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.
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
Net Rate
The rate provided to wholesalers and tour operators that can be marked up to sell to the customer.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Night
In most lodging, guests do not rent "Days" but instead bookings are thought of as "Nights". The origin of this terminology comes from the traditional (Hotel, Motel) industry where guests frequently arrive in the afternoon and leave in the morning. Hence it is the night they are renting not the day.
See also: Day Origin: Vacation Rental Association
No Pets
When a lodging facility disallows pets of any kind at the property. If No Pets are specified then pets are not welcome on the grounds, in the vicinity or inside the buildings. [ Service animals are exempt from such limits. ]
See also: Pet Friendly, Service Animal Origin: Vacation Rental Association
No Show
A customer with a reservation at a lodging facility who fails to show up and does not cancel.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
No Smoking
In most jurisdictions, guests are not allowed to smoke in properties or anywhere inside the buildings. Usually there are rules that prohibit smoking within a certain distance of the building or its entrance ways or that prohibit smoking anywhere on the grounds. Most owners of lodging facilities prohibit smoking anywhere on the grounds or in the building
See also: Smoking Penalty Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Non-Cancelable
When a booking for lodging property use is non-cancelable it means the guest must pay for and is not entitled to a refund even if they request a cancellation. This is similar to non-cancelable bookings for airfare and other travel services.
See also: Re-Sellable Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Normal Occupancy
The number of registered occupants for which the normal rental rate applies. There are per-day fees for each disclosed or undisclosed guest over the normal Occupancy.
See also: Sleeps Occupancy, Maximum Occupancy, Disclosed Guest, Undisclosed Guest, Drop-in Guest Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Not Sold
When a destination, location or unit has no available dates left for sale, it is tempting to refer to those as Sold Out. However, it is virtually impossible for us to be sold out. We always have availability somewhere in a different unit, location or destination. So users are forbidden from using the term Sold out. We call that "No So:
See also: Sold out Origin: Istay
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
Occupancy
A percentage indicating the number of nights sold (compared to number available) in a hotel, resort, motel, or vacation rental facility or destination.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Occupant
A person of any age who enters a lodging unit at any time; or enters the property or resort on which it sits. Includes overnight guests but also drop-in visitors.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Ocean Front Accommodations
Buildings or rooms and living units in a building which is along side the ocean shore. Can be major oceans or estuaries. Generally means there are no other buildings between the building and the water. Not necessarily Beach Front.
See also: Beach Front Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Order (Booking)
When a guest makes a booking online it is referred to as an Order until such time as a staff member accepts and confirms it. The software uses this word as a Booking Status.
See also: Abandoned, Aborted, Blocked, Cancelled, Confirmed, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Out of Service, Quoted, Unblocked Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Order Fulfillment
After a booking has been accepted, it is necessary to produce and ship paperwork for the guest's signature. Then to secure its return and payment on time. After which instructions are sent to the guest. During and after the stay to check for guest satisfaction. This entire process is referred to as Order Fulfillment.
See also: Booking Origin: Vacation Rental Association
OTA - Online Travel Agent
Websites where guests can book lodging, airfare, rental cars and other services online. OTA's utilize Global Distribution Services (GDS) to display services and then to confirm them with the travel provider. Examples of OTA's are Expedia.com, Orbitz.com and Hotels.com but there are many others offering the same services.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
OTA - Open Travel Alliance
An organization that engineers computer and technical specifications to ensure traveler and supplier information flow smoothly throughout travel, tourism and hospitality. Membership includes major hotels, airlines and Global Distribution Firms.
Origin: OpenTravel.org Link: OpenTravel.org
Out Clean Fee
A certain amount above and beyond the rental rate that is charged to renters to cover the cost of cleaning the property after departure.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Out Cleaning
Vacation rental homes are usually cleaned after the guest departs, this is referred to as an Out Clean. Usually there is a one time fee for this service.
See also: Out Cleaning Fee, Interim Clean, Housekeeping Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Out of Service (Booking)
When a property is not available for rental it is Out of Service. Often this happens when a property requires maintenance. Our software uses this word as Booking Status
See also: Abandoned, Aborted, Blocked, Cancelled, Confirmed, Order, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Quoted, Unblocked Origin: Vacation Rental Association
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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