Glossary

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.

Pet Friendly

A lodging unit which allows pets in the facility and on the grounds. There is often a deposit and/or a daily fee for allowing pets.
See also: No Pets Origin: Industry

Pet Penalty

When a guest brings a pet to a facility designated as No Pets, a penalty fee is charged. To discourage unapproved pets, pet penalties are usually significant and utilized to retreat a room to counteract the presence of the pet and provide additional cleaning.
See also: Pet penalty, Pet Friendly, No Pets Origin: Industry

Pool Fee

A certain amount above and beyond the rental rate charged to renters wishing to use the heater on your pool or hot tub.
Origin: Industry

Preferences

When a table is providing data to a Notification system, the user is allowed to set preferences by logging on to the website and reviewing their account. The user sets their preferences for which content they want to receive and how often they want to get it.
See also: Notification system Origin: William May

Press Release

A news article or feature story written by the subject of the story for delivery and potential placement in the media.
Origin: Industry

Press Trips

Organized trips for writers and broadcasters for the purpose of assisting them in developing stories that may benefit the trip's provider. Often about tourist destinations. Often, journalists travel independently, though with the assistance of a states office of tourism of a DMO.
Origin: Industry

Property

A hotel, motel, inn, lodge, vacation rental or other accomodation facility.
Origin: Industry

Property Manager

A person or company who manages real estate including commercial, residential and other properties. Also an alternate term for a person who owns a local vacation rental company in a geographic location, that is a member of the Sunspots Network. See Network Member.
See also: Network Member, Networker, Manager, Network Operator Origin: William May

Property Survey

A periodic inspection of a property, usually twice a year but can be more or less often. The purpose is to determine what housekeeping, repairs or maintenance a property should have completed. These include high priority items for safety purposes, to preferred maintenance for guest comfort to recommended improvements that might increase rates or occupancy.
See also: Maintenance, Repairs, Housekeeping Origin: William May

Proprietor

Owner or operator of a lodging establishment such as a hotel, motel, Inn, lodge or resort. Defined as an individual not a company.
Origin: William May

Province or State

See State
See also: Country, Destination, Location Origin: William May

Quote (Booking)

Prior to receiving a guest's approval for purchase, a booking can be completed as a Quote to display all related detailed. This is NOT a commitment to sell the dates. Our software used this word as a Booking Status
See also: Abandoned, Aborted, Blocked, Cancelled, Confirmed, Order, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Out of Service, Unblocked Origin: William May

Rack Rate

The rate accomodations quote to the public. Group rates, convention, trade show, meeting and incentive travel rates are negotiated by the hotel and program organizers.
Origin: Industry

Re-Sellable

When a booking for lodging property is non-cancelable it may instead, be re-sellable. In that case, an owner or manager agrees to attempt to resell a guest's booked dates and, if successful refunds the guests payment usually less a fee for the resell process.
Origin: Industry

Referral

A booking that results from the referral of a friend, neighbor, or past renter.
Origin: Industry

Refund

A payment to the guest for amounts paid toward lodging property bookings and after charges for rent, services, fees or other charges. A common type of refund is for the return to guest of a security and damage deposit they have paid.
Origin: Industry

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.
Origin: Industry

Rent By Owner

A property that is rented directly from the owner, rather than through a property management firm. Also refers to websites which offers homes directly from owners.
Origin: Industry

Repair

The work necessary to return property, equipment or amenities to their original condition to do damage caused by owner, guest or other situations. Usually charged to the person responsible for the damage.
See also: Maintenance Origin: Industry

Repeat Business

Business that continues to return, thereby generating increased profits.
Origin: Industry