Glossary
This Glossary is provided to users of the website as a guide to terms and information they may find helpful. Definitions are added, edited or removed occasionally.
Baggage Delay
Baggage that is delayed for 24 hours or more is considered delayed. Most Travel insurance carriers reimburses for the cost of reasonable additional clothing and personal articles purchased by the travel if baggage is not received within 24 hours of arrival. Some airlines will reimburse passengers for toiletries, clothing, and other essentials if the arrival airport is away from the passenger's home area. Most airlines will deliver delayed baggage to the passengers home or hotel for no charge
See also: Travel Insurance, Vacation Rental Insurance Origin: CSA Travel Insurance
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
Best Practices
Those policies and procedures that best suit an industry and lead to satisfied customers, good vendor relations and success for business owners. In lodging, best practices are many and varied. In short they can be summarized as being good neighbors with good customer service.
Origin: Redstone Systems
Blocked (Booking)
When an Owner reserves use of their own home the booking is referred to as a Block or Blocked. This word is used in the Computer Booking system.
See also: Abandoned, Aborted, Cancelled, Confirmed, Order, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Out of Service, Quoted, Unblocked Origin: Istay
Blue Ribbon Inspection
A lodging unit that has been inspected and meets the standards of the Vacation Rental Association (VRIA). Designated as "Blue Ribbon" and "Inspected Vacation Rental (IVR)" These include rules for outfitting, cleanliness, maintenance and truthful advertising, The terms Blue Ribbon and IVR are trademarks owned by the Vacation Rental Association.
See also: IVR, Inspected Vacation Rental, VVR, Verified Vacation Rental Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Booking Disclosure
After confirming a guest's dates, rates and charges it is necessary to reference the basic terms which govern the order and to secure the guest's approval prior to accepting payment. That is done by reading a disclosure statement and marking it complete in the booking system.
See also: Booking, Terms and Conditions Origin: Istay
Booking Status
The current standing of a customer booking; indicates how the order is being handled. IE: Confirmed bookings are firm and expected to take place (Or have taken place). Cancelled bookings are no longer in effect. This word is used for a process in our software and how bookings are handled.
See also: Abandoned, Aborted, Blocked, Cancelled, Confirmed, Expired, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Lapsed, Order, Out of Service, Quoted, Unblocked Origin: Istay
Booking Window
The days during which a booking can be made into the future. For example: If the Booking Window is 90 days, then on the 1st of January a guest could make a booking on or before March31st, but not on April 1st or later.
See also: Rolling Block, Stop Block, Terminus Date-Time, Cleaning Window, Rolling Window, Sales Window. Origin: William May
Bookings Terminus Date-Time
That last possible date and time that a guest can book a night online. For example, it may be wise to disallow guests form booking tonight, less than 10 hours prior to midnight for fear the staff members may not see the booking, may not confirm it and may not arrange for the guest to can occupancy.
See also: Booking, Block Origin: William May
Business Travel
Travel for commercial, governmental or educational purposes with leisure only as a secondary motivation.
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
Cancellation Policy
The terms and basis on which a lodging property owner or manager will or will not accept cancellations. Also dependent on the terms on which the guest booked the property. Usually stated as a number o days prior to first date of occupancy on which a guest may request a cancellation. Fees may apply to cancellations or cancellations may be denied altogether.
See also: "Guarantee Reservation" and "Advance Lodging Reservation" Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Cancelled (Booking)
A previously confirmed (Completed) Booking that has been later Cancelled. Our software uses this is a Booking Status.
See also: Abandoned, Aborted, Blocked, Confirmed, Order, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Out of Service, Quoted, Unblocked Origin: Istay
Carpet Cleaning
Usually performed periodically by a vendor using specialized steam or other equipment to clean wall-to-wall carpeting.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Central Reservations
An office which receives phone calls, answers quest inquiries and arranges bookings of lodging facilities and other types of travel services
See also: Front Desk Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Certified Hearing Dog
A dog which has completed extensive training to alert its owner to a variety of sounds in different environments. These dogs are usually identified by a bright orange leash with black lettering.
Origin: Hearing Loss Association of Canada
DETAILS: Glossaries and Dictionaries are handy tools. They provide an indication of meaning but additional study may be necessary to comprehend the full meaning. There may be alternate definitions not included here and experts may disagree on the proper explanation of each term.
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