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.
Conditions
See Terms & Conditions
See also: Terms & Conditions Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Condotel
(1) A hotel room that is sold as if it were a home, but lacks certain common home features such as a full kitchen.
(2) Any condominium project where homes are operated as a hotel with a registration desk, cleaning service and more. The units are individually owned. Unit owners also have the option to place their unit in the hotels rental program where it is rented out like any other hotel room. Generally, condotels are sold as a second or third home.
NOTE: Mortgage financing for any property categorized as a Condotel may be labeled as "Non-Warrantable" and not financeable in the USA under Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac lending programs.
Origin: Investopedia & VRIA
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
Covered Trip
A period of round-trip travel away from Home to a destination outside your city of residence; the purpose of the trip is business or pleasure and is not to obtain health care or treatment of any kind; the trip has defined departure and return dates specified when the Insured enrolls; the trip does not exceed 180 days.
Origin: CSA Travel Insurance
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
Damage Waiver
A fee paid by guests that covers a maximum amount of damages they may cause. It is paid in advance, is non-refundable and covers unintentional damage up to a certain threshold if reported to the owner or manager prior to departure. Does not cover intentional damage, excessive cleaning, charges due to guest failure to follow booking contract or amounts of the limit
Origin: Vacation Rental Association Link: VRIA.org
Darwin Program (Co-managed Vacation Rentals)
A co-management program with a booking agent company. Manager provides onsite services. Both parties advertise and process bookings. Offered by members of the Sunspots Vacation rental network, such as for cabins, condos, homes & villas.
See also: Homie-Minder Origin: May, William
Day
In most lodging, guests do not rent "Days" but instead bookings are thought of as "Nights". The origin of this terminology comes from the traditional (Hotel, Motel) industry where guests frequently arrive in the afternoon and leave in the morning. Hence it is the night they are renting not the day.
See also: Night Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Deep Cleaning
Heavier than usual cleaning, usually done at least annually it is necessary to have housekeepers clean high spots, behind appliances, baseboards and hard to reach areas.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Departure Date
The date at which a guest departed or is expected to depart from a property. In lodging this also usually includes a time after which the guest is no longer allowed to be in the property.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Destination
A geographic description of where properties are located. Destinations are areas of a State, Locations, on the other hand are sub-areas of Destinations. For example, Poipu Beach is a Location. The island of Kauai is a Destination and Hawaii is the state. These geographic descriptions are not precise and are sometimes named to accommodate various geographic features.
See also: Location, State, Country Origin: Istay
Destination Marketing Organization
Local tourism marketing organizations, such as convention and visitors bureaus or chambers of commerce.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Discrimination
Restricting renters on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, or national origin as prohibited under the Fair Housing Act.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association