Travel Industry Glossary: 216 Terms and Abbreviations for Travel Agents
A single hotel rate sheet can carry RO, CP, ROH, NRF and LRA. Every trade has its shorthand, and ours has more than most. This travel industry glossary explains the terms agents meet with hotels, tour and transfer suppliers, wholesalers and airlines, in plain English, with a free PDF to print or hand to new staff.
Quick answer: A travel industry glossary explains the jargon that travel agents, hotels, tour operators and airlines use with each other. The terms people look up most are FIT (Free Independent Traveller), GIT (Group Inclusive Tour), SIC (seat-in-coach, a shared transfer) and hotel meal plan codes such as BB (bed and breakfast) and HB (half board: breakfast plus dinner). Below are 216 travel industry terms and abbreviations from A to Z, each with a short definition and a link to our full guide where we have one. The whole list is a free PDF.
travel-industry-glossary.pdf: all 216 terms A to Z on A4, every abbreviation expanded, plus a quick table of meal plan and room codes at the front. Free, no sign-up, prints cleanly in black and white.
The glossary covers 69 hotels, 24 tours & transfers, 35 b2b distribution, 32 air & entry, 41 business & finance, 15 industry & tourism terms. It's written for working agents, so it explains what a term means on a booking, not just where it came from. Where a term needs more than three sentences, we've linked to a full guide instead of stretching the entry.
The 10 Most-Searched Travel Industry Terms
These ten terms came up most often in Google searches that showed our pages over the 90 days to 7 November 2026. FIT alone showed up more often than the next four combined.
FIT: Free Independent Traveller, a client on their own itinerary rather than a group tour.
BB: bed and breakfast, a room with breakfast for the guests booked (CP in Indian contracts).
GIT: Group Inclusive Tour, a group on one itinerary at a group price.
SIC: seat-in-coach, a shared transfer or tour on a fixed route and schedule.
HB: half board, breakfast plus one main meal, usually dinner (MAP in Indian contracts).
Interline: one ticket combining flights on two or more airlines, each under its own flight number.
B2B rates: trade prices for registered travel businesses, below the public price.
FB: full board, with breakfast, lunch and dinner (AP in Indian contracts).
Non-commissionable rate: a price with no commission paid, so the agency earns only its own markup.
Hotel industry terms fall into three groups: meal plan codes say what's included, room codes say who sleeps where, and rate terms say what the price allows you to do. The first two cause most of the check-in arguments, so here they are in two tables.
What is HB in hotel terminology?
HB means half board: breakfast plus one other main meal, usually dinner. Drinks aren't included unless the rate says so. Indian hotel contracts write the same plan as MAP.
A caveat about codes: nobody regulates them. A supplier can define HB as breakfast and lunch, or count soft drinks but not alcohol in AI. When a contract defines a term differently from this glossary, the contract wins, so read the wording before you quote.
Travel Industry Abbreviations at a Glance
The travel industry abbreviations agents use most are FIT, GIT, SIC, PVT, BB, HB, ROH, NRF, LRA, PNR, GDS and BSP. Below are 85 abbreviations from this glossary with their full forms. Tap one to jump to its definition.
What does FIT stand for in the travel industry?
FIT stands for Free Independent Traveller, also expanded as Foreign Independent Tour: a client travelling on their own itinerary rather than with a group. Its opposite is GIT, Group Inclusive Tour. The FIT vs GIT packages guide covers pricing and planning for both.
Each entry gives the term, the abbreviation expanded, which part of the trade uses it and a plain definition. Type in the box to filter, or jump to a letter.
No term matches that search. Try the abbreviation or a shorter word.
A
ABTAAssociation of British Travel AgentsIndustry & tourism
The UK trade association for travel agents and tour operators, now branded ABTA, The Travel Association. Members agree to follow ABTA's Code of Conduct.
ACMAgency Credit MemoAir & entry
A credit an airline issues to a ticketing agency, for example to return money after a refund or correct a commission. It's the opposite of an ADM and is settled through BSP or ARC.
Adjoining roomsHotels
Rooms next to each other with no internal door between them. Families who need to pass between rooms without using the corridor want connecting rooms instead.
ADMAgency Debit MemoAir & entry
A bill an airline sends a ticketing agency when it finds a ticket was issued against the fare rules, such as the wrong fare or a booking-class problem. ADMs are settled through BSP or ARC, and they're the main reason ticketing agencies audit their own work.
ADRAverage Daily RateHotels
A hotel's room revenue divided by the number of rooms sold over a period. Hotels read it alongside occupancy and RevPAR to judge their pricing.
ADT, CHD, INFAdult, Child, InfantAir & entry
Passenger type codes used in airline and GDS bookings. Each airline sets its own age bands, but an infant is commonly under 2 and travels on an adult's lap, while a child pays a share of the adult fare.
AIAll-InclusiveHotels
A meal plan covering all meals, snacks and a set list of drinks. What 'all' means differs a lot between resorts, so read the inclusions for imported spirits, a la carte restaurants and the minibar. More: Hotel meal plans explained
AllotmentHotels
A block of rooms a hotel contracts to a wholesaler, DMC or agency for set dates and rates, which the holder can sell until the release date. Unsold rooms go back to the hotel at release, usually without penalty. More: Hotel allotment contracts
AmendmentBusiness & finance
Any change to a confirmed booking: dates, names, room type or meal plan. Many suppliers treat a date change as a cancellation plus a new booking, so the cancellation rules apply. DMC Quote has no amendment function; you cancel and rebook.
AncillariesAncillary revenueAir & entry
Anything an airline sells on top of the fare: checked bags, seat selection, meals, priority boarding, lounge passes. The cheapest fare isn't always the cheapest trip once these are added. More: Airline ancillary revenue
APAmerican PlanHotels
Full board: breakfast, lunch and dinner. It's an older code still common in Indian hotel contracts, where AP means the same as FB. More: Hotel meal plans explained
APIApplication Programming InterfaceB2B distribution
A connection that lets one system talk to another without a person in between. In travel it means pulling live rates into your own website or software and booking hotels, tours or transfers from there. More: Hotel API integration
APISAdvance Passenger Information SystemAir & entry
Passport and travel details that airlines send to border authorities before a flight. It's why airlines ask for passport data before check-in, and why a typo in a passport number can stop a passenger boarding.
The US company that settles ticket sales between airlines and US travel agencies and accredits US agencies to issue tickets. It does the job that BSP does in most other countries.
ARIAvailability, Rates and InventoryB2B distribution
The three data sets a hotel sends to its sales channels: which dates are open, what each room costs and how many rooms are left. A channel manager pushes ARI updates out.
ASTAAmerican Society of Travel AdvisorsIndustry & tourism
The US trade association for travel advisors and agencies. It was called the American Society of Travel Agents until it changed its name in 2018, keeping the same initials.
The UK financial protection scheme for package trips that include a flight, run by the UK Civil Aviation Authority since 1973. If the ATOL holder fails, it can help travellers abroad carry on and get home. DMC Quote isn't an ATOL holder, and flights aren't part of what we sell.
AttritionHotels
The share of a contracted group block that can go unused without penalty. Say a contract allows 10% attrition on 50 rooms: the group can drop 5 rooms free and pays for any further rooms left empty. More: Group hotel booking guide
B
B2BBusiness to BusinessB2B distribution
Selling to other businesses rather than to the public. In travel, a B2B supplier sells hotels, transfers and tours to travel agencies at trade prices, and the agency sells on to the traveller. More: What is B2B travel?
B2B2CBusiness to Business to ConsumerB2B distribution
A model where one business supplies another that sells to consumers, often under the second business's brand. An agency booking website running on a wholesaler's inventory is the usual example. More: White-label B2B travel portal
B2B ratesB2B distribution
Trade prices a supplier gives registered travel businesses, below the public price, so the agency can add its own margin. When a hotel says 'B2B rates' it means rates for the trade, not for walk-in guests. More: What is B2B travel?
B2CBusiness to ConsumerB2B distribution
Selling directly to travellers: a hotel's own website, an OTA, a retail agency's shop counter. Prices are public and already include the seller's margin. More: B2B vs B2C hotel booking
Baggage allowanceAir & entry
The checked and cabin bags included in a fare, set either by weight or by number of pieces. Basic and low-cost fares often include a cabin bag only.
Balance due dateBusiness & finance
The date the rest of the payment for a booking falls due after a deposit. Miss it and the supplier may cancel under its terms, so it belongs on every booking file and client invoice.
BARBest Available RateHotels
The lowest public, usually refundable rate a hotel offers for a night. It moves with demand. Corporate and some wholesale contracts are priced as a discount off BAR rather than as a fixed amount.
BBBed and BreakfastHotels
A room with breakfast for the number of guests booked. 'BB for 2' in a room of three means the third guest pays for breakfast at the hotel, so check the count. Indian contracts call the same plan CP. More: Hotel meal plans explained
BedbankB2B distribution
A hotel wholesaler that sells rooms from thousands of hotels to travel businesses at net rates, usually through an API or a B2B portal. Some contract hotels themselves; many also resell other wholesalers' stock. More: Hotel wholesalers and bedbanks list
Blackout datesHotels
Dates on which a rate, offer or allotment doesn't apply, usually public holidays, festivals and big events. Check them before you build an early-bird or stay-pay deal into a package.
BleisureIndustry & tourism
Business travel stretched with leisure days, such as a conference trip with two extra nights at the end. Company travel policies often treat the leisure nights separately for cost and insurance.
Booking engineIBE, internet booking engineB2B distribution
The search-and-book software on a website. It can sit on a hotel's own site or on an agency's site fed by a supplier API. More: Travel booking engine
Booking referenceBusiness & finance
The number a supplier or agency gives a booking for its own records. It isn't the same as the hotel confirmation number, which is the one the front desk can search.
Bounced bookingWalked guestHotels
What happens when an overbooked hotel can't honour a confirmed reservation and moves the guest to another property. The hotel should pay for the replacement room and the transfer, but the details depend on the contract. More: Hotel overbooking: an agent's guide
BSPBilling and Settlement PlanBusiness & finance
IATA's system for settling airline ticket sales between accredited agencies and airlines. The agency reports its sales and pays once per period for all participating airlines instead of paying each one separately. It has run for more than 50 years. More: IATA accreditation guide
C
Cancellation deadlineHotels
The last date and time you can cancel without a charge. Watch the time zone: a deadline in the supplier's time zone can pass hours before it would where you are. DMC Quote shows deadlines in Singapore time, set earlier than the supplier's own.
Cancellation policyHotels
The rules for what a cancellation costs and when, for example free until a date, then the first night, then the full stay. A non-refundable rate charges the full amount from the moment of booking. More: Hotel cancellation policies
Channel managerB2B distribution
Software a hotel uses to update rates and availability on many sales channels at once: its own site, OTAs, bedbanks and the GDS. It stops the last room being sold twice.
ChargebackBusiness & finance
A card payment reversed by the cardholder's bank after a dispute. In travel it usually follows a cancelled trip or a 'service not received' claim, and the seller loses the money unless it can prove the service was delivered.
Child policyHotels
A hotel's rules on children: which ages stay free, which pay for meals or an extra bed, and the maximum number of people per room. Two hotels in the same street can treat a 12-year-old completely differently.
City taxTourism taxHotels
A local charge per person or per room per night that many destinations collect at the hotel, such as Dubai's Tourism Dirham fee. The guest usually pays it at check-in, so put it on the voucher as payable at the hotel. More: Hotel voucher format
CodeshareAir & entry
An arrangement where one airline sells seats under its own flight number on a flight operated by another airline. The ticket shows the marketing airline, but check-in and baggage follow the operating airline's rules. More: Codeshare vs interline
Combo ticketTours & transfers
One ticket covering two or more attractions or tours, usually cheaper than buying each separately. Check whether all parts must be used on the same day.
CommissionBusiness & finance
The percentage a supplier pays an agency for selling its product at the public price. Hotels, cruise lines and tour operators pay it at different levels, and the level often depends on volume. More: Travel agent commission rates
Commissionable rateB2B distribution
A public price on which the supplier pays the agency a commission. The agency takes the full price and keeps its share, or the guest pays the supplier, which pays the agency later. More: Net rate vs commissionable rate
Connecting roomsHotels
Two rooms with a private internal door between them. Hotels usually treat them as a request, not a promise, unless the rate or contract confirms them.
ConsolidatorB2B distribution
A company that buys travel in bulk or at negotiated fares, mostly air tickets, and resells it to travel agencies. The word is also used for some hotel and package wholesalers. More: Consolidator vs wholesaler
ContractingB2B distribution
Negotiating rates and terms directly with hotels and other suppliers, then loading them into a booking system. It's slow work, and only pays off on volume. More: How to negotiate hotel rates
Contract rateStatic rateHotels
A fixed rate agreed in a contract between a hotel and a wholesaler, DMC or agency for a season, often with an allotment and release terms. Unlike a dynamic rate, it doesn't move with daily demand. More: Hotel contract template
CPContinental PlanHotels
A room with breakfast. Indian hotel contracts use CP where most other markets write BB. More: Hotel meal plans explained
Credit limitBusiness & finance
The amount a supplier lets an agency book before payment is due. On DMC Quote credit limits are rare and set by hand; most agents pay from a prepaid wallet. More: Wallet vs credit limit
Credit noteBusiness & finance
A document that cancels or reduces an invoice, for example after a refund. File it with the original invoice so the accounts match.
Software that keeps client contacts, enquiries, quotes and booking history in one place, so a repeat client isn't treated like a stranger. More: CRM systems for small agencies
CRSCentral Reservation SystemB2B distribution
A hotel group's or airline's own reservation database, holding rates and inventory for all its hotels or flights. Booking engines, the GDS and channel managers connect to it.
CTA and CTDClosed to Arrival, Closed to DepartureHotels
Restrictions that block bookings arriving on (CTA) or leaving on (CTD) a certain date while still allowing stays across it. You'll meet them as 'no availability' for one arrival date but not the next.
CWB and CNBChild With Bed, Child No BedHotels
Package pricing codes used widely in Asia. CWB means the child gets an extra bed and pays more; CNB means the child shares the parents' bedding. Hotels set the age bands, so check each one.
D
Day useHotels
A room booked for some hours during the day, with no overnight stay. Handy for late flights and long transits.
DepositBusiness & finance
A part-payment that secures a booking, with the balance due later. Hotels may also take a separate security deposit at check-in for extras, which they release if nothing is charged.
DisposalCar at disposalTours & transfers
A vehicle and driver hired by the hour or day to go where the client wants, within set limits on hours and distance. Common for shopping days and business visits.
A local company that arranges ground services in its own destination, such as hotels, transfers, tours, guides and events, for travel agencies and tour operators based elsewhere. More: What is a DMC?
The body that promotes a city or region to visitors and event planners, such as a convention and visitors bureau. Some say Destination Management Organisation.
Double roomDBLHotels
A room for two people with one double, queen or king bed. It isn't the same as a twin room, which has two separate beds.
DSUDouble for Sole UseHotels
A double room let to one person, usually priced at or a little below the double rate. Also written DUS or DBL for single use.
Dynamic packagingB2B distribution
Building a package at the moment of booking from separately priced parts, such as a hotel, transfers and tours, instead of selling a fixed brochure package. More: AI package builder
Dynamic rateHotels
A hotel rate that changes with demand, often daily, usually tied to BAR. Most bedbank and OTA hotel rates are dynamic. More: Dynamic vs static hotel pricing
E
Early birdHotels
A discount for booking a set number of days before arrival, such as 60 days. It's often non-refundable or restricted, so read the conditions before you build it into a package.
Early check-inLate check-outHotels
Arriving before or leaving after the hotel's standard times. Both are requests unless paid for. If the client lands at 6am and needs the room, book the night before.
EESEntry/Exit SystemAir & entry
The EU's digital border system that records non-EU short-stay visitors' entries and exits with fingerprints and a facial image, in place of passport stamps.
EMDElectronic Miscellaneous DocumentAir & entry
An electronic document airlines use to charge for services outside the ticket, such as extra bags, seats or change fees. It has its own number, separate from the e-ticket.
E&O insuranceErrors and Omissions insuranceBusiness & finance
Professional liability cover that protects an agency if a client claims an agency mistake cost them money, such as a wrong date or a missed entry rule. Also called professional indemnity insurance.
EPEuropean PlanHotels
Room only, with no meals. Indian hotel contracts use EP where other markets write RO. More: Hotel meal plans explained
ETAElectronic Travel AuthorisationAir & entry
An online permission to travel for visitors who don't need a full visa. Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom both use the name, with different rules and fees. More: Sri Lanka visa and ETA
ETIASEuropean Travel Information and Authorisation SystemAir & entry
The planned online travel authorisation for visa-exempt visitors to most European countries. When we checked the EU's official site in November 2026 it wasn't operating yet and no applications were being taken.
E-ticketElectronic ticketAir & entry
The airline ticket held electronically in the airline's system, identified by a 13-digit ticket number. The e-ticket receipt a passenger carries is only a record of it.
E-visaElectronic visaAir & entry
A visa applied for and issued online before travel, linked to the passport. Each country sets its own rules, fees and processing times, and copycat websites charging extra are common.
Extra bedEBHotels
A rollaway or sofa bed added to a room for a third guest, charged per night unless the rate includes it. Not every room type can take one.
F
FAM tripFamiliarisation tripTours & transfers
A trip a hotel, tourism board or DMC organises for travel agents so they can see a destination and its products first-hand, usually free or heavily discounted.
Fare basisAir & entry
The code that identifies the exact fare on an airline ticket and the rules that come with it: booking class, season, minimum stay, change fees and refunds.
FBFull BoardHotels
Breakfast, lunch and dinner, usually without drinks. Indian contracts call it AP. More: Hotel meal plans explained
FITFree Independent TravellerTours & transfers
A traveller or small party on their own itinerary rather than a group tour; also expanded as Foreign Independent Tour. An FIT booking means individually priced hotels, transfers and tours on dates the client picks. More: FIT vs GIT packages
FOCFree of ChargeTours & transfers
A free place given to a group, usually one per set number of paying guests, such as 1 FOC per 20 paying. The FOC often goes to the tour leader.
Force majeureBusiness & finance
Events outside anyone's control, such as natural disasters, war or government travel bans, that release a party from some contract obligations. What counts, and who refunds what, depends on the contract and local law.
Running an agency under an established brand's name and systems, for an upfront fee and usually ongoing royalties. More: Franchise vs host agency
Free saleHotels
An arrangement where a hotel lets a partner sell rooms without holding a fixed block, until the hotel issues a stop sale. It's flexible, but the room isn't protected the way an allotment is. More: Allotment vs free sale
FSCFull-Service CarrierAir & entry
An airline whose fares generally include checked baggage, a meal and seat choice on most routes, and which sells through travel agencies and the GDS. The opposite of an LCC.
G
Gala dinner supplementHotels
A compulsory charge many resorts add for the Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve dinner, on top of the room rate and whatever meal plan you booked. Quote it upfront; clients hate finding it at check-in.
GDSGlobal Distribution SystemB2B distribution
A large reservation network that travel agencies use to search and book flights, and also hotels and car hire. Amadeus, Sabre and Travelport are the main ones. More: GDS vs DMC booking
GITGroup Inclusive TourTours & transfers
A package for a group travelling together on one itinerary, with hotels, transport, sightseeing and often meals bundled at a group price. Sometimes expanded as Group Independent Travel. More: FIT vs GIT packages
Gross rateSell rateB2B distribution
The price the traveller pays, including the seller's margin or commission. Net rate plus markup equals gross. More: Net rate vs commissionable rate
Ground arrangementsLand package, land onlyTours & transfers
Everything in a trip except the flights: hotels, transfers, tours, guides and meals. Many agencies buy ground arrangements from one supplier and flights from another.
Ground handlerTours & transfers
The local company that delivers services on the ground, such as meeting guests, running transfers and providing guides, often for a tour operator or DMC based somewhere else. More: Ground handling services
Group fareAir & entry
An airline fare for a group travelling together on the same flights, with its own deposit, name-list deadline and change rules. More: Group flight bookings
Group rateHotels
A hotel rate for a block of rooms booked for one group, with its own deposit, release and attrition terms. The minimum number of rooms varies by hotel. More: Group hotel booking guide
GSTGoods and Services Tax (India)Business & finance
India's tax on supplies of goods and services, including hotel rooms, tour packages and agency services, at a different rate for each. Since 22 September 2025, hotel rooms up to INR 7,500 a night carry 5% without input tax credit. Check the current CBIC notification before you put a tax line on a quote.
Guaranteed bookingHotels
A reservation the hotel holds all night because it's prepaid or secured by a card or deposit. If the guest doesn't arrive, the hotel charges a no-show fee.
GuideLicensed tour guideTours & transfers
A local expert who leads visitors around a city, site or region. Many destinations require guides to hold a government licence, so ask your supplier who will actually lead the tour.
H
HBHalf BoardHotels
Breakfast plus one other main meal, usually dinner. In hotel terminology HB means two meals a day, normally without drinks. Indian contracts call it MAP. More: Hotel meal plans explained
HCNHotel Confirmation NumberHotels
The reference the hotel itself creates for a booking, different from the agency or wholesaler reference. It's the number the front desk can search, so put it on the voucher. More: Hotel voucher format
Home-based travel agentBusiness & finance
An agent who sells travel from home rather than from a shop or office, often working through a host agency or franchise for supplier access. More: Starting a home-based agency
Host agencyBusiness & finance
A larger agency that lets independent agents sell under its accreditation and supplier contracts in return for a commission split or fee. More: Franchise vs host agency
Hotel contractHotels
The agreement between a hotel and a wholesaler, DMC or agency that sets rates, seasons, allotments, release periods, cancellation terms and payment. More: Hotel contract template
I
IATAInternational Air Transport AssociationIndustry & tourism
The trade association for the world's airlines, founded in Havana in 1945. It says it represents over 380 airlines and about 85% of global air traffic. IATA sets airline and airport codes and runs BSP. More: IATA accreditation guide
IATA accreditationBusiness & finance
IATA approval for a travel agency to issue airline tickets and settle through BSP, with financial criteria that often include a bank guarantee. You don't need it to book hotels, transfers or tours. More: IATA accreditation guide
IATA codesAir & entry
Two-character codes for airlines (SQ, EK) and three-letter codes for airports and cities (SIN, DXB). Where a city has several airports, use the airport code, not the city code.
The body that accredits US travel agencies with international suppliers and issues the IATA/IATAN ID card used to identify travel professionals.
IATOIndian Association of Tour OperatorsIndustry & tourism
India's national association of tour operators, mostly inbound operators handling foreign visitors to India.
Inbound tourismIndustry & tourism
Visits to a country by non-residents. Hotels, DMCs and attractions in a destination depend heavily on it.
Inbound tour operatorTours & transfers
A company that handles visitors arriving in its own country from abroad, selling local programmes to overseas agencies and operators. More: Inbound vs outbound operators
Incentive travelTours & transfers
A trip a company gives staff, dealers or partners as a reward for hitting targets. It's the I in MICE, and it needs more polish and private experiences than a leisure group. More: Incentive travel
IncidentalsHotels
Extras the guest charges to the room, such as minibar, laundry and room service. They're paid at check-out and aren't covered by a prepaid voucher unless it says so.
Instant confirmationHotels
A booking confirmed at the moment of payment from live inventory. Compare it with on request.
InterlineAir & entry
An agreement that lets airlines sell one ticket combining each other's flights and transfer bags between them. Each airline flies under its own flight number, unlike a codeshare. More: Codeshare vs interline
InvoiceTax invoiceBusiness & finance
The final bill for a sale, with tax details where the law asks for them. Supplier invoices from a B2B portal are addressed to your agency, not to your client, so you'll need your own client invoice. More: Travel agency invoice template
ItineraryTours & transfers
The day-by-day plan of a trip with times, hotels, transfers and activities. Clients read it twice: once when they decide, and again on the morning of each day. More: Travel itinerary template
J
JSONJavaScript Object NotationB2B distribution
A lightweight text format for exchanging data between systems. Most newer travel APIs use it, including DMC Quote's Distribution API.
Junior suiteHotels
A large room with a separate sitting area but no fully separate bedroom. Hotels define it differently, so compare the size in square metres.
K
KYCKnow Your CustomerBusiness & finance
Checks a supplier or payment provider runs to confirm a business is real, such as company registration, licences and directors' ID. B2B portals run them before approving agency accounts. More: Agent registration documents
L
LayoverAir & entry
Time spent at a connecting airport between flights, usually a few hours. On international tickets a break of more than 24 hours is normally treated as a stopover.
LCCLow-Cost CarrierAir & entry
An airline whose basic fare covers the seat only, with bags, seats and meals sold separately. Many LCCs sell mainly on their own websites rather than through the GDS.
Lead guestLead passengerBusiness & finance
The person named first on a booking, who usually has to be an adult and present at check-in. Write the name exactly as in the passport.
Long-stay offerHotels
A discount for stays above a set number of nights, such as 7 or 14. Some hotels give it as free nights instead, see stay-pay.
Look-to-book ratioB2B distribution
How many searches an API partner makes for each booking. Suppliers watch it because every search costs them money, and partners with very high ratios can be throttled.
LRALast Room AvailabilityHotels
A contract clause that lets the holder book the negotiated rate on any night the hotel still has a room of that type for sale, even the last one. Without it (NLRA), the hotel can close the rate when it fills up. More: Last room availability explained
M
MAPModified American PlanHotels
A room with breakfast and one other meal, usually dinner. Indian contracts use MAP where other markets write HB. More: Hotel meal plans explained
MappingHotel mappingB2B distribution
Matching the same hotel across different suppliers' databases so it appears once, not five times under five names. Poor mapping is why some portals show duplicate hotels or the wrong photos.
MarginBusiness & finance
Profit as a share of the selling price. Agents often mix it up with markup: markup is worked out on cost, margin on price. More: How to calculate travel margins
MarkupBusiness & finance
The amount an agency adds to its net cost to set the selling price. A 15% markup on a USD 100 net rate gives a USD 115 selling price, which is a 13% margin, not 15%. More: B2B hotel markup strategy
MCTMinimum Connecting TimeAir & entry
The shortest connection an airport and airline allow between two flights on one ticket. A GDS won't sell a shorter one, but a legal connection isn't always a comfortable one.
Meal planBoard basisHotels
The meals included in a hotel rate, written as a code: RO, BB, HB, FB or AI, or EP, CP, MAP and AP in Indian contracts. More: Hotel meal plans explained
Medical tourismIndustry & tourism
Travelling abroad for medical or dental treatment, often combined with recovery time in a hotel. It needs extra care with dates, transfers and travel insurance. More: Medical tourism in Thailand
Meet and greetTours & transfers
A service where a representative meets arriving guests, usually with a name sign, and walks them to their transfer. Some airports allow it inside arrivals, others only outside. More: Meet and greet services
MetasearchB2B distribution
Sites that compare prices from many sellers and send the user elsewhere to book, such as Google Hotels, Trivago and Kayak.
MICEMeetings, Incentives, Conferences and ExhibitionsTours & transfers
The business events side of travel. The C sometimes stands for Conventions and the E for Events. MICE groups need venues, AV, group rooms and tight logistics. More: MICE venue booking
MLOSMinimum Length of StayHotels
A rule that a booking must cover at least a set number of nights, such as 3 nights over New Year. A 2-night search then shows no availability even though rooms are free.
MOTAC licenceBusiness & finance
The travel agency licence issued by Malaysia's Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, needed to operate a travel business in Malaysia. More: Starting a travel agency in Malaysia
Trips planned around Muslim travellers' needs: halal food, prayer facilities and times, and alcohol-free or family-oriented options. More: Halal travel portal
N
NDCNew Distribution CapabilityAir & entry
An IATA data standard, based on XML, that lets airlines sell fares and extras through agencies with the same content they show on their own websites.
Net rateB2B distribution
The price a supplier charges the agency before the agency adds its markup. The client never sees it. More: Net rate vs commissionable rate
NLRANon-Last Room AvailabilityHotels
The opposite of LRA: the hotel can stop selling a negotiated rate once it reaches a set occupancy, even with rooms still left.
Non-commissionable rateB2B distribution
A price on which the supplier pays no commission, so the agency earns only what it adds on top. Net rates are non-commissionable by definition. More: Net rate vs commissionable rate
No-showHotels
A guest who doesn't arrive on the booked date and didn't cancel. Hotels charge at least the first night, some charge the full stay, and many cancel the remaining nights unless told otherwise.
NRFNon-RefundableHotels
A rate that can't be cancelled or changed without losing the full amount, sold cheaper in return. Get the client's written agreement to the terms before you book it. More: Hotel cancellation policies
The government body that promotes a country as a destination, such as a national tourism board. Many run trade programmes and FAM trips for agents.
O
OccupancyOCCHotels
Rooms sold as a share of rooms available. The word also describes how many people share a room: single, double or triple occupancy.
On requestORHotels
A booking the supplier must check with the hotel before confirming, so it isn't confirmed yet. Don't send the client a voucher until it is. Some contracted hotels on DMC Quote are confirmed this way.
Opaque ratePackage rateB2B distribution
A discounted hotel rate that may only be sold hidden inside a package, so the client can't see the room price on its own. Selling it as a standalone room breaks the supplier's terms.
Open-dated ticketTours & transfers
An attraction ticket valid on any day within a period, not on a set date. Dated or timed-entry tickets are tied to one day or one entry slot.
Open jawAir & entry
A return trip where the traveller flies into one city and home from another, such as London to Bangkok, then Singapore to London. The gap is covered overland.
OTAOnline Travel AgencyB2B distribution
A website or app that sells travel to the public at retail prices, such as Booking.com, Expedia and Agoda. More: DMC vs OTA
Outbound tourismIndustry & tourism
Residents of a country travelling abroad. An agency selling holidays overseas to its own local clients works in the outbound market.
Outbound tour operatorTours & transfers
A company that sends travellers from its home country abroad, buying ground services from DMCs and wholesalers in each destination. More: Inbound vs outbound operators
OverbookingHotels
Selling more rooms than the hotel has, expecting some cancellations and no-shows. When everyone turns up, someone gets walked to another hotel. More: Handling hotel overbooking
Override commissionB2B distribution
An extra commission a supplier pays on top of the standard rate when an agency hits volume targets, usually counted over a season or year.
P
PackageTours & transfers
Two or more travel services sold together at one price, such as a hotel plus transfers and tours. In the UK and EU certain combinations make the seller legally responsible as organiser, see Package Travel Regulations.
Package Travel RegulationsPTRBusiness & finance
The UK's Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018, which make the organiser of a package responsible for all of it and require insolvency protection. EU countries apply the Package Travel Directive (EU) 2015/2302.
PATAPacific Asia Travel AssociationIndustry & tourism
A not-for-profit association of tourism boards, airlines, hotels and travel companies working on travel to, from and within Asia Pacific.
PaxBusiness & finance
Industry shorthand for passengers or guests. '2 pax' means two people; '4 pax per vehicle' is a seating limit.
Payment gatewayBusiness & finance
The service that processes card and online payments for a website. It charges a fee per transaction, which agencies often forget to price in.
Pick-up windowTours & transfers
The time range in which a shared vehicle may collect guests, such as 07:30 to 08:00, because it stops at several hotels. More: SIC vs private transfers
Plus-plus++Hotels
A price followed by '++' excludes service charge and government tax, which are added on top. You'll see it on hotel and restaurant prices in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Indonesia.
PMSProperty Management SystemHotels
The hotel's own operating software for reservations, check-in, room status and billing. A booking only exists for the front desk once it reaches the PMS.
PNRPassenger Name RecordAir & entry
The booking record in an airline or GDS system, identified by a six-character locator. It holds names, flights, contacts and the ticketing deadline. A PNR without a ticket isn't a seat you can fly on.
PPPN and PRPNPer Person Per Night, Per Room Per NightHotels
The two ways a nightly price can be quoted. Mixing them up on a twin room doubles or halves the price, and it's one of the most common quoting mistakes.
PrebookPrice checkB2B distribution
An API step that re-checks a rate and its cancellation terms just before booking, because hotel prices can change between search and payment.
Proforma invoiceBusiness & finance
A preliminary bill sent before payment, listing what's being bought and the amount due. It isn't a tax invoice; issue the final invoice once the client has paid. More: Travel agency invoice template
PVTPrivateTours & transfers
A transfer or tour for your clients only, in their own vehicle, with no other passengers. It costs more than SIC but runs to the client's timing. More: SIC vs private transfers
Q
QuotationBusiness & finance
The priced proposal an agency sends a client before booking, with inclusions, exclusions and how long the price is valid. Rates in a quote aren't held unless you've blocked them. More: Travel quotation templates
R
Rack rateHotels
The hotel's full published price for a room before any discount. Few guests pay it; it's the ceiling other rates are measured against. More: Net rate vs commissionable rate
Rate parityB2B distribution
A hotel's practice, or contract demand, of showing the same public price for a room on every channel. Wholesale net rates are meant to be sold with a markup or inside packages so that parity holds. More: Hotel rate parity
RBDReservation Booking DesignatorAir & entry
The one-letter booking class within a cabin, such as Y or M in economy, that links a seat to a fare. Two passengers in the same cabin can sit side by side on different booking classes and fares.
Refundable rateFlexible rateHotels
A rate that can be cancelled free until a deadline, then with charges. It costs more than a non-refundable rate on the same room. More: Hotel cancellation policies
Release periodCut-offHotels
The number of days before arrival when unsold allotment rooms go back to the hotel, such as 14 or 21 days. After release you can still book, but only if the hotel has rooms, at whatever rate it offers. More: Hotel allotment contracts
Resort feeHotels
A compulsory daily charge some hotels add for facilities such as Wi-Fi, the pool or the gym, usually paid at the hotel. It's common in the United States.
RevPARRevenue per Available RoomHotels
Room revenue divided by all rooms available, sold or not; the same as ADR multiplied by occupancy. It's why a full hotel at a low rate isn't always a good night for the hotel.
The exchange rate used to turn a price into another currency. Check which rate a supplier uses and when it's fixed: at quotation, at booking or at payment.
ROHRun of HouseHotels
The hotel picks the room type at check-in, usually its standard category, in return for a lower rate. Fine for groups, risky for honeymooners.
Rooming listHotels
The list of guest names and room allocations a group sends the hotel before arrival, showing who shares with whom, bed types and arrival dates. More: Hotel rooming list template
S
SeasonPeak, shoulder and low seasonHotels
Hotel contracts split the year into seasons, each with its own rates. Peak is the busiest and dearest, low the cheapest, and shoulder sits in between.
SettlementBusiness & finance
Paying what's owed between parties after sales, such as agencies to airlines through BSP or ARC, or a platform to its suppliers. DMC Quote pays its suppliers on a 30-day cycle. More: Supplier registration
SICSeat-in-CoachTours & transfers
A shared transfer or tour where your clients ride with other travellers on a fixed route and schedule. 'SIC basis' means the service is shared. Cheaper than private, but with pick-up windows and stops at other hotels. More: SIC vs private transfers
Single roomSGLHotels
A room for one person. Many hotels don't have true singles and sell a double for sole use instead.
Single supplementHotels
The extra a solo traveller pays because a package or room is priced per person on a twin-share basis.
Site inspectionTours & transfers
A visit by a planner or agent to check a hotel or venue before contracting, especially for MICE groups and weddings.
SSRSpecial Service RequestAir & entry
A coded request in a PNR for a service such as a wheelchair, a special meal or an unaccompanied minor. It needs the airline's confirmation.
Static contentB2B distribution
Hotel descriptions, photos, facilities and addresses that don't change with each search, delivered separately from live rates.
Stay-payFree night offerHotels
An offer such as 'stay 4, pay 3', where one night is free. Check whether the free night is the cheapest one and whether meals are still charged for it.
StopoverAir & entry
A planned break at an intermediate city that's longer than a normal connection, on international tickets usually more than 24 hours. Some fares allow it free, others charge for it or don't allow it.
Stop saleHotels
A notice from a hotel telling its partners to stop selling some or all rooms for set dates, usually because it's full. Bookings made after a stop sale may not be honoured. More: Allotment vs free sale
T
TAAITravel Agents Association of IndiaIndustry & tourism
A national association of Indian travel agents, tour operators and related businesses.
T&CsTerms and conditions, booking conditionsBusiness & finance
An agency's terms of sale to its clients: payment, cancellation, liability and complaints. They should match, or be stricter than, your suppliers' terms.
TCSTax Collected at Source (India)Business & finance
An Indian tax the seller of an overseas tour programme package collects from the buyer and pays to the government; the buyer can claim it against their income tax. From 1 April 2026 it's a flat 2% with no threshold, under section 394(1) of the Income-tax Act, 2025.
TMCTravel Management CompanyB2B distribution
An agency that runs business travel for companies: booking, policy control, duty of care and spend reporting.
A UK VAT scheme for businesses that buy in and resell travel as a principal or undisclosed agent, where VAT is worked out on the margin rather than the full selling price. HMRC's VAT Notice 709/5 sets out the rules.
Tour leaderTour managerTours & transfers
The person who travels with a group from start to finish, handling the programme, problems and the group's mood. Different from a local guide, who covers one city or site.
Tour operatorB2B distribution
A company that puts travel services together into packages and sells them, directly or through agents, taking responsibility as the organiser.
TransferTours & transfers
Transport between two points, usually airport to hotel, hotel to airport or hotel to hotel. Sold as SIC or private, one way or return. More: Airport transfers for agents
TransitAir & entry
Passing through an airport between flights, with or without leaving the airside area. Some countries ask for a transit visa even if the traveller never leaves the airport. More: Airport transit guide
Travel agency licenceBusiness & finance
A licence some countries require before you can sell travel. Singapore and Malaysia require one; the rules, fees and bonds differ a lot by country. More: Travel agency licence guide
Travel agentTravel advisorB2B distribution
A person or business that sells travel products from suppliers to travellers, earning commission or adding a markup. More: How to become a travel agent
Travel insuranceBusiness & finance
Cover for trip cancellation, medical costs abroad, lost luggage and delays. It's separate from ATOL or package protection, which deal with a supplier going bust. More: Travel insurance for agents
Triple roomTPLHotels
A room for three, often a double or twin with an extra bed rather than three proper beds. Check the bed set-up before you sell it to three adults.
A separate bank account where some laws or schemes require agencies to hold customer payments until the trip happens. DMC Quote doesn't hold your clients' money; you collect from them yourself.
TTLTicketing Time LimitAir & entry
The deadline by which a reserved airline seat must be ticketed, or the airline cancels the booking automatically.
Twin roomTWNHotels
A room with two separate beds. 'Twin share' means two people sharing a room, with the price quoted per person.
U
UN Tourismformerly UNWTOIndustry & tourism
The United Nations agency for tourism, known as the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) until it rebranded as UN Tourism in January 2024.
UpgradeHotels
Moving a guest to a better room or cabin than booked. Paid upgrades are confirmed; free ones are up to the hotel on the day.
V
VATValue Added TaxBusiness & finance
A consumption tax on sales used in many countries. Travel has special rules: in the UK and EU, businesses reselling travel as principal usually pay VAT on their margin under TOMS or the EU equivalent.
Visa on arrivalVOAAir & entry
A visa issued at the border when the traveller lands, usually for a fee. Who qualifies depends on nationality, so check the official source before every trip.
VoucherBusiness & finance
The document a guest shows a hotel, driver or attraction as proof of a prepaid booking. It should carry the supplier's confirmation number and the lead guest's name as in the passport. More: Hotel voucher format
W
WaitlistAir & entry
A queue for a sold-out flight, booking class or hotel date. A waitlisted booking isn't confirmed and may never clear.
WalletPrepaid walletBusiness & finance
A prepaid balance an agency tops up on a B2B portal and books against. On DMC Quote wallets are topped up by bank transfer. More: Wallet vs credit limit
White labelB2B distribution
A product one company builds and another sells under its own brand, such as a booking website running on a wholesaler's inventory. DMC Quote's portal vouchers aren't white-label; they carry the Travel DMC Group name. More: White-label B2B travel portal
WholesalerB2B distribution
A company that buys or contracts travel products in volume and sells them to travel agencies and tour operators at net rates, not to the public. More: Consolidator vs wholesaler
Wholesale rateB2B distribution
A net rate given to the trade, below public prices, for agencies to resell with their own margin. More: Wholesale vs retail rates
X
XMLExtensible Markup LanguageB2B distribution
A structured text format that older travel APIs, GDS connections and IATA's NDC standard use to exchange data. Newer APIs tend to use JSON.
Y
Yield managementRevenue managementHotels
Changing prices and restrictions with demand to earn the most from a fixed stock of rooms or seats. It's why hotel rates move daily and why a contract rate can close on peak nights.
YQ and YRCarrier-imposed surchargesAir & entry
Charges on an airline ticket shown among the taxes but set by the airline, not a government, often labelled fuel or insurance surcharges.
Regulated Terms: Official Sources (Checked November 2026)
Some terms carry legal or financial weight, so we checked them against the body that runs them. Tax rules move with each budget. Confirm a rate with your accountant before you put it on an invoice.
Hotel rooms up to INR 7,500 a night: 5% without input tax credit from 22 September 2025 (Notification 15/2025-Central Tax (Rate)). Input tax credit rules for hotel services changed again from 1 November 2026.
Checked November 2026. The TCS rate comes from tax publishers' summaries of the Finance Act 2026, not from the official rate table, which we couldn't open.
Where You'll Meet These Terms on DMC Quote
DMC Quote is a B2B travel portal run by Travel DMC Group in Singapore. Agents book hotels, airport transfers, attraction tickets, tours and packages at net rates and set their own selling price. Plenty of this glossary shows up on the booking screens:
Net rates. Every price you see is the trade price. You add your margin when you quote the client.
Refundable and non-refundable tags, with each cancellation charge step listed before you pay.
Cancellation deadlines in Singapore time, set earlier than the supplier's own so there's room to act.
Meal plan codes on each rate, from room only to all-inclusive.
On request status on some contracted hotels, which confirm after the hotel replies.
The hotel confirmation number on the voucher once issued, or "Pending" until then.
Some terms you won't meet with us. We don't sell flights, so there's no PNR, BSP or ATOL on the portal. There's no amendment function either: to change a booking you cancel and rebook under the rate's terms. Vouchers are issued under Travel DMC Group, not your agency name. We'd rather you knew that before you register than after.
How to Register as a Travel Agent on DMC Quote
Fill in the free agent registration form with your company details. There's no joining fee, subscription or minimum volume.
Upload your business registration when asked. IATA accreditation is optional. Our team reviews each application.
Once approved, search 1.5M+ hotels in 190+ countries, plus transfers and tours, top up your wallet by bank transfer and book at net rates.
A travel industry glossary is a list of the terms, codes and abbreviations that travel agents, hotels, tour operators and airlines use with each other, each with a plain definition. This one has 216 entries covering hotels, tours and transfers, B2B distribution, air, business and finance, and industry bodies, and you can download it as a free PDF.
Can I download this tourism glossary as a PDF?
Yes. The full glossary is a free PDF download with no sign-up: all 216 terms in A to Z order on A4 pages, with every abbreviation expanded and a quick table of meal plan and room codes at the front. It prints cleanly in black and white.
What does FIT stand for in the travel industry?
FIT stands for Free Independent Traveller, sometimes Foreign Independent Tour. It means a traveller or small party on their own itinerary rather than a group tour. The group equivalent is GIT, Group Inclusive Tour, where a group travels together on one itinerary at a group price.
What is HB in hotel terminology?
HB means half board: breakfast plus one other main meal, usually dinner, normally without drinks. Indian hotel contracts write the same plan as MAP, the Modified American Plan. BB is breakfast only, and FB, full board, adds lunch as well.
What does SIC basis mean in travel?
SIC stands for seat-in-coach. A transfer or tour on SIC basis is shared: your clients ride with other travellers on a fixed route and schedule, with a pick-up window and stops at other hotels. It costs less than a private (PVT) service, which runs only for your clients and to their timing.
What does pax mean in travel?
Pax is industry shorthand for passengers or guests. A quote for 2 pax is for two people, and a vehicle limit of 4 pax means four seated passengers. You'll see it on hotel, transfer, tour and airline documents.
What do IATA and BSP mean for a travel agency?
IATA is the International Air Transport Association, the trade association for the world's airlines. BSP, its Billing and Settlement Plan, is the system accredited agencies use to report airline ticket sales and pay for them in one settlement instead of paying each airline separately. You need IATA accreditation to issue airline tickets yourself, not to book hotels, transfers or tours.
Do I need IATA accreditation to book on DMC Quote?
No. IATA is optional when you register. DMC Quote sells hotels, airport transfers, attraction tickets, tours and packages at net rates, and no flights, so there's no ticketing and no BSP involved. Registration is free, and our team reviews each application before approval.
AT A GLANCE
Travel industry glossary: key facts about DMC Quote for agents
DMC Quote (dmcquote.com) is a B2B travel portal run by Travel DMC Group, Singapore, operating since 2012. Travel agencies register free and book ground arrangements at net rates.
What you can book
1.5M+ hotels in 190+ countries, 10,000+ tours and activities, attraction tickets and airport transfers at 15+ airports. No flights.
Cost
Free to register: no joining fee, no subscription, no minimum volume. You pay the net rate and set your own selling price.
How you pay
From a prepaid wallet topped up by bank transfer. Credit limits are rare and agreed case by case.
Registration
Business registration documents; IATA accreditation is optional. Each application is reviewed by our team.
Vouchers and support
Vouchers are issued by Travel DMC Group with the hotel confirmation number and a 24/7 emergency line.
Track record
10,000+ travel agencies registered, 50,000+ bookings, operating since 2012.