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Decoding Hotel Lingo: A Comprehensive Guide to Common Hotel Abbreviations

Apr 24, 2024

In the fast-paced world of hospitality, communication is key to ensuring smooth operations and delivering exceptional guest experiences. From reservation systems to guest services, hotel staff often rely on abbreviations to convey information quickly and efficiently. Understanding these common hotel abbreviations is essential for both industry professionals and traveler's alike. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide to common hotel abbreviations, offering insights into their meanings and usage in various contexts.

Hotel Abbreviations	Expansions
A la Carte:	Menu items priced individually
ADR:	Average Daily Rate
AGOP:	Adjusted Gross Operating Profit
AGR:	Agreed. The number of guest rooms or covers contracted to a group
ALOS:	Average Length of Stay
AP:	American Plan (includes meals)
ARI:	Availability, Rates and Inventory
AV:	Audio Visual
B&B:	Bed and Breakfast
BAR:	Best Available Rate
BC:	Banquet Check. A check that is presented to a meeting planner at the conclusion of the event. It will include all event related charges.
BEO:	Banquet Event Order. Includes details such as menus, audio visual equipment, room set up, time, function, room, etc
BKG:	Booking
BOH:	Back of House. The areas of a hotel that have little or no direct guest contact, such as kitchen areas, engineering and maintenance, and the accounting department.
CMP:	Complete Meeting Package – a per person charge, inclusive of guest room, food and beverage, and proportional percentage of all other event charges.
COS:	Cost of Sale
COTB:	Comparative on the Books
CP:	Continental Plan (includes breakfast)
CRM:	Customer Relationship Management
CRS:	Central Reservation System
CSM:	Conference Service Manager or Convention Service Manager
CVB:	Convention and Visitors Bureau meetings and conventions.
CXL:	Cancellation
DBL:	Double Room
DDR:	Delegate Day Package
DMC:	Destination Management Company
DOC:	Director of Catering
EP:	European Plan (room-only rate)
EXP:	Expected. The number of guests anticipated
F&B:	Food and Beverage
FAM:	Familiarisation Tour. A complimentary or reduced-rate travel program for travel agents, tour operators, media, etc., designed to acquaint them with a specific destination to stimulate sale of travel.
FIFO:	First In, First Out (inventory management)
FIT:	Free and Independent Traveller (guests that are not part of a group or package)
FIT Full Form:	Form dedicated to Free and Independent Traveller (guests that are not part of a group or package)
FOH:	Front of House. All guest-facing staff and areas of a hotel.
FOM:	Front Office Manager
FR:	Function Room
GBP:	Group Booking Pace
GDS:	Global Distribution System
GM:	Gross Margin
GOP:	Gross Operating Profit (Revenue less expenses)

Hotel Abbreviations	Expansion
GOPPAR:	Gross Operating Profit per Available Room, measures performance across all revenue streams
GOR:	Gross Operating Revenue
GRC (a):	Guest Registration Card
GRC (b):	Group Rooms Control Log
GSO:	Global Sales Office
GTD:	Guaranteed. Prior to a function, the figure given by a meeting planner to the property for the number of persons to be served.
HK:	Housekeeping
HOD:	Hotel Description. Your hotel’s landing page on the Global Distribution System (GDS).
IPO:	Individual Pays Own
JRS:	Junior Suite
KS:	King Suite
LTO:	Limited Time Offer
M&E:	Meetings and Events
MAR:	Minimum Acceptable Rate
MICE:	Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions
MLOS:	Minimum Length of Stay
MOD:	Manager on Duty
MOM:	Month on Month
MTD:	Month to Date
MUR:	Make Up Requested
NOS:	No Show
NRB:	Negotiated Rate Business. Sometimes referred to as Corporate Negotiated Rates or Local Negotiated Rates. It is contracted business for a certain period of time (seasonally, annually) for certain rates across multiple properties within a hotel company or brand.
NSO:	National Sales Office. Same as a Sales Center.
OOO:	Out of Order
OTA:	Online Travel Agency
OTB:	On The Books (number of rooms booked)
PAX:	Number of people (e.g., for reservations or banquets)
PMS:	Property Management System
POS:	Point of Sale
PRPN:	Per Room, Per Night
QN:	Queen Room
RACK:	Rack Rate (standard rate before discounts)
REV:	Revenue
REVMAX:	Revenue Maximum
REVPAR:	Revenue per Available Room. A combination of paid occupancy percentage and average daily rate.
RFP:	Request for Proposal
RMS:	Revenue Management System
RN:	Room Night
RO:	Room Only
ROH:	Run of House (assignment of any available room upon check-in)

ROI:	Return on Investment
S&C:	Sales & Catering. The teams responsible for selling and servicing group business contracted at a hotel.
SGL:	Single Room
SMERF:	Market Segment, defined as: Social, Military, Educational, Religious, Fraternal
SOP:	Standard Operating Procedure
SRP:	Standard Rate Plan
STLY:	Same Time Last Year
TD:	Turn Down
TPL:	Triple Room

In conclusion, mastering common hotel abbreviations is essential for effective communication and seamless operations in the hospitality industry. Whether you're a hotel professional or a traveler, understanding these abbreviations will help you navigate the world of hotels with ease and confidence. So, the next time you encounter a string of letters or acronyms in a hotel setting, you'll be well-equipped to decode the message and make the most of your experience.