20 most common hotel industry jargon

Being a hotelier for over 15 years and involving in sales, marketing and revenue department for numbers of years, there are several hotel jargons mostly used by sales team during their discussion with the client.

What sometimes the sales team does not realize is that the clients will not understand those unique words, no explanation provided but the conversation continue to flow.  Problems might occur when it comes into more in depth discussion, because some of the earlier discussion may be misleading and give two different understanding.

In this writing, I will elaborate several hotel industries jargons that are mostly used by Sales team, be it during conversation or in writing while preparing the proposal.  The information below can be used as easy references both for non-hotelier as well as for sales persons.

1. Net

The term Net will be referred to prices offered which can be room accommodation price, meeting package price or other hotel product.  Net means that the price offered includes service charge and the applicable government tax.  The % amount of service charge and government tax will depend on the hotel or serviced residence as well as the countries.

2. ++

The term ++ will also be referred to prices offered which is the opposite of Net.  ++ price means that the offer still excludes the % amount of service charge and the applicable government tax.

3. Leading room

Sales person often mentions these words during business prospect discussion and negotiation.  Leading room means the first type of room category in a particular hotel.  Some hotels name their leading rooms as standard, deluxe, superior, or other names suitable to their hotels style.

4. Best Rate Guarantee (BRG)

Best Rate Guarantee or often says as BRG in a short name.  This means that the price offered is guaranteed to be the best offer and no other channels or sources will offer more lower price.  You can also find the term Best Rate Guarantee or BRG in the hotel website which also include the terms and conditions.

5. Best Available Rate (BAR)

Best Available Rate or BAR in short name means the best price offered on a given date and time. If you check the hotel website and input your planned periods of stay (check in and check out dates), then you will notice that there will be rates fluctuation on some particular dates. This is to explain that each date will have its best available rate to offer.

6. Dynamic rate

Dynamic will have a synonym as active or energetic.  Dynamic rate will have similar terminology means the rate is actively changing depending on the hotel and market situation.  The rates remain to be fluctuated before they are being booked and confirmed.

7. Non-refundable rate

Non-refundable rate means the room rate that you have booked and confirmed cannot be refunded if you cancel or modify the booking.  Since this rate will sometimes refer to promotional rate so it will be a special offer but with several restrictions applied.

8. Occupancy

Occupancy will refer to the total number of rooms in a hotel that are already booked and occupied.  When a hotel has reached its highest percentage of occupancy in a particular date, then, they will mention that the hotel is in a fully booked, fully occupied or full house situation.

9. Room availability

Room availability defines as type of room available to book on the requested date or periods.

10. Next room category

In the situation where your request of a specific room type is not available, hotel will then offer the next room type.  So, for example, if a standard room is not available, then the hotel will offer the deluxe room as their next room category available on your requested date. Do note that the room rate will refer to the actual room type booked, in this case, it will be a deluxe room rate.

11. Upgrade

Upgrade term is usually used to offer better services or product which can be free of charge or at additional charge. For example, hotel provides an upgrade service from standard room to executive room at no additional cost for their repeat customer.

12. Run Of the House (ROH)

Run Of the House or ROH means different room types will be offered at the same rate as agreed.  From sales perspective, this situation happens usually during a discussion related to group business booking.

13. Full Day and Half Day meeting package

Full Day meeting package is described as the whole day meeting from morning to late afternoon (before dinner time) offering morning coffee break, lunch and afternoon coffee break.  Half Day meeting package is described as half day meeting either from morning to afternoon or afternoon to late afternoon offering morning coffee break and lunch or lunch and afternoon coffee break.

14. Value added benefits

This term is defined as extra benefits included as part of rate offered, so there will be no additional charge applied.

15. Pax

Pax means person, so number of pax means number of persons. This term is commonly used in the discussion related to event, such as, meeting, conference, social event, wedding, etc.

16. Waiting list

When your requested room or meeting room are not available to be booked in a given date, then hotel will put your booking under holding pattern for the time being until the room is available.

17. Meeting room layout

Meeting room layout can also be called as meeting room set up. Depending on the requirements, there are several common layouts such as U-Shape, Round Table, Class room, Board room.

18. Banquet

Banquet is another word of event whereby numbers of people gather together to held special occasion or celebration.

19. A la carte and Set menu

A la carte means ordering individual dishes from the menu. While set menu means selected dishes prepared at a fixed price which usually covers from a minimum of starter, main course and dessert.

20. Room service or In-room dining

Room service or In-room dining has the same meaning.  Which term to use, it will depend on each individual hotel.  Room service or In-room dining means a service provided by the hotel for a guest to order foods and beverages which are served in the room.

Apart from these 20 most common hotel jargons used by sales person, there are many others unique words used in the hotel industry.  Later, I will consider to list down more hotel jargon and create one fine dictionary.

Have a productive day.