Glossary of Lodging Rental Terms
To help guests understand more about the rental of rooms and house from inns, resorts and vacation rentals this glossary is provided for your reference. It is not comprehensive but serves as a primary for terms guests may encounter in renting and utilizing lodging.
Screening Guests
Taking steps to get to know potential renters before allowing them to rent your property.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Security Deposit
A payment guests make to property owners or managers to pay for any damage or overage fees they may incur. Not common in hotels or motels but more common for vacation rental cabins, condos and homes. If a guest incurs such charges they are subtracted from the deposit prior to its return. Sometimes called a Damage Deposit.
See also: Damage Deposit, Deposit Waiver Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Self Catering
A term sometimes used for vacation rentals primarily in Europe, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Also applies to furnished apartments without an onsite cook.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Self Catering
A term sometimes used for vacation rentals in Europe, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Also applies to furnished apartments without an onsite cook.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Seniors
Travelers over a certain age, usually 55, who receive certain benefits not afforded to the general public, such as discounts, early entry or other priviledges.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Service Animal (Dog)
A Service Animal has a skill which directly reduces the effect of a disability and so can legally accompany their disabled handler anywhere they can legally go. In the United States, Service Animals are legally protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. As Therapy Dogs do not provide direct assistance they are not protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Not to be confused with therapy animals which have no protection under the Act.
See also: Therapy Animal Origin: FreeMyPaws.org Link: FreeMyPaws.org
Service Order
When guests or owners request maintenance, additional housekeeping or other services from managers or other vendors. Owners may choose to purchase services using this system. If for essential services there is usually no charge to guests. But charges apply to non-essential services
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Setting
The type of area in which a property is located. Such as at the Beach, in the Mountains, part of a Resort or in the City.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Share By Owner
Timeshare unit dates that are rented directly from the owner, rather than through a property management firm.
See also: Direct Marketing terminiology, Client, Owner, Target, Lead, Complex, Hijack Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: VRIA.org
Shells
A marketing and sales promotional piece that depicts a destination, accomodation, or attraction on the cover and provides space for copy to be added at a later date. Usually shells fit a #10 envelope.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Short-Term Rental
Synonymous with Vacation Rental, Holiday Let, Holiday Home. A cabin, condo, apartment, house or villa available for rent on a nightly, weekly or occasionally longer basis. Usually fully furnished.
See also: Vacation Rental, Holiday Let, Holiday Home Origin: Istay
Shoulder Season
The period between peak and low periods when business is stronger, but has room from growth.
See also: Travel Seasons, Peak Season, Low Season Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Site Inspection
An assessment tour of a destination of facility by a meeting planner, convention or trade show manager, site selection committee, tour operator, wholesaler or incentive travel manager to see if it meets their needs and requirements prior to selecting a specific site for an event. After site selection, a site inspection may be utilized to make arrangements.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Ski-In Accommodations
Building, rooms or living units in a ski resort area where guests can ski to the building or reasonably close to it. Could require guests to remove skis to access the building or its grounds. Not necessarily down hill to the building but access would usually be without major obstacles between the slopes and the accommodations.
See also: Ski-Out Accommodations, Ski-In Ski-Out Accommodations Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Ski-In and Ski-Out Accommodations
Building, rooms or living units in a ski resort area where guests can get out to access the ski lifts and return from the ski lifts directly from the slopes. Could require guests to walk short distances to reach snow. Not necessarily down hill to and from building to the slopes but access would usually be without major obstacles between the slopes and the accommodations.
See also: Ski-In Accommodations, Ski-Out Accommodations Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Ski-Out Accommodations
Building, rooms or living units in a ski resort area where guests can get out to access the ski lifts. Could require guests to walk short distances to reach snow. Not necessarily down hill from building to the slopes but access would usually be without major obstacles between the slopes and the accommodations.
See also: Ski-In Accommodstions, SkiInt and Ski-Out Accommodations Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Smoking Penalty
The fee charged to guests for smoking in a No Smoking lodging facility. Usually the fee is significant due to the costs associated with cleaning facilities sufficiently to return them to a no smoking condition; and to deter unauthorized smoking.
See also: No Smoking Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Sold Out
When a destination, location or unit has no available dates left for sale, it is tempting to refer to those as Sold Out.
See also: See Noso Origin: Istay
Spa
(1) A small pool usually indoors and accommodating 2 to 12 people who can sit in and enjoy the hot water usually 100 to 104 degrees fahrenheit. Usually self contained including pumps, air jets, covered when not in use and treated with chlorine or similar chemical to keep the water sanitary. Also called a hot tub. (2) A business which offers health and therapeutic treatments such as massage, facials and exercise.
See also: Hot Tub Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Spa Hot Tub Cleaning Fee
A certain amount above and beyond the rental rate charged to renters wishing to use a hot tub.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association