - written or verbal - may terminate the contract.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association