Hospitality has always had its own “language”, a mix of industry jargon, acronyms, and abbreviations that can sound like code to outsiders.
From revenue meetings to guest service chats, these short forms keep communication fast and efficient. But as the industry evolves, so does its vocabulary. New technology, changing guest expectations, and emerging travel trends have introduced fresh terminology alongside the classics.
Whether you’re a hotelier looking to brush up, a new team member trying to keep up in meetings, or simply curious about hospitality lingo, here’s your updated A-to-Z guide for 2025. We’ve included both timeless terms and new additions that reflect today’s fast-changing hotel world.
A
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ADR – Average Daily Rate: The average revenue earned per occupied room in a given period.
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ALOS – Average Length of Stay: The average number of nights guests spend at the property.
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API – Application Programming Interface: Tech that allows hotel systems (like PMS, CRS, and channel managers) to connect and share data.
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AR – Accounts Receivable: Money owed to the hotel from guests, companies, or travel agents.
B
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BAR – Best Available Rate: The lowest rate available to the public without restrictions.
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BEO – Banquet Event Order: A document outlining the details of an event for the operations team.
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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: Direct sales to individual guests.
C
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CM – Channel Manager: A tool to update room rates and availability across multiple OTAs simultaneously.
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CO – Check-Out: The process of a guest leaving the hotel and settling the bill.
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CRS – Central Reservation System: A software platform for managing room inventory and reservations.
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CTD – Closed to Departure: A restriction preventing guests from checking out on a specific date.
D
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DBL – Double Room: A room for two people.
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DND – Do Not Disturb: A guest preference for privacy.
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DMO – Destination Marketing Organization: An entity that promotes a specific location to travelers.
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Dynamic Pricing – Adjusting room rates in real time based on demand, season, or events.
E
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ETA – Estimated Time of Arrival: When a guest is expected to arrive.
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ETD – Estimated Time of Departure: When a guest is expected to leave.
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Extranet – The back-end portal provided by OTAs for hotels to manage listings.
F
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FIT – Free Independent Traveler: A guest traveling independently, not as part of a group.
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FAM Trip – Familiarization Trip: A visit arranged for travel agents or media to experience the property.
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FOH – Front of House: Guest-facing hotel areas, like the lobby and reception.
G
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GDS – Global Distribution System: A platform connecting hotels with travel agents worldwide.
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GOI – Gross Operating Income: Revenue left after operating expenses.
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GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation: EU rules for guest data privacy.
H
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HTNG – Hospitality Technology Next Generation: An organization that sets hotel tech standards.
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HNR – Hotel Night Revenue: Revenue generated from a night’s stay.
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House Count – The total number of guests staying at the property on a given night.
I
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IBR – Internet Booking Rate: The rate offered through the hotel’s direct booking channels.
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Inventory – The total rooms available for sale.
L
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LOS – Length of Stay: The number of nights a booking covers.
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LRA – Last Room Availability: A rate agreement guaranteeing the last available room at a set rate.
M
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MICE – Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions: A key segment of group business.
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Microstay – Short-term stays, often just a few hours, popular for layovers or day use.
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Metasearch – Platforms like Google Hotels or TripAdvisor that compare hotel rates across sites.
N
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No-Show – A guest who doesn’t arrive without cancelling.
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Net Rate – The base rate given to wholesalers or agents before markup.
O
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OCC – Occupancy: The percentage of available rooms sold in a given period.
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OTA – Online Travel Agency: Third-party booking platforms like Booking.com or Expedia.
P
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PMS – Property Management System: Software for managing daily operations.
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POS – Point of Sale: System for processing restaurant, bar, or spa transactions.
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PAR – Per Available Room: A metric used in hotel performance analysis.
R
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RevPAR – Revenue Per Available Room: ADR multiplied by occupancy rate.
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Rack Rate – The standard, undiscounted room rate.
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ROI – Return on Investment: The financial return compared to cost.
S
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SOP – Standard Operating Procedure: Guidelines for consistent operations.
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SMERF – Social, Military, Educational, Religious, Fraternal: A group travel market segment.
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Staycation – A vacation taken locally, often at a nearby hotel.
T
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TRevPAR – Total Revenue Per Available Room: Includes all revenue sources, not just rooms.
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TA – Travel Agent.
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TOM – Top of Mind: A brand awareness measure.
W
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WTM – World Travel Market: A major travel industry event.
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Walk-In – Guests arriving without a reservation.
Acronyms and abbreviations aren’t just shorthand, they’re part of the DNA of hotel operations. Keeping up with them ensures you stay fluent in the language of hospitality, whether you’re dealing with tech integrations, guest services, or revenue strategies. The more you understand, the better you can connect with colleagues, partners, and guests in this fast-paced industry.
