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.

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

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

Chargeback

When a customer requires their credit card company to reverse charges they have made with a merchant. This withdraws funds from the merchant's account without their prior permission. Customer must state a valid reason, but it is not evaluated prior to issuing the chargeback.
See also: Charge Back Reversal Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Chargeback Reversal

After a customer requires their credit card company to perform a chargeback or reverse charges they have made with a merchant, the merchant can request that his merchant account provider pursue having the chargeback reversed.
See also: Chargeback Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Check-In

The process by which guests arrive and check into a lodging property. Check In may be accomplished at a front-desk office, by meeting a representative at the property or by a telephone phone in requirement. These vary by the requirements of the owner or manager.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Check-Out

The process by which guests arrive and check out of a lodging property. Check Out may be accomplished at a front-desk office, by meeting a representative at the property or by a telephone phone in requirement. These vary by the requirements of the owner or manager.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association

CHPA - Corporate Housing Providers Association

Industry trade association of businesses that provide corporate housing. They seek the growth, professionalism, excellence, customer service and profitability will improve each corporate housing company individually and the worldwide corporate housing industry collectively.
Origin: CHPA.org Link: CHPA.org

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

Cleaning

See Housekeeping
See also: Out Cleaning Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Cleaning Fee

See Housekeeping fee
See also: Cleaning, Housekeeping, Out Cleaning Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Client Closet

A space with a lock in which a property owner stores assets not to be accessed by guests. Although the word closet is commonly used, the space may be closet, room or just a drawer.
See also: Client Lock off Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Client Lockoff

A locked closet that you set aside in your vacation rental property for your personal things. This is off limits to guests.
See also: Client Closet Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Collection

The process of securing payment from customers who owe you money. Includes contacting the customer by mail, email, fax or phone. Use of a collection agency. The filing of suit in court.
See also: Collection Agency Origin: Vacation Rental Association

Commissions

A percent of the total product cost paid to travel agents and other travel product distributors for selling the product to the consumer. May also refer to compensation paid employees inside an organization.
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

Concierge

An person whose job is to serve as the guest's liaison with the owner or lodging manager and arranging activities, attractions, facilities and services. Services are sometimes performed via phone contact.
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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