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 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
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
Canceled Stays
The number of guest stays for check-ins during a given period that canceled prior to arrival.
Origin: William May
City View
When guests can see sections of a town or city 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, Mountain View, Resort View, Water View Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Common Calendar
An online calendar which shows a list of available lodging units (room, suites or homes) in a specified Complex or destination; along with available dates. Usually a left hand menu list the units and a top menu shows days or weeks. Booked units are displayed so that a guest can determine which units are available and then make a selection. Available in virtually all lodging software and many lodging websites. Also called a Tape or Grid.
See also: Availability Calendar 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
Condotel
(1) A hotel room that is sold as if it were a home, but lacks certain common home features such as a full kitchen.
(2) Any condominium project where homes are operated as a hotel with a registration desk, cleaning service and more. The units are individually owned. Unit owners also have the option to place their unit in the hotels rental program where it is rented out like any other hotel room. Generally, condotels are sold as a second or third home.
NOTE: Mortgage financing for any property categorized as a Condotel may be labeled as "Non-Warrantable" and not financeable in the USA under Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lending programs.
Origin: Investopedia & VRIA
Damage Waiver
A fee paid by guests that covers a maximum amount of damages they may cause. It is paid in advance, is non-refundable and covers unintentional damage up to a certain threshold if reported to the owner or manager prior to departure. Does not cover intentional damage, excessive cleaning, charges due to guest failure to follow booking contract or amounts of the limit
Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: VRIA.org
Darwin Program (Co-managed Vacation Rentals)
A co-management program with a booking agent company. Manager provides onsite services. Both parties advertise and process bookings. Offered by members of the Sunspots Vacation rental network, such as for cabins, condos, homes & villas.
See also: Homie-Minder Origin: May, William
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
FVRMA - Florida Vacation Rental Managers Assoc
Trade Association of Vacation Rental Managers in the State of Florida.
See also: VRIA, VRMA Origin: FVRMA