Insurance Glossary
Vacation Rental Insurance policies can contain technical industry terms that make reading a challenge. To avoid confusion, the carrier as created the following list of definitions for a number of industry terms and phrases.
The following definitions are provided for informational purposes only. Please refer to your Vacation Rental Insurance Policy or Certificate of Insurance for definitions and coverages specific to your Policy/Certificate.
Bed & Breakfast
A small inn or lodge that provides a room and a breakfast. Often a B&B is in a residential home setting and/or a historic building converted to a quaint lodging facility. B&B's are not Vacation Rentals.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Bed Codes
Short-hand code that allows guests to instantly see the number and sizes of beds in a lodging property. Rather than a description, or a totaling, each bed is represented by a Letter symbol. For example: QQKTTL means a home has two queens, one king, two twin beds and a sleeper sofa.
The codes are as follows:
K = King
Q = Queen
F = Full
T = Twin
C = Futon Couch
M = Mattress
A = Air Mattress
L = Sleeper
S = Sofa
D = Day Bed
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Bed Tax
City or county tax added to the price of a lodging facility.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Best Practices
Those policies and procedures that best suit an industry and lead to satisfied customers, good vendor relations and success for business owners. In lodging, best practices are many and varied. In short they can be summarized as being good neighbors with good customer service.
Origin: Redstone Systems
Blocked (Booking)
When an Owner reserves use of their own home the booking is referred to as a Block or Blocked. This word is used in the Computer Booking system.
See also: Abandoned, Aborted, Cancelled, Confirmed, Order, Hold, Incomplete, In Error, Out of Service, Quoted, Unblocked Origin: Istay
Blue Ribbon Inspection
A lodging unit that has been inspected and meets the standards of the Vacation Rental Association (VRIA). Designated as "Blue Ribbon" and "Inspected Vacation Rental (IVR)" These include rules for outfitting, cleanliness, maintenance and truthful advertising, The terms Blue Ribbon and IVR are trademarks owned by the Vacation Rental Association.
See also: IVR, Inspected Vacation Rental, VVR, Verified Vacation Rental Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Booking Disclosure
After confirming a guest's dates, rates and charges it is necessary to reference the basic terms which govern the order and to secure the guest's approval prior to accepting payment. That is done by reading a disclosure statement and marking it complete in the booking system.
See also: Booking, Terms and Conditions Origin: Istay
Business Travel
Travel for commercial, governmental or educational purposes with leisure only as a secondary motivation.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
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
Chambers of Commerce
Typically, a Chamber of Commerce will specialize in local economic development that can include tourism promotion.
Origin: Vacation Rental Association
Channel (Advertising)
A way in which lodging is advertised including websites such as Expedia.com, Hotels.com, VRBO, AirBnB, Booking.com, TripAdvisor, etc.
Origin: Wm. May
Channel Listing Deletion
When an advertising channel (Such as VRBO, AirBnB, etc.) permanently removes a listing from ts platform alleging that a property has low reviews or ratings.
Origin: Faheem, Muhammad
Channel Listing Deletion Appeal
Process of refuting to a channel the reasons they have delisted a property so that the deletion if remove and the property reappears.on the channel.
Origin: Faheem, Muhammad
Channel Listing Deletion Rebuttal
Process of submitting rebuttal to a channel proving that guest reviews and ratings are incorrect so the Deletion is removed and the property reappears on the channel.
Origin: Faheem, Muhammad
Channel Listing Suspension
When an advertising channel (Such as VRBO, AirBnB, etc.) suspends a listing temporarily alleging that a property has low reviews or ratings. Suspensions can be appealed.
Origin: Faheem, Muhammad
Chargeback Fraud
When a customer disputes a credit card charge in a dishonest and deceitful manner. Chargeback fraud is essentially online shoplifting and can be reported to the credit card company and local police as fraud.
See also: Friendly Fraud Origin: Wm. May