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

Composite Vacation Rental manager

A company that provides comprehensive vacation rental management services to second homes such as cabins, cottages, houses and villas by being a locally owned and operated business supported by a centralized back office support team. This allows local staff to focus on housekeeping, maintenance, guest and owner services, while the back office. Provides accounting, reservations with work class marketing and advertising.
Origin: Vortex Managers Link: VortexManagers.com

Confirmed (Booking)

An oral or written statement by the manager that they have received the guest's order and will honor a booking providing the guest honors their obligations, such as paying timely or arriving on time. Confirmed bookings may be Guaranteed or Advance Lodging Guarantee. Used in software as a Booking Status
See also: Abandoned, Aborted, Blocked, Cancelled, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Order, Out of Service, Quoted, Unblocked Origin: Vacation Rental Association

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

Electronic Lock

A digital or push button mechanical lock that does not require a key or access card to operate.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Eviction

The lawful expulsion of an occupant from a property.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Fair Housing Act

Federal statute prohibiting discrimination against renters based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, familial status (including children under the age of 18 living with parents of legal custodians, pregnant women, and people securing custody of children under the age of 18), and handicap.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

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

Fractional

Describes a lodging property, usually a vacation home, owned by more than one person or party. Usually organized as an association having multiple owners who share use of the home on a pre-determined arrangement, each getting different times of the year.. In some, but not all, states fractionals are governed by timeshares but operate differently with owners having control over choice of manager, amenities and later sale or disposition of the parties.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

GDS - Global Distribution Systems

Worldwide computer networks, originally developed to offer lodging, airfare, rental cars and other services to Travel Agents who, in turned booked guests into them using the network. There are four different GDS such as Amadeus Sabre, Galileo & World span,
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

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

High Rise Building

A building that may include various types of space, and often office space that is 12 or more floors in height.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Homeowner's Insurance

An insurance policy that combines personal liability insurance and hazard insurance coverage for a dwelling and its contents.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Hospitality Industry

Another term for the travel industry.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

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

Leasehold Interest

When an owner of a property leases the property to second party, that party is said to have a leasehold interest. They have certain rights in regard to the use and disposition of the property but not the right to sell the property itself. This usually refers to a leasehold interest in land.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Leisure Travel

Travel for recreational, educational, sightseeing, relaxing and other experiential purposes.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Low Rise Building

Usually a building of 3 or 4 floors or less which usually houses office spaces and sometimes first floor retail space.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Market Share

The percentage of business within a market category.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

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