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.
Front Desk
An office, accessible to guests during certain hours, where they can arrange the booking of lodging facilities and other types of travel services. And where, if a booking has been pre-arranged, where they may Check In to receive keys and guest instructions as well as Check Out.
See also: Central Reservations, Check In, Check Out Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Fulfillment
Servicing consumers and trade who request information as a result of advertising or promotional programs. Service often includes and 800 number, sales staff, and distribution of materials. For advance reservation lodging it refers to the sending and receiving of contracts, guest instructions and other documents
See also: Advance lodging reservation Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Furnishings
All furniture, equipment, appliances, artwork and other assets located inside a lodging property or on its grounds.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
FVRMA - Florida Vacation Rental Managers Assoc
Trade Association of Vacation Rental Managers in the State of Florida.
See also: VRIA, VRMA Origin: FVRMA
Gateway or Gateway City
A major airport, seaport, rail or bus center through which tourists and travelers enter from outside the region.
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
Geographic Area
Also known as a Geographic Area. Can be a small or large area, from a building or destination up to a state of country. Used in conjunction to with describing real estate.
See also: Geographic Area Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Gite
A French holiday home available for rent on a short term basis. Usually self-catering and fully furnished. Technically the owner must live close by to provide help, assistance, and a warm welcome to guests. Often Gites are old cottages or converted outbuildings and barns close to owners' residence.
See also: Vacation Rental, Holiday Villa, Holiday House, Holiday Let, Self-Catering Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Gleaning
In agriculture, farmers allow charity groups to enter fields already picked, to take left over crops. In lodging, charitable groups are allowed to use or sell nights unlikely to sell. This provides benefit to the charities, promotional value to properties and goodwill for all.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Goldener Inns
Company that provides lodging services to the Goldener Network of Inns and Resorts. Those members provide management services to small unique Inns and Resorts Vacation Rentals in various geographic areas. The Goldener Inns name is promoted to consumers to establish a national and international brand name.
Origin: Goldener Link: GoldenerInns.com
Gratuities
The formal term for leaving money for those who serve such as wait staff, housekeepers and others. Not common in all countries or for all jobs. Wait staff are tipped in most places. Gratuities for Housekeepers are less common.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Guaranteed Reservation
An option for guests who wish to have their lodging property held for their use regardless of time of arrival, or failure to arrive. In that case the guest is always charged. After one night of no show, the owner or manager may elect but is not obligated to rent the property to another party.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Guesstimating
Projecting income, events or news with an admission that it is not based on science, or known foundation for the projection.
See also: Guesttimating, projection Origin: Vacation Rental
Guest
A person or persons who rents a real estate property for a short stay. As opposed to a "Tenant" who rents a property for a longer period. The difference between a Guest and a Tenant is usually determined by local governing bodies such as states, counties, cities or home owner associations. Many jurisdictions consider guests as those who stay for 30 days or less. Tenants and Guests have different rights of use for the property.
See also: Tenant Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Guest House
A house, condo or other living unit used for short-term rental, usually in a resort or recreational area and having sleeping quarters, bath and kitchen. Also known as a Vacation Rental, Holiday let., Holiday House, Holiday Cottage, Holiday Villa or (in France) a Gite.
See also: Vacation Rental, Holiday Let, Holiday House, Holiday Cottage, Holiday Village, Gite Origin: Wm. May
Guest Obligations
As common courtesy, guests have an obligation to treat people and property with respect and within normal and usual reason. For vacation rental units those obligation include common sense items, such as turning off lights when not in use, taking care with fireplaces and barbecues, not creating noise or nuisance.
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
Guest Registration
The process during which a guest checks into a lodging unit and registers as being in occupancy. Also the form used during the registration process.
See also: Simple Registration, Complex Registration Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Guest Survey
A mailed, or in unit, email or online survey inviting guests to rate and comment on the property they have occupied. Questions include guest satisfaction on cleanliness, furnishings, customer service and other factors which reflect on the property.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Guestminder Program (For Complexes)
A co-hosting program for lodging owners offered by members of the Goldener inns & resort Network, such as Inns, Resorts and other multi-unit properties.
See also: Guest minders, guest minder, Origin: GuestMinders Link: GuestMinders.com