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Vacation Rental Glossary
Comprehensive glossary of vacation rental and property management terms. Learn the key concepts behind short-term rental management.
230 terms
Technology (29)
Industry (53)
Metrics (36)
Operations (67)
Strategy (34)
Hostaway (11)
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
A
Accessible Property
A vacation rental property that is designed or adapted to accommodate guests with disabilities or mobility limitations.
Operations
ADU
An ADU (accessory dwelling unit) is a secondary housing unit on a single-family property — such as a garage apartment or backyard cottage — often used as a short-term rental.
Industry
AI Pricing
The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to automatically optimize vacation rental nightly rates in real time.
Technology
Airbnb
Airbnb is the world's largest online marketplace for vacation rentals, homestays, and short-term rental experiences.
Industry
Airbnb Co-Host Network
Airbnb's official marketplace connecting property owners with experienced co-hosts who manage their listings.
Industry
Amenity
A feature, facility, or service provided at a vacation rental that adds value to the guest experience.
Industry
Ancillary Revenue
Additional income earned from upsells, add-on services, and experiences beyond the base accommodation charge.
Metrics
Anti-Discrimination Policy
Rules and legal requirements ensuring vacation rental hosts do not discriminate against guests based on protected characteristics.
Operations
Aparthotel
A hybrid accommodation combining hotel-style services with apartment-style living spaces.
Industry
API Connection
An API connection is a technical integration that allows two software platforms to exchange data automatically, enabling vacation rental tools to work together in real time.
Technology
Automated Messages
Pre-written guest communications that are automatically sent based on booking events or scheduled timing.
Technology
Automated Review Response
Automated review response uses templates or AI to reply to guest reviews on booking platforms without requiring manual input for each response.
Technology
Average Booking Value
Average booking value is the mean total revenue generated per confirmed reservation, including accommodation fees, cleaning fees, and any additional charges.
Metrics
Average Daily Rate (ADR)
The average revenue earned per occupied rental night over a given period.
Metrics
B
Base Rate
The foundational nightly price for a vacation rental before any fees, taxes, or dynamic pricing adjustments are applied.
Strategy
Bleisure Travel
A travel trend where business trips are extended to include leisure activities and personal vacation time.
Industry
Booking Confirmation
An official acknowledgment sent to a guest confirming that their vacation rental reservation has been secured.
Operations
Booking Engine
A software tool embedded on a property manager's website that enables guests to search availability and book directly.
Technology
Booking Modification
A change made to an existing vacation rental reservation, such as adjusting dates, guest count, or property selection.
Operations
Booking Pace
The rate at which reservations are being made for future dates compared to the same period in prior years.
Metrics
Booking Source
The channel or platform where a reservation originates, used for attribution tracking and marketing analysis.
Metrics
Booking Window
The amount of time between when a reservation is made and the actual check-in date.
Metrics
Booking.com
Booking.com is a leading global online travel agency with a massive international audience, particularly strong across European markets.
Industry
Boutique Hotel
A boutique hotel is a small, design-forward independent hotel — typically under 100 rooms — known for distinctive character and personalized service.
Industry
Break-Even Occupancy
The minimum occupancy rate a vacation rental must achieve to cover all operating costs without generating a loss.
Metrics
Business License
A business license is a government-issued permit authorizing an operator to conduct short-term rental activities as a commercial business in a specific jurisdiction.
Strategy
Business Travel
Trips taken for professional purposes, with an increasing share of business travelers choosing vacation rentals over traditional hotels.
Industry
C
Cabin
A cozy, often rustic vacation rental property typically located in mountain, forest, lake, or rural settings.
Industry
Cancellation Policy
The rules governing refunds and penalties when a guest cancels a confirmed reservation.
Operations
Cap Rate
A real estate metric that measures the annual return on an investment property based on its net operating income.
Metrics
Cash Flow
The net amount of money moving into and out of a vacation rental business over a specific period, reflecting its financial health and liquidity.
Metrics
Cash-on-Cash Return
Cash-on-cash return measures annual rental income as a percentage of the cash invested in a property, used to evaluate short-term rental investment performance.
Metrics
Certificate of Occupancy
A certificate of occupancy is an official document confirming a property meets building codes and is legally approved for residential or commercial use.
Strategy
Chalet
A vacation rental property typically found in mountainous or ski resort areas, characterized by wooden architecture and alpine charm.
Industry
Channel Manager
Software that synchronizes property listings, availability, and pricing across multiple booking platforms.
Technology
Chargeback
A payment reversal initiated by a guest's bank or credit card company, disputing a vacation rental charge.
Operations
Check-In
The process by which a guest arrives at and gains access to a vacation rental property at the start of their stay.
Operations
Check-Out
The process by which a guest departs a vacation rental property at the end of their stay.
Operations
Cleaning Checklist
A standardized list of cleaning and preparation tasks that must be completed during turnover between guest stays.
Operations
Cleaning Fee
A one-time charge added to a reservation to cover the cost of cleaning and preparing the property between guests.
Operations
Co-Host
A person who helps manage a vacation rental property on behalf of the primary host, sharing responsibilities and revenue.
Industry
Commission Rate
The percentage of rental revenue charged by a property management company or booking platform as compensation for their services.
Metrics
Comp Set
A group of comparable vacation rental properties used for benchmarking performance and pricing.
Metrics
Condo
An individually owned residential unit within a larger building or complex, commonly used as a vacation rental in urban and resort markets.
Industry
Contactless Check-In
A guest arrival process that uses technology to enable property access without in-person interaction.
Operations
Conversion Rate
The percentage of listing views or booking inquiries that result in confirmed reservations.
Metrics
Corporate Housing
Fully furnished rental properties leased to business travelers and professionals on extended work assignments, typically for 30 days or more.
Industry
Cottage
A small, charming vacation rental property typically situated in a rural, coastal, or countryside setting.
Industry
CRM
Customer relationship management software used to track guest interactions, preferences, and communication for retention and remarketing.
Technology
Customer Acquisition Cost
The total cost of marketing, commissions, and operational effort required to secure a new guest booking.
Metrics
D
Damage Protection
Damage protection covers the cost of guest-caused property damage during a stay, either through a security deposit, host insurance, or a platform-provided guarantee.
Operations
Damage Waiver
A non-refundable fee that covers accidental guest damage, replacing the need for a traditional security deposit.
Operations
Data Privacy
The practices and regulatory requirements for collecting, storing, and processing guest personal information in vacation rentals.
Operations
Demand Forecasting
The use of data and analytics to predict future booking demand for vacation rental properties.
Strategy
Depreciation
A tax deduction that accounts for the gradual wear, deterioration, and aging of a rental property over its useful life.
Metrics
Digital Guidebook
A digital guidebook is an online resource hosts provide to guests with property instructions, local recommendations, and essential information accessible by smartphone.
Technology
Digital Nomad Visa
A special residence permit allowing remote workers to live and work in a foreign country for an extended period.
Industry
Direct Booking
A reservation made directly with a property manager's own website, bypassing OTA platforms and their commission fees.
Industry
Direct Booking Website
A property manager's own branded website where guests can search availability and book without going through an OTA.
Strategy
Dispute Resolution
The process of handling and resolving conflicts between property managers and guests, including damage claims and refund requests.
Operations
Double Booking
When the same property is accidentally reserved by two different guests for overlapping dates.
Operations
Dynamic Pricing
An automated pricing strategy that adjusts nightly rates in real-time based on demand, competition, and market conditions.
Technology
E
Early Check-In
An option allowing guests to arrive and access the property before the standard check-in time, often offered as a paid upsell.
Operations
Email Marketing
The use of targeted email campaigns to nurture past guest relationships, encourage repeat bookings, and drive direct reservations.
Strategy
Event-Driven Pricing
A pricing strategy that adjusts vacation rental rates based on local events, festivals, and occasions that spike demand.
Strategy
Experience Economy
The experience economy describes a shift in consumer spending toward immersive, memorable experiences over material goods, directly shaping how travelers choose and value vacation rentals.
Industry
Extended Stay
Extended stay refers to accommodation designed for guests staying 30 days or longer, with amenities like full kitchens and discounted weekly or monthly rates.
Industry
Extra Guest Fee
An additional nightly charge applied when the number of guests exceeds the base occupancy included in the rate.
Operations
F
Family Travel
Family travel refers to leisure trips taken by households with children, a major guest segment that prioritizes space, safety, and kitchen facilities in vacation rentals.
Industry
G
Gap Night
An unbooked night between two reservations that is too short to attract a new booking.
Operations
Glamping
A form of luxury outdoor accommodation that combines camping with hotel-like amenities and comforts.
Industry
Good Neighbor Policy
A set of community conduct rules that vacation rental guests must follow to minimize disturbance to surrounding residents.
Operations
Google Vacation Rental Ads
Google Vacation Rental Ads are property listings that appear directly in Google Search and Google Maps results, allowing vacation rentals to reach travelers outside of OTA platforms.
Strategy
Google Vacation Rentals
Google's commission-free metasearch platform that displays vacation rental listings directly in Google Search and Maps.
Technology
GOPPAR
GOPPAR (Gross Operating Profit Per Available Room) measures a vacation rental's profitability by dividing gross operating profit by the total nights available in a period.
Metrics
Gross Booking Value (GBV)
The total monetary value of all bookings before any deductions for commissions, fees, or expenses are applied.
Metrics
Gross Rental Income
The total revenue generated from a vacation rental property before subtracting any operating expenses, management fees, or taxes.
Metrics
Group Booking
A group booking is a vacation rental reservation made for a large party — typically eight or more guests — often for special occasions, reunions, or corporate retreats.
Operations
Guest Communication
All messaging and interactions between property managers and guests throughout the booking lifecycle.
Operations
Guest Fee
A guest fee (or guest service fee) is a charge added to a guest's booking total by an OTA platform on top of the nightly rate set by the host.
Metrics
Guest Journey
The complete end-to-end experience of a guest from initial property discovery through post-stay follow-up.
Operations
Guest Lifetime Value (LTV)
The total revenue a property manager can expect from a single guest across all their bookings over time.
Metrics
Guest Onboarding
Guest onboarding is the process of communicating property information, check-in instructions, and house rules to guests between booking confirmation and arrival.
Operations
Guest Persona
A profile representing a specific traveler segment that a vacation rental targets, based on demographics, preferences, and booking behavior.
Strategy
Guest Portal
A digital interface where guests can access booking details, check-in instructions, and property information.
Technology
Guest Registration
The legal requirement for short-term rental operators to collect, record, and in many cases report guest identity information to local authorities.
Operations
Guest Review
Written feedback and star rating left by a guest after their stay at a vacation rental property.
Operations
Guest Satisfaction
A systematic measure of how well a vacation rental experience meets or exceeds guest expectations, often tracked via surveys or reviews.
Metrics
Guest Screening
The process of verifying guest identity and evaluating risk before confirming a reservation.
Operations
Guest Verification
Guest verification is the process of confirming a guest's identity through ID documents and platform checks before approving or completing a booking.
Operations
H
Holiday Pricing
Premium nightly rates applied during holidays and high-demand periods to maximize revenue from predictable surges in travel demand.
Strategy
Homesharing
Homesharing is the practice of renting out a room or portion of your primary residence to guests while you continue living in the home.
Industry
Hospitality
Hospitality is the industry encompassing lodging, food service, and guest experiences, including short-term rentals and vacation properties.
Industry
Host Fee
A host fee is a service charge deducted from a host's payout by an OTA platform, typically ranging from 3% to 15% of the booking subtotal.
Metrics
Host Permit
A host permit (or STR permit) is a property-specific authorization required by many cities for operators to legally rent a home on a short-term basis.
Strategy
Hostaway AI
Hostaway's native artificial intelligence features for automated guest communication and operational optimization.
Hostaway
Hostaway Analytics
Hostaway's reporting and business intelligence tools for vacation rental performance tracking.
Hostaway
Hostaway Automation
Hostaway's workflow automation tools that streamline repetitive property management tasks.
Hostaway
Hostaway Capital
Hostaway's financing program that provides property managers with funding to grow their rental business.
Hostaway
Hostaway Channel Manager
Hostaway's built-in channel management tool that syncs listings across 200+ booking platforms in real-time.
Hostaway
Hostaway Direct Booking
Hostaway's website builder and booking engine that enables commission-free direct reservations.
Hostaway
Hostaway Dynamic Pricing
Hostaway's built-in dynamic pricing tool that automatically optimizes nightly rates based on market data.
Hostaway
Hostaway Guest Communication
Hostaway's unified inbox and automated messaging system for managing all guest interactions.
Hostaway
Hostaway Marketplace
Hostaway's ecosystem of 200+ integrated third-party tools and services for vacation rental management.
Hostaway
Hostaway PMS
Hostaway's all-in-one property management system for managing vacation rental operations at scale.
Hostaway
Hostaway Smart Locks
Hostaway's smart lock integrations that enable automated keyless access for guests.
Hostaway
House Rules
A set of guidelines and expectations that guests must follow during their stay at a vacation rental.
Operations
Houseboat
A floating residential vessel used as a vacation rental, offering a distinctive waterfront accommodation experience.
Industry
Housekeeping
The cleaning, sanitation, and preparation process performed between guest stays to maintain vacation rental quality standards.
Operations
I
iCal
A calendar file format used to synchronize availability between booking platforms and calendar applications.
Technology
Inquiry
A pre-booking message from a prospective guest asking about availability, pricing, or property details before committing.
Operations
Instant Book
A booking setting that allows guests to reserve a property immediately without requiring host approval.
Industry
Inventory Management
The process of tracking and replenishing supplies, amenities, furnishings, and consumables across vacation rental properties.
Operations
K
Key Exchange
The traditional process of physically handing off property keys to guests upon arrival at a vacation rental.
Operations
Keyless Entry
Keyless entry systems allow vacation rental guests to access a property using a code, smartphone, or smart lock instead of a physical key.
Technology
Keypad Lock
A code-based door lock that enables self-check-in for vacation rental guests without physical keys.
Technology
L
Last-Minute Booking
A reservation made within a short window before the check-in date, typically 1–7 days prior.
Industry
Late Check-Out
An option allowing guests to depart after the standard checkout time, commonly offered as a paid upsell service.
Operations
Length of Stay (LOS)
The total number of nights a guest stays at a property during a single reservation.
Metrics
Length-of-Stay Discount
A reduced nightly rate offered to guests who book longer stays, such as weekly or monthly reservations.
Strategy
Liability Insurance
Insurance coverage that protects vacation rental operators against claims for guest injuries, property damage, or third-party losses.
Operations
Linen Service
A professional service providing clean bed linens and towels for vacation rental turnovers, either owned or rented.
Operations
Listing
A property profile published on a booking platform, containing descriptions, photos, pricing, and availability.
Industry
Listing Optimization
The process of improving a vacation rental listing's content, photos, and settings to increase visibility and bookings.
Strategy
Listing SEO
Listing SEO is the practice of optimizing a vacation rental's title, description, amenities, and photos to rank higher in booking platform and search engine results.
Strategy
Lodging Tax
Lodging tax (also called transient occupancy tax) is a government-imposed tax on short-term rental stays that hosts are required to collect from guests and remit to authorities.
Strategy
Lost and Found
The process and policy for handling personal items left behind by guests at a vacation rental property.
Operations
M
Maintenance Request
A report submitted by a guest, cleaner, or inspector documenting a needed repair or fix at a rental property.
Operations
Maintenance Schedule
A planned calendar of preventive and routine maintenance tasks to keep vacation rental properties in optimal condition.
Operations
Management Agreement
A formal contract between a property owner and a management company defining responsibilities, fees, and terms of service.
Operations
Management Fee
The percentage or flat fee charged by a property management company to an owner for managing their vacation rental.
Metrics
Maximum Occupancy
Maximum occupancy is the legally or contractually set limit on the number of guests permitted to stay in a rental property at any one time.
Operations
Metasearch Engine
A travel platform that aggregates and compares vacation rental listings from multiple booking sites without taking commissions.
Technology
Micro-Season Pricing
An advanced pricing strategy that uses 75+ granular time periods instead of traditional quarterly seasons.
Strategy
Mid-Term Rental
A furnished property rented for 1 to 6 months, bridging the gap between short-term and long-term rentals.
Industry
Minimum Stay
The shortest number of nights a guest must book in order to reserve a property.
Operations
Multi-Calendar
A consolidated calendar view showing availability and bookings across all properties and channels in one place.
Technology
N
Net Promoter Score (NPS)
Net Promoter Score (NPS) is a guest loyalty metric that measures how likely guests are to recommend a vacation rental property or management company.
Metrics
Net Revenue
The revenue a property manager retains after subtracting OTA commissions, payment processing fees, and platform costs.
Metrics
Nightly Rate
The price charged per night for a vacation rental stay.
Metrics
No-Show
When a guest with a confirmed reservation fails to arrive at the property on their check-in date.
Operations
NOI (Net Operating Income)
Total rental revenue minus all operating expenses, before debt service and income taxes.
Metrics
Noise Monitoring
Privacy-safe devices that detect excessive noise levels at vacation rental properties to prevent disturbances.
Technology
O
Occupancy Rate
The percentage of available rental nights that are booked over a given period.
Metrics
Occupancy Tax Reporting
The process of calculating, filing, and remitting lodging or occupancy taxes collected from short-term rental guests to the appropriate government authorities.
Operations
Off-Season
The period of lowest travel demand when vacation rental occupancy and rates are typically at their minimum.
Strategy
Open API
A publicly available programming interface that allows third-party developers to integrate with a platform.
Technology
Operating Expenses
The recurring costs required to manage and maintain a vacation rental property, including cleaning, maintenance, utilities, insurance, and management fees.
Metrics
Orphan Days
Orphan days are short gaps between bookings in a vacation rental calendar that are too brief to attract new reservations at standard minimum stays.
Strategy
OTA (Online Travel Agency)
A website or platform where travelers search for and book vacation rentals and accommodations online.
Industry
Owner Onboarding
The structured process of adding a new property and its owner to a vacation rental management company's portfolio.
Operations
Owner Portal
A dedicated dashboard where property owners can view their rental performance, bookings, and financial statements.
Technology
Owner Statements
Financial reports generated for property owners showing rental income, expenses, and net payouts.
Operations
P
Payment Processing
The handling of financial transactions for booking payments, refunds, and payouts in vacation rental management.
Operations
Payout
The disbursement of rental earnings from a property management company or booking platform to the property owner or host after deducting applicable fees and expenses.
Operations
Peak Season
The time of year with the highest travel demand, when vacation rental rates and occupancy are at their maximum.
Strategy
Penthouse
A premium upper-floor vacation rental unit offering luxury amenities, panoramic views, and high-end finishes.
Industry
Pet Fee
A charge applied to guests who bring pets to a vacation rental property.
Operations
Pet-Friendly Hosting
Pet-friendly hosting means explicitly welcoming guests traveling with pets and adapting a vacation rental's policies, amenities, and pricing to accommodate animals.
Strategy
Price Optimization
Price optimization is the strategic process of setting vacation rental rates to maximize revenue by balancing occupancy, nightly rate, and booking lead time.
Strategy
Professional Host
A professional host is an operator who manages short-term rental properties as a primary business, typically overseeing multiple listings with systems and staff.
Industry
Promotional Rate
A temporary discounted nightly price used to stimulate bookings during a specific period or for a targeted purpose.
Strategy
Property Condition Report
A documented record of a vacation rental property's state before and after each guest stay.
Operations
Property Inspection
A systematic check of a vacation rental property's condition, safety features, and amenities.
Operations
Property Management Company
A business that manages vacation rental properties on behalf of property owners for a fee or revenue share.
Industry
Property Management System (PMS)
A centralized software platform for managing all aspects of vacation rental operations.
Technology
Property Manager
A property manager in the STR industry is a professional who oversees the operations of vacation rental properties on behalf of property owners, for a fee.
Industry
Property Portfolio
The total collection of rental properties managed by a property manager or management company.
Industry
Property Staging
Property staging for vacation rentals is the process of furnishing, decorating, and styling a rental space to maximize guest appeal in listing photos and during stays.
Operations
Proptech
Proptech (property technology) refers to software and digital tools that automate and optimize real estate and rental property operations.
Technology
R
Rate Parity
A policy or contractual requirement that vacation rental pricing remains consistent across all booking platforms.
Strategy
Rate Plan
A named pricing configuration that defines nightly rates, minimum stays, and fees for specific time periods or conditions.
Strategy
Rate Shopping
The practice of monitoring competitor pricing to inform rate decisions and maintain competitive positioning in a market.
Strategy
Rental Arbitrage
A business model where an operator leases properties long-term and rents them out as short-term vacation rentals for profit.
Industry
Rental Day Limit
A legal restriction imposed by local governments that caps the total number of days a property can be rented as a short-term rental per year.
Operations
Rental Quote
A customized price estimate provided to a prospective guest for a specific property, dates, and guest configuration.
Operations
Repeat Guest
A traveler who books the same property or with the same host or management company more than once.
Strategy
Request to Book
Request to book is a booking flow where guests submit a reservation request that the host must manually review and approve before the booking is confirmed.
Operations
Response Rate
The percentage of guest inquiries a host replies to within a specified timeframe, typically 24 hours.
Metrics
Return on Investment (ROI)
Return on investment (ROI) is a financial metric measuring the profitability of a vacation rental property relative to its total investment cost.
Metrics
Revenue Management
The strategic use of analytics and pricing to maximize rental income from available inventory.
Strategy
Revenue Management System (RMS)
Specialized software that uses data analytics to optimize vacation rental pricing and maximize revenue across a portfolio.
Technology
Review Management
Review management is the systematic process of monitoring, responding to, and leveraging guest reviews to protect a vacation rental's reputation and improve booking conversion.
Strategy
RevPAN (Revenue Per Available Night)
A vacation rental performance metric measuring total revenue generated per available rental night.
Metrics
RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room)
A metric that measures revenue generated per available rental night, combining occupancy and rate performance.
Metrics
S
Same-Day Booking
A reservation made and completed on the same day as the guest's check-in date.
Industry
Seasonal Pricing
A pricing strategy that adjusts nightly rates based on predictable demand patterns throughout the year.
Strategy
Security Deposit
A refundable amount collected from guests to cover potential property damage during their stay.
Operations
Self Check-In
Self check-in allows guests to access a vacation rental property independently using a keypad, smart lock, or lockbox — without requiring the host to be present.
Operations
Service Fee
A fee charged by booking platforms to guests, hosts, or both to cover the cost of facilitating the reservation.
Industry
Serviced Apartment
A serviced apartment is a fully furnished rental unit with hotel-like amenities and housekeeping, designed for stays typically ranging from a few days to several months.
Industry
Set-Jetting
A travel trend where tourists visit destinations featured in popular movies, TV shows, or streaming content.
Industry
Sharing Economy
The sharing economy is an economic model where individuals rent or share underutilized assets — like homes or vehicles — peer-to-peer through digital platforms.
Industry
Short-Term Rental (STR)
A property rented for short periods, typically fewer than 30 consecutive days.
Industry
Short-Term Rental Insurance
Specialized insurance coverage designed to protect vacation rental properties and hosts from risks specific to short-term renting.
Operations
Short-Term Rental Permit
A government-issued authorization that grants property owners or managers the legal right to operate a short-term rental in a specific jurisdiction.
Operations
Shoulder Season
The transition period between peak and off-season when demand and pricing are moderate.
Strategy
Slow Travel
Slow travel is a travel philosophy centered on spending longer periods in fewer destinations to experience local culture more deeply, driving demand for longer vacation rental stays.
Industry
Smart Lock
An electronic lock that allows keyless property access using codes, apps, or other digital credentials.
Technology
Smart Pricing
Smart pricing is automated rate-setting technology that adjusts vacation rental nightly rates in real time based on demand signals, market data, and booking patterns.
Strategy
Social Proof
Social proof in vacation rentals refers to evidence from past guests — reviews, ratings, photos, and endorsements — that builds trust and confidence in prospective bookers.
Strategy
Solo Travel
Solo travel refers to trips taken by individuals traveling alone, a growing guest segment with specific preferences for location, safety, and value in vacation rental accommodations.
Industry
STR Ban
A regulatory prohibition or severe restriction on short-term rental operations imposed by a local government or HOA.
Industry
STR Compliance
The process of meeting all legal, regulatory, and tax requirements for operating a short-term rental property.
Operations
Superhost
An Airbnb recognition badge awarded to hosts who consistently deliver exceptional guest experiences.
Industry
T
Task Management
A system for assigning, tracking, and coordinating operational tasks like cleaning and maintenance across properties.
Operations
Tiny House
A compact, often creatively designed vacation rental property typically under 400 square feet, popular as a unique stay experience.
Industry
Townhouse
A multi-story residential property sharing walls with adjacent units, commonly used as a vacation rental in urban and resort areas.
Industry
Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT)
A tax levied on short-term accommodation stays, collected from guests and remitted to local government.
Operations
Treehouse
An elevated vacation rental built in or around trees, offering a unique and memorable guest experience in natural settings.
Industry
TRevPAR
TRevPAR (Total Revenue Per Available Room) measures all revenue streams — accommodation, fees, and ancillary services — generated per available room night.
Metrics
Tripadvisor Rentals
Tripadvisor Rentals is a vacation rental listing channel leveraging Tripadvisor's massive review-driven travel audience for property discovery.
Industry
Trust Accounting
A legally required accounting practice in some jurisdictions that separates owner funds from management company operating funds.
Operations
Trust and Safety
Trust and safety in vacation rentals refers to the policies, tools, and verification systems that protect both guests and hosts from fraud, damage, and unsafe experiences.
Operations
Turnover
The process of preparing a vacation rental for the next guest between check-out and check-in.
Operations
Two-Way Sync
Two-way sync automatically keeps calendar availability and reservation data updated in both directions between a property management system and connected booking channels.
Technology
U
Unified Inbox
A centralized messaging hub that consolidates guest communications from all booking channels into one interface.
Technology
Unit Economics
Unit economics measures the revenue, costs, and profitability of a single rental property, helping operators assess performance at the individual asset level.
Metrics
Upselling
Offering guests additional services or upgrades to increase the total revenue per booking.
Strategy
User Roles
Permission levels assigned to team members within property management software to control access to features, data, and operations.
Technology
V
Vacation Rental
A furnished property rented to travelers on a short-term basis as an alternative to hotel accommodation.
Industry
Vacation Rental Software
Technology platforms designed to help property managers automate and streamline vacation rental operations at scale.
Technology
Villa
A luxury standalone vacation rental property, often featuring a private pool, spacious grounds, and premium amenities.
Industry
Virtual Tour
An interactive 3D walkthrough of a vacation rental property that allows prospective guests to explore the space remotely.
Technology
Vrbo
Vrbo is a major vacation rental marketplace owned by Expedia Group, focused on whole-home rentals for families and groups.
Industry
W
Webhook
An automated notification sent from one system to another when a specific event occurs.
Technology
Welcome Book
A guest-facing guide containing property instructions, house rules, local recommendations, and emergency contact information.
Operations
Workation
A trip where travelers combine remote work with vacation, staying at destinations where they can be productive and enjoy leisure time.
Industry
Y
Yield Management
A pricing strategy that adjusts rates based on predicted demand to maximize total revenue.
Strategy
Z
Zoning Laws
Local government regulations that define how properties in specific geographic areas can be used, including whether short-term rentals are permitted.
Operations