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.
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
Chambers of Commerce
Typically, a Chamber of Commerce will specialize in local economic development that can include tourism promotion.
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
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
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
Conditions
See Terms & Conditions
See also: Terms & Conditions Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Configuration
The arrangement of furniture, equipment and other features of a property including the specific layout and location.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Confirmation
The document usually sent to guests confirming that they have entered into a contract for the occupancy of a lodging unit such as a hotel room, vacation rental home, condo or similar lodging.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Confirmed (Booking)
An oral or written statement by the manager that they have received the guest's order and will honor a booking providing the guest honors their obligations, such as paying timely or arriving on time. Confirmed bookings may be Guaranteed or Advance Lodging Guarantee. Used in software as a Booking Status
See also: Abandoned, Aborted, Blocked, Cancelled, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Order, Out of Service, Quoted, Unblocked Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Convention and Visitors Bureau
These organizations are local tourism marketing organizations specializing in developing conventions, meetings, conferences, and visitations to a city, county or region.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Cosmetics
Improvements to a home such as installing a new fireplace that are relatively inexpensive and make a big difference to the look of the home.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Cover
Each diner at a restaurant.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
CVRO - Certified Rental Owner
Owners of lodging who study for and pass a test about their competence to manage vacation rental lodging are awarded a CVRO - Certified Rental Owner designation. The course of study includes awareness and a pledge to maintain properties that are properly outfitted, clean, maintained and truthful in advertising. The term CVRO is a trademark owned by the Vacation Rental Association.
See also: CVRM, CVRI, VRIA Origin: Vacation Rental Association
CVRP - Certified Vacation Rental Profession
Managers of lodging who study for and pass a test about their competence to manage vacation rental lodging are awarded a CVRP - Certified Vacation Rental Professional designation. The course of study includes awareness and a pledge to maintain properties that are properly outfitted, clean, maintained and truthful in advertising. The term CVRP is a trademark owned by the Vacation Rental Association.
See also: CVRO, VRIA, IVVR, VVR Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: VRIA.org
Damage Deposit
A payment customers make to property owners or managers to pay for any damage or overage fees they may incur. Not common in hotels or motels but very 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 Security Deposit.
See also: Security Deposit Origin: Vacation Rental Association