The hospitality industry has always had its own “language” that includes a mix of industry terms, acronyms and abbreviations, which sounds like outsiders' code.
From income meetings to guest service chats, these short forms communicate quickly and effectively. But with the development of the industry, its vocabulary has also developed. New technologies, changing guest expectations, and emerging travel trends bring fresh terms along with classics.
Whether you're a hotelier looking to refresh, a new team member trying to keep up with the meeting, or just being curious about the hotel lingo, here's your latest A-TO-Z guide for 2025. We include timeless terms and new additions that reflect today's rapidly changing hotel world.
one
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ADR – Average daily rate: The average income per occupied house during a given period.
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Aros – Average stay time: The average number of nights guests at the hotel.
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API – Application Programming Interface: Techniques that allow hotel systems such as PMS, CRS and channel managers to connect and share data.
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ar – accounts receivable: Money owed to hotels from guests, companies or travel agencies.
b
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bar – Best price: The minimum interest rate to be used to the public without restrictions.
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Beo – Order of banquet activities: A document outlining detailed information about the operation team activities.
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B2B – Business-to-business: Sales or services provided to other businesses (e.g., corporate travel).
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B2C – Business-to-consumer: Sell directly to individual customers.
c
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centimeter – Channel Manager: A tool to update the housing prices and availability of multiple OTAs simultaneously.
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company – Check: The process of the guest leaving the hotel and solving the bill.
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CRS – Central reservation system: A software platform for managing room inventory and booking.
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CTD – Close departure: Restrictions, preventing guests from checking on specific dates.
d
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DBL – Double Room: A room for two people.
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DND – Don't bother: Guests prefer privacy.
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DMO – Destination marketing organization: An entity that facilitates traveler-specific locations.
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Dynamic pricing – Adjust house prices in real time according to demand, season or event.
e
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ETA – Estimated arrival time: When the guest expects to arrive.
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etd – Estimated departure time: When the guest is expected to leave.
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external – OTA provides a list of back-end portal management for hotels.
f
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fit – Free Independent Traveler: A guest traveling independently, not as part of a group.
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Family Travel – Familiar journey: Arrange a travel agency or media to experience the property's visit.
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foh – In front of the house: Guest-facing hotel areas such as lobby and reception.
g
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GDS – Global distribution system: A platform that connects hotels to global travel agencies.
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Goi – Total operating income: Income left after operating expenses.
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GDPR – General Data Protection Regulations: The EU's guest data privacy rules.
h
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htng – The next generation of hotel technology: Organization that sets hotel technical standards.
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hnr – Hotel night income: Income generated by night stays.
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Number of houses – On a given night, the total number of guests stays on the property.
I
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ibr – Internet booking rate: Rates provided through the hotel direct booking channel.
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stock – Total rooms available for sale.
l
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Los – Stay time: Number of nights to book cover.
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LRA – Last room availability: An exchange rate agreement that guarantees the last available room with set interest rates.
m
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mouse – Conferences, incentives, conferences and exhibitions: The key part of the group business.
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Mini tray – Short-term accommodation, usually only a few hours, is popular for stopovers or daily use.
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Meta-research – Platforms like Google Hotels or TripAdvisor compare hotel prices across sites.
n
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Not appearing – A guest without cancellation.
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Net Rate – The base rate for wholesaler or agent given before the markup.
o
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OCC – Occupancy: The percentage of available rooms for sale during a given period.
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OTA – Online travel agency: Third-party booking platforms such as booking.com or Expedia.
p
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PMS – Property Management System: Software used to manage daily operations.
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pos – Point of sale: Systems used to process restaurant, bar or spa transactions.
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par – Each available room: Indicators used for hotel performance analysis.
r
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Revpar – Income per available room: ADR multiplied by occupancy.
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Rack rate – Standard, undeserved housing prices.
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ROI – ROI: Financial returns compared to costs.
s
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SOP – Standard operating procedures: Consistent operation guidelines.
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Smerf – Society, Military, Education, Religion, Brother: Group travel market segment.
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Stay behind – Holidays locally and often spend in a nearby hotel.
t
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Trevpar – Total revenue per available room: Includes all sources of income, not just rooms.
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ta – Travel Agency.
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Tom – The highest: Brand awareness measures.
w
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WTM – World Travel Market: Main tourism activities.
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Walk-in – Guests arrive without reservation.
The acronyms and abbreviations are not only shorthand, but also part of the DNA that the hotel operates. Stay in sync with them, ensuring you are fluent in the language of hospitality, whether you are dealing with technology integration, guest service, or revenue strategies. The more you know, the more you can connect with colleagues, partners and guests in this fast-paced industry.
