Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

adventure tourism

Tourism that provides opportunities for physical exertion through hard and soft activities (see hard adventure and soft adventure). It may, but not always, embrace ecotourism practices (see ecotourism ).

advertising

Any paid form of nonpersonal communication about an organization, product, service, or idea by an identified sponsor.

affinity charter

Private charter sold through an organization to which the traveller belongs.

agreement

A written or implied statement accepting certain conditions, such as regulatory commercial air services between countries.

airport limousine

A privately operated bus, van, or extended car that provides service between airports and facilities in city centres.

à la carte

A meal choice from a complete menu, regardless of price.

all-inclusive package

A vacation package for which the traveller pays one price that covers almost all trip expenses, including transportation, accommodations, meals, and sightseeing.

all-suite hotel

A type of hotel offering units that include a living room, kitchen, and bedroom.

American plan (AP)

A hotel rate that includes the room and a continental or full breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

amusement park

A park that provides entertainment such as rides, shows, and food and beverage services as a commercial enterprise.

aquarium

A facility that has various types of fish and sea animals displayed in tanks and may provide opportunities to observe performances of trained animals.

Area Settlement Plan (ASP)

A system whereby a specific bank handles all the transactions involved in the sale of airline tickets by travel agents.

area tour

A tour that spends a limited amount of time in several countries.

association market

The meeting and conference market comprised of professional and fraternal associations that hold local, regional, national, and international meetings on a regular basis (e.g., weekly to annually).

at-risk capacity

This situation develops when tour operators sign contracts with suppliers for a specified amount of product; they need to sell the full supply to tourists or risk losing money.

authentic tourism

Tourism products designed for the "new" tourist, offering real experiences of a cultural, educational, or spiritual nature. "New" tourists are attracted to learning-type products that add value to life.

automated ticketing machine (ATM)

A self-service machine that provides customers with flight information, reservations, tickets, and boarding passes.

back-office system

A computer information management system used for behind-the-scenes business operations.

back of the house

The support areas behind the scenes in lodging facilities, including materials management, housekeeping, laundry, engineering, purchasing, receiving, storage, and food service preparation areas, in a lodging facility or elsewhere.

banqueting

The catering process provided by hotel catering departments for meals served to groups.

berths

Sleeping accommodations that are either double beds, twin beds, or bunk bed arrangements on trains or ships.

bias

The preferential display on a global distribution system (GDS) of host carrier flight schedules.

Billing and Settlement Plan (BSP) Canada

A streamlined and automated method of payment by travel agencies to airlines, developed by the IATA.

boutique travel agency

An agency that develops customer relationship management with its clientele, develops knowledge of clients, and provides specialized service.

brand

Any word, "device" (design, sound, shape, or colour), or combination of these, used to distinguish a seller's goods or services from those of the seller's competitors.

BritRail pass

A pass used for train travel in Great Britain.

business centres

Facilities developed to support business communications, utilized by business travellers who are away from home base or businesses that require services not available on site.

business class

A level of service that provides additional comfort and convenience greater than an airline's basic level of service; targeted at individuals travelling for work purposes.

business to business (B2B)

Transactions between one business and another.

business to consumer (B2C)

Transactions between a business and a consumer.

business travel department (BTD)

The department in a corporation that handles travel arrangements for the corporation's employees.

business travellers

Persons who take trips to a place or places outside their home communities for any purpose other than commuting to and from work.

Canada Select Accommodations Rating Program

A program, in which properties voluntarily participate, that rates the quality of the physical facilities and services offered.

Canrailpass

A VIA Rail fare that allows unlimited travel throughout Canada for a fixed period of time.

cargo terminal

A separate building at an airport for freight, mail, packages.

carnival

An event with amusements such as entertainment, a parade, or competitions in celebration of an event, person, or date.

carrying capacity

The maximum number of people who can use a tourism destination with only "acceptable alteration" to the physical environment and with only "acceptable decline" in the quality of experience gained by subsequent visitors.

categories of events

The seven types of planned, public events that are found in most communities: cultural celebrations, art and entertainment, business/trade, sport competitions, educational and scientific, recreational, political/state. Some private events also fit into some of these categories.

catering services

The services required to feed people at special events, ranging from a dinner party for two to a picnic for thousands. These services can take place on-premise or off-premise, on the ground, in the air, or on the sea. Catering involves planning and preparing the food, setting up the tables and required serving implements, serving the guests, and cleaning up.

central reservations system

A communications system that allows guests to contact a call centre to receive a room at any property in the system.

certification

A process that involves a trained evaluation of skills and the passing of an exam that tests the individual's knowledge of and attitude toward the job.

certified travel counsellor (CTC)

Professional designation conferred by the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors on completion of training and examination requirements.

certified travel manager (CTM)

Professional designation conferred by the Canadian Institute of Travel Counsellors on completion of training and examination requirements.

charter

(1) To hire an airplane, bus, or ship for group travel, usually at lower rates than regularly scheduled transportation. (2) The purchase of the use of transportation equipment at a cut price.

charter airline

An airline that offers charter flights and other non-scheduled flights. Also called a supplemental airline.

charter tour

A tour taken by a club, organization, or other pre-formed group.

check-out

The process of guests paying their accounts and notifying the front desk they have vacated their rooms, face to face or via a computer system that provides express check-out.

circle trip

A type of round-trip journey in which the return journey differs from the outbound journey in terms of routing or class of service.

city package tour

A motorcoach tour to a single city destination that may include accommodation, meals, sightseeing.

code of ethics

Standards based on moral principles and values that identify the conduct that is expected of professionals in respect to integrity, competence, conformity to standards of practice, loyalty, fairness, concern for negative impact, and confidentiality.

code sharing agreement

An agreement between a major airline and a small regional airline, under which the small airline flies under the larger company's code.

co-host

A company that does not own its global distribution system (GDS) but instead shares a database with a host vendor.

commission

The percentage of a selling price paid to a retailer by a supplier.

common carrier

A privately owned air carrier that offers public transportation of passengers, cargo, and mail.

compact car

An average-sized car.

competition

The set of alternative firms that could provide a product or service to satisfy a specific market's needs.

computer reservations system (CRS)

A computer system that provides information on availability and fares or rates. These systems are limited to one supplier (for example, Holiday Inn's Holidex system) as opposed to a global distribution system (GDS), which gives access to suppliers from different sectors. It permits reservations agents to make reservations and produce tickets or vouchers.

concierge

A hotel employee who handles restaurant and tour reservations, travel arrangements, and other details for hotel guests.

conference

Similar to a convention (see below) but usually deals with specific problems or developments rather than with general matters.

conference appointment system

A system whereby regulation bodies formulate standards for acceptance of new travel agencies and to discipline existing agencies.

conference centre

A facility that caters to group gatherings and provides support services for meetings and recreation; has guest rooms and often is in a remote or resort-type setting.

configuration

An airplane seating arrangement; a food service space plan.

consortium

A group of independent firms that band together to pool financial and company resources.

constructed attraction

An attraction that is man-made, such as a Niagara winery and the Confederation Bridge.

controls

Processes that establish standards of performance, measure current performance against expected performance, and respond to variances-specifically of the financial dealings of an organization.

control tower

A tower from which air traffic controllers direct planes in the air and on the ground.

convention

A meeting involving a general group session followed by committee meetings in breakout rooms.

convention and visitors' bureau

An organization that promotes travel to the city it represents and assists in servicing conventions and trade shows held in the city.

convention centre

A facility that caters to large groups, meetings, and trade shows, usually in the downtown area of major cities.

convention tour

A tour for members of an association or group attending such events as conventions, trade shows, or conferences.

co-op advertising

Advertising that promotes and is sponsored by two or more companies.

cooperative

A group of independent travel agencies formed temporarily out of a joint interest in promoting a product or event.

corporate market

The market segment composed of top-level management from both business and non-profit operations.

corporate meeting planners

Meeting planners who specialize in meetings for upper-level corporate management, as opposed to association, scientific, or incentive meetings.

corporate rebate

An arrangement whereby money is returned to a company based on the volume of business it conducts with another company.

corporate travel agency

A travel agency, or out-plant office, that specializes in making arrangements for corporate and government accounts.

corporate website

A website designated to accommodate interactive communication initiated by a company's employees, investors, suppliers, and customers.

cost centre

Departments within an operation, such as marketing, accounting, maintenance, or housekeeping, that incur expenses as they provide support services to enhance the operation and ensure customer satisfaction.

couchette

A sleeping bunk in a second-class train compartment.

cruise/rail package

A tour package that combines travel by rail and cruise ship.

cultural integrity

Music, architecture, food, art, folklore, religion that genuinely reflects that of a specific culture.

customs

The government regulation of goods entering and leaving a country.

decline stage

To fall in value, quality, or quantity; the fourth and last stage of the product or service life cycle, when sales and profitability decline.

deluxe car

A large luxury car, usually equipped with many amenities.

demanders

Business and leisure tourists that need and want specific products/services from suppliers (e.g., air transportation, spa resorts, entertainment).

demographics

Statistics and facts, such as age, gender, marital status, occupation, and income, that describe a human population.

deregulation

Removal of government control over the operation of an industry.

destination management companies

A company that provides on-the-scene meeting assistance for corporations and associations.

destination visitors

Visitors who travel a long distance to visit a destination as opposed to local residents and regional visitors.

dine-around plan

A plan that permits tourists to dine at a variety of restaurants using vouchers and coupons.

direct or through service

A flight with one or more stops en route where the passenger remains aboard the same plane.

discounted airfare

A less expensive airfare that includes certain restrictions, such as advance-purchase requirements, minimum/maximum length of stay, nonrefundable cancellation penalties, etc. Same as excursion airfare, promotional airfare , and restricted airfare .

discretionary income

Available income in excess of basic expenses such as mortgage payments, food, clothing, and education.

discretionary travel

Travel undertaken voluntarily or by choice.

documentation

Government-issued papers used to identify travellers.

domestic independent tour (DIT)

A custom-made tour of a part of Canada planned exclusively for a client by a travel agent.

domestic tourism

Residents of a country visiting, at least overnight, places farther than 80 kilometres from their usual environment for purposes other than remuneration.

domestic travel

Travel by residents of a country in that country.

double occupancy

Hotel accommodations for two people who share a room.

drop-off charge

A fee charged for dropping a rental car at a location different from the one where it was picked up.

duty

A tax paid on items purchased abroad.

eatertainment

The integration of entertainment into the food and beverage service format.

ecoadventure

Adventure travel that is sensitive to the environment and strives to protect rather than destroy it.

ecofriendly

Being sensitive to the environment and taking action to protect it.

e-commerce

Business transactions done electronically through websites and the Internet (both B2C and B2B).

ecotourism

A type of tourism in which vacationers travel to unusual places to observe ecological systems and endangered species in their natural habitat.

electronic ticket delivery network (ETDN)

A ticket printer that is similar to a satellite ticket printer (see below) but owned by an outside vendor rather than a travel agent.

embarkation

The boarding of passengers onto a ship, plane, train, etc.

en route food services

Food service operations patronized by travellers; include coffee shops, family restaurants, and quick-service, fast-food outlets. They may be chains or stand-alone facilities.

environmentally sensitive

Being in tune with environmental forces in a particular setting.

e-procurement

The purchase of tourism products/services by electronic means.

escorted tour

An organized tour led by a professional tour manager.

ethical policies

Policies based on moral principles and values that determine behaviour in doing business.

e-ticketing

The process that produces an electronic or "paperless" ticket.

Eurailpass

A pass that allows unlimited train travel throughout certain European countries.

European plan (EP)

A hotel rate that includes the room only and no meals.

event management

The responsibility for organizing the event, coordinating everyone involved, setting budgets and financial controls, developing plans for marketing and public relations, fundraising, and evaluating the success of the event.

event marketing

Involves selling the event to the public through publicity and promotion and handling all communication with the public and the media. Same as media relations.

event tourism

A major component of special-interest tourism and a significant ingredient of destination and place marketing strategies when an event plays a tourism role.

excursion airfare

A less expensive airfare that includes certain restrictions, such as advance-purchase requirements, minimum/maximum length of stay, nonrefundable cancellation penalties, etc. Same as discounted airfare, promotional airfare , and restricted airfare .

exhibition

A display of goods and services staged as part of a convention or conference.

external customers

Local patrons and tourists.

FAM trip

A familiarization trip for travel professionals to inspect hotels and restaurants, sample attractions, and experience local culture.

fare construction

The process of computing international airfares.

fixed-base operator (FBO)

A company that rents space at an airport and provides a particular service.

flag carrier

A national airline representing an individual nation.

flag of convenience

A flag flown by a ship of one nation that is registered under the flag of another nation.

fly/cruise package

A vacation package that includes air transportation to the port of embarkation and the cruise itself.

fly/drive package

A vacation package that includes air transportation and rental car use.

foreign flag

A term for any carrier registered in a nation other than Canada.

foreign independent tour (FIT)

An international tour planned exclusively for a client by a travel agent.

forms of ownership

Food and beverage operations and hotels may be operated through partnerships, corporations, chain ownership, leasing arrangements, as joint ventures, franchises, and management contracts.

franchise

A contract between a company owner and an established chain under which the owner pays a fee to operate the company under the chain name.

frequent flyer program

A program that awards travellers free travel, discounts, and upgrades for flying a certain number of miles on a single airline.

frequent stay program

A program that awards travellers discounts, special rates, and upgrades for frequently staying at a lodging facility; a form of customer retention.

front of the house

The part of the food service system that brings finished products to the customers and deals directly with the guests.

garden tourism

Tourism based on horticulture in public and private spaces.

gateway airport

An airport that serves international flights.

global distribution system (GDS)

A computer reservations system that permits access to a wide range of travel products and services for reservations and information purposes.

grand tour

An extended journey through continental Europe by sons and daughters of the aristocracy during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.

gross registered tonnage (GRT)

A number representing the amount of enclosed space on a ship.

growth stage

The period of expansion in the life cycle development of a destination or distribution of a product/service.

guaranteed reservation

  A reservation that has been secured by paying in advance or providing a credit card number as a deposit to hold a room; if the hotel is overbooked, a room in another hotel is guaranteed, at the same rate.

guest and uniformed services

  Services provided directly for guests and indirectly through back-of-the-house employees.

hallmark events

Major one-time or recurring events of limited duration developed primarily to enhance the awareness, appeal. and profitability of a destination.

hangar

A place where airplanes are stored and repaired.

hard adventure

Hard adventures often have very basic facilities, a higher risk factor, and greater physical challenge. Hard a dventure providers cater less to the needs of the vacationer, expecting a higher degree of knowledge and experience of the particular adventure from the vacationer.

heli-skiing

Skiers are transported by helicopter to otherwise inaccessible slopes for downhill skiing.

hosted tour

A tour whose members are assisted by a host who arranges optional excursions and answers questions.

host vendor

An airline or other organization that owns and operates a global distribution system.

hotel attrition

When meeting/convention delegates book hotel rooms themselves instead of going through a meeting/convention planner who has booked a block of rooms, the planner might be left with a number of rooms that are not used. The meeting planner and/or the association becomes responsible for all the revenue that the hotel would have made if the room block had been filled.

hub-and-spoke route

A flight pattern in which a major airport is the centre point, or hub, for arrivals from the departures to smaller airports that surround it. The smaller airports are considered the rim; the connecting flights are the spokes.

hub-buster strategy

A strategy where hub cities are bypassed in favour of providing direct service to a destination.

human capital

Skills and knowledge available as a resource for operation and development of an organization.

IATA Travel Settlement Service (ITSS)

An electronic billing and settlement system for airplane tickets in today's digital marketplace, originated by the International Air Transport Association.

inbound operators

Tour operators who provide specialized travel packages for foreign visitors to Canada.

inbound tour

A tour that originates in a foreign country and has Canada as its destination.

inbound tourism

Vacation and leisure travel to Canada.

incentive tour

A tour offered by companies to employees as a reward for achieving a corporate goal.

incentive travel

Marketing and management tool used to motivate people by offering travel rewards for achieving a specific goal; may include a training session or meeting at the travel destination.

inception stage

The beginning of a process.

independent package tour

A tour that visits several cities or places of interest on regular scheduled buses.

indirect spending

Money that is spent initially by a tourist and then respent within the destination.

infrastructure

The basic facilities of a site, such as local roads, sewage system, electricity, and water supply.

inside cabin

A ship's cabin that has no access to natural light and faces a central passageway.

inside sales

Sales efforts conducted within the employer's office.

institutional food service

A non-commercial food service found in hospitals, residential care facilities, schools, prisons, factories and offices; operated in establishments whose primary business is not food and beverage.

intangible service/product

A term used to describe a product that is experienced rather than seen or touched, such as an airplane flight, a family reunion, or an ocean view.

interline connection

A flight during which the passenger changes both airplanes and airlines.

interlining

The use of one standard type of airline ticket that is recognized and honoured by all scheduled airlines.

intermediaries

Sellers of travel products (such as travel agencies) who act as a link between a travel supplier and a buyer.

intermodal ticketing

A ticketing system where the passenger buys one ticket for through travel using at least two different modes of travel; for example, a plane and a bus, or a plane and a cruise ship.

intermodal tours

Tours that include more than one form of transportation.

internal customers

Employees in the front and back of the house who do the work of production and service.

internal tourism

Domestic and inbound tourism combined.

international tourism

Inbound and outbound tourism combined.

interpretation

The process of educating visitors to national parks and other recreation facilities through the use of marked trails, signs, and people who explain various aspects of the venue, etc.

itinerary

A planned route for a trip.

IT number

A registration number that is assigned to a tour package.

joint venture

A business partnership between two companies, two individuals, or a company and an individual.

kilometre cap

A car rental plan that allows clients a certain number of free kilometres each day and charges an extra fee for each additional kilometre driven.

land/cruise package

A vacation package that includes cruise and hotel accommodations at or near the port of embarkation.

leakage

The amount of income that flows out of a local economy to purchase outside resources needed to generate that income.

learning-type product

Attractions and experiences that add value to life, such as adventure travel, aboriginal travel, and cultural tourism.

light rail transit (LRT)

A modern form of mass transit, usually several transit cars travelling together on a dedicated separate rail right of way from suburb to city.

lighter

A small boat that carries cruise passengers between ship and shore. Also called a tender.

limousine

A privately owned and operated chauffeur-driven car, often hired for special occasions or for business purposes.

linear route

A flight pattern in which an airplane flies to its destination in one direction, then turns around and repeats the flight in the opposite direction.

liner

An ocean-going passenger vessel that sails a fixed route on a fixed schedule.

loading apron

A parking area at an airport terminal where the airplane is fuelled, loaded, and boarded.

local residents

People residing near a particular place as opposed to regional and destination visitors.

local tour

A tour that is marketed to a local group or organization.

loss/damage waiver (LDW)

An option offered by car rental firms that relieves clients of their liability for an initial amount of damage to a rental car; it also provides coverage for loss of the use of the rental car should an accident occur.

magrodome

A sliding roof on a cruise ship that is used to cover a deck area in bad weather.

management contract

An agreement under which one company owns a property and pays a management fee to a chain to operate the property.

manifest

A passenger list.

market

People with the desire and ability to buy a specific product or service.

marketing website

An interactive website designed to sell products/services to consumers (compared to a promotional website that simply promotes products/services).

market segmentation

The concept of dividing a market into different parts.

mass transit

The movement of people in large metropolitan areas, usually via buses, subways, and trolleys.

maturity stage

The third stage of the product or retail life cycle in which market share levels off and profitability declines.

media relations

Involves selling the event to the public through publicity and promotion and handling all communication with the public and the media. Same as event marketing .

mega-agency

A large travel agency with branch offices in many cities; primarily interested in multimillion-dollar corporate accounts.

mega-event

Large events with respect to volume of visitors, cost, psychology, or prestige.

megamall

A vast indoor shopping and entertainment complex consisting of hundreds of shops and restaurants.

megaship

A cruise ship that can serve as many as 2500 passengers at a time. Such cruises are not of long duration.

model culture

A facility in which the houses, artifacts, and way of life of another age or nation are displayed.

modified American plan (MAP)

A hotel rate that includes the room and continental breakfast or full breakfast and dinner.

monorail

An elevated urban transit system that runs on one rail.

multiple channels

The use of several channels of distribution by a supplier, rather than only one channel.

nationalize

To bring an industry under the control of the federal government.

national tourism

Internal and outbound tourism combined.

national tourism organizations (NTOs)

Organizations that national governments use to promote their countries as tourist destinations.

nationwide tour

A tour that is promoted and sold to people throughout the nation.

natural attractions

Places that are preserved or are in their "original" state, such as scenic landscapes or seascapes and national or provincial parks.

neutral units of construction

A fictitious currency unit used to simplify calculations for international fares based on different currencies.

new entrant carrier

Any one of the airlines that came into business after the deregulation of the airlines.

niche market

A small market segment with specialized needs, such as the physically challenged or families with young children, to which some tourism operators cater.

nondiscounted airfare

A more expensive fare that allows a passenger to board any plane going to his or her destination that has an available seat. Same as normal airfare and unrestricted airfare .

nondiscretionary travel

Travel undertaken out of necessity, such as business travel.

normal airfare

A more expensive fare that allows a passenger to board any plane going to his or her destination that has an available seat. Same as nondiscounted airfare and unrestricted airfare .

no-show

A person who makes a reservation but fails to use it.

occupational standards

Descriptions of the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for a person to be competent in a certain occupation.

oceanarium

A type of aquarium that features saltwater animals.

off-site meeting

A meeting held at a location other than the sponsoring company's premises.

on-demand public transportation

Those transportation services, such as taxis and limousines, that don't have regular schedules; passengers arrange individually for service.

one-way trip

A journey that begins in one city and ends in another.

open-jaw trip

An air journey interrupted by surface travel, or a flight that has a return destination other than the originating city.

Open Skies agreement

A trade agreement between two countries (e.g., Canada-United States) to promote air transportation between them. These agreements set liberal ground rules for international aviation markets and minimize government intervention. Provisions apply to passenger, all-cargo, and combination air transportation, and encompass both scheduled and charter services.

outbound tourism

Residents of a country visiting places outside that country.

outside cabin

A ship cabin that has a porthole or window and a view of the ocean.

outside sales

Sales efforts that involve personal calls by the sales staff to prospective clients.

overbook

To sell more seats or rooms than are available.

override

A financial incentive paid by a supplier to a retailer to encourage high-volume sales.

package tour

Several travel components provided by different suppliers are combined and sold to the consumer as a single product at a single price.

passenger name record (PNR)

A record of a passenger's travel arrangements that is stored in a global distribution system (GDS).

passenger-to-crew ratio

The number of passengers aboard a cruise ship divided by the number of crew.

passport

A document issued by a government that enables people to enter a foreign country and to return to their own country.

pedestrian village

An assemblage of facilities in a format that encourages walking to services, such as Intrawest has done at ski slopes.

per diem

A term meaning "by the day" used to indicate the amount of money budgeted each day for travel expenses.

performance bond

A special type of insurance policy that guarantees payment to all parties owed money.

personal accident insurance (PAI)

Insurance offered by car rental firms that provides coverage in the case of bodily injury to the client.

point-to-point service

Transporting passengers from one destination to another.

port tax

Tax paid by passengers on embarkation at any port during a cruise.

preferred supplier agreement

A written or implied agreement between a travel agency and a particular supplier favouring usage of that supplier.

pressurization

Artificial increase of air pressure in a jet cabin so that the air pressure is almost equivalent to the air pressure at ground level.

primary items

Transportation and the components of other tourism sectors that are sold by travel agents.

primary research

Market research in which product and service suppliers study consumers' responses to surveys, questionnaires, and interviews.

private charter

A charter that is not for sale to the general public.

product club

Partnerships formed between businesses and the Canadian Tourism Commission to develop tourism products, build links among the tourism sectors and other businesses, and connect the club with strategic directions locally, nationally, and internationally.

product life cycle

A standard marketing concept that identifies four stages in the life cycle of a product: introduction, growth, maturity, and decline.

promotion

Advancing an idea, service, or business through advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, and public relations.

promotional airfare

A less expensive airfare that includes certain restrictions, such as advance-purchase requirements, minimum/maximum length of stay, nonrefundable cancellation penalties, etc. Same as discounted airfare, excursion airfare, and restricted airfare .

provincial and territorial tourism organizations

Organizations that provincial and territorial governments use to promote their areas as tourist destinations.

psychographics

Relates the activities, interests, and opinions of travellers to their life stage.

public charter

A charter that is open for sale to the general public, either through a travel agency or by a tour or charter operator.

public relations

A form of communications management that seeks to influence the feelings, opinions, or beliefs held by customers, shareholders, suppliers, employees, and other publics about a company and the products and services it provides.

public transportation

Organized passenger service available to the general public within a small geographic area.

pure incentive

An incentive travel program designed strictly for pleasure.

quad

A hotel room that is shared by four people.

quasi-public promoters

Private promotional organizations that receive government funding, such as regional tourism organizations and convention and visitors' bureaux (CVBs).

rack rate

The standard day rate for a hotel room.

rebate

Cash returned to a purchaser after a purchase has been made.

receptive operator

A travel professional who specializes in arranging tours for visitors from other countries.

referral group

Consortia, affiliations, or voluntary chains, also called "referral groups," are groups of independent hotels that have joined together in associations based on specific criteria for membership.

regional airline

An airline, either by choice or regulation, serving one area of a country.

regional visitors

Visitors from within four hours' drive of a destination.

repositioning cruise

A cruise organized to transfer a ship from one cruising area to another between seasons.

reservations

Spaces booked for a function or guest rooms at a facility in advance of a specific date.

reservations agent

The person who responds to requests from travellers and coordinates the bookings and rates for an operation; the function may occur in-house using a computer reservations system (CRS) or a global distribution system (GDS).

restricted airfare

A less expensive airfare that includes certain restrictions, such as advance-purchase requirements, minimum/maximum length of stay, nonrefundable cancellation penalties, etc. Same as discounted airfare, excursion airfare, and promotional airfare.

retailer distributor

A member of the distribution channel selling products/services to consumers, either a traditional retail store (travel agency) or a wholesaler.

retail sales to tourists

Products and services sold directly to consumers.

risk management

A method of considering the safety and security of guests and employees, as well as of personal and real property.

round trip

A journey that begins in one city, goes to another city, and ends in the originating city.

runway

A strip of land on which airplanes land and from which they take off.

Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) Convention

The convention that sets safety standards for cruise ships.

sales incentive

An incentive travel program that combines a vacation with scheduled business meetings.

satellite ticket printer (STP)

A machine that allows travel agents to deliver tickets electronically to a client's premises.

scheduled airline

An airline that offers regular flights that are scheduled to depart and arrive at certain times.

secondary items

Travel components such as medical insurance and trip cancellation insurance.

secondary research

Market research based on information that has been collected and processed.

service charge

Charges to customers made by travel agencies to cover their expenses.

single-city tour

An in-depth tour of an individual city that offers travellers the opportunity to experience that city's culture.

single-country tour

A tour of a single country that gives travellers an in-depth view of that country.

single-entity charter

A private charter that is paid in full by a single source.

single supplement

Hotel accommodation for a single person in a private room.

site destination selection company

A company that investigates and suggests potential meeting sites to suit corporate or association needs.

soft adventure

Soft adventures have a lower level of risk, greater comfort in accommodations, and are less physically rigorous. Soft adventure providers also offer specialized services for the physically challenged, young children, or the elderly, and generally cater to the needs of the vacationer.

special event

A large-scale, once-in-a-lifetime show.

special-interest group tour

A tour for clubs, societies, and organizations whose members share a common interest.

specialty channeller

An intermediary, such as an incentive travel company, a meeting/convention planner, or a travel club, that organizes specific kinds of tour packages.

spectator sports

Sports viewed by an audience.

sponsor

Agencies, companies, or individuals who provide money, services, or other support to events and organizations in return for specific benefits.

stabilizers

A feature on a ship that minimizes the effects of the ship's side-to-side roll.

standard car

A full-sized car.

stay-overs

Guests who spend more than one night at an accommodation facility and need their rooms scheduled for a daily makeup.

steerage

The lowest class of accommodations on board a passenger ship.

stewardship ethic

The moral principle that one manages property effectively because it will be beneficial to all concerned.

stopover

An interruption to a trip lasting 12 or more hours.

strategic alliances

Airlines based in various countries offering seamless worldwide air travel together through service agreements.

subcategories of food service

The systems within foodservice such as production and service, administration, marketing and sales, human resource management, materials management, and engineering and maintenance.

subcompact car

A very small car.

subway

A rail transportation system that provides local rapid-transit passenger service either wholly or partially underground.

sunspot stayput tour

The most prominent tour product purchased by Canadians. Typically it includes return airfare to a southern destination and one week of resort accommodation.

superstructure

All the buildings and structures, such as hotels, restaurants, shops, and convention centres, that are built at a tourist destination.

supplemental airline

An airline that offers charter flights and other non-scheduled flights. Also called a charter airline .

sustainable tourism

Tourism that impacts the environment positively and embraces "green management practices"; meets the needs of existing tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunities for the future; an issue for tourists from the local to the international level.

table d'h ô te

A set three-course meal offered at a fixed price.

tangible service/product

A service or product that can be held, touched, or seen.

target market

One or more specific groups of potential consumers toward which an organization directs its marketing program.

taxiway

A lane where airplanes travel from the apron to the runway or from the runway to the hangar.

teleconferencing

A way of holding a meeting at several locations simultaneously using advanced communications technology that enables participants to see and hear each other.

teleticketing

The issuing of airline tickets by a machine linked to an airline computer reservations system.

tender

A small boat that carries cruise passengers between ship and shore. Also known as a lighter .

theme park

A park with hundreds of acres developed to replicate a setting or be an artistic interpretation of a theme that provides entertainment and recreation; requires hundreds of employees to run the operation.

total quality management (TQM)

A process designed to focus on customer expectations, prevent problems, build commitment to quality in the workforce, and promote open decision making.

tour conductor/tour escort

A person who oversees an escorted tour to make sure everything runs smoothly. Also called a tour manager .

tour guide

The leader of a guided tour who possesses in-depth knowledge of an area's attractions.

tour manager

A person who oversees an escorted tour to make sure everything runs smoothly. Also called a tour conductor or tour escort.

tour operator

A company that contracts with hotels, transportation companies, and other suppliers to create a tour package and then sells that package directly to the consumer.

tour organizer

A person who may have little travel expertise and who works with a travel agency and tour operator to organize a specialized tour.

tour wholesaler

A company that contracts with hotels, transportation companies, and other suppliers to create a tour package and then sells that package to the consumer through a retail travel agency.

tourism

The set of activities of a person travelling to a place outside his or her usual environment for at least one night and for less than 12 months, and whose main purpose of travel is for leisure rather than business purposes.

tourism destination components

Natural resources, infrastructure, superstructure, transportation systems, and the hospitality of the hosts are the necessary components of tourism destinations.

tourism education councils

A network of groups organized in each province under the Canadian Tourism Human Resource Council to coordinate training for human resource development.

tourism multiplier

A formula used to determine the total income generated from money spent by tourists.

tourism services

Services such as research, education, training, marketing, and retail that support and promote tourism.

train à grande vitesse (TGV)

The high-speed train in France. It has a cruising speed of 260 kilometres per hour and is one of the fastest trains in Europe.

transfer

Any change in transportation in the course of a journey.

travel agent

A front-line worker who provides services to individuals and groups regarding travel destinations, transportation, accommodation, and costs; makes reservations and sells tickets, packaged tours, and insurance; promotes particular tour packages and other travel services; provides tips regarding attractions, foreign currency, customs, languages, and travel safety. A travel agent may specialize in product areas such as cruises, group travel, or adventure travel. Also known as a travel counsellor .

travel clubs

Clubs that offer unsold travel products to members.

travel counsellor

A front-line worker who provides services to individuals and groups regarding travel destinations, transportation, accommodation, and costs; makes reservations and sells tickets, packaged tours, and insurance; promotes particular tour packages and other travel services; provides tips regarding attractions, foreign currency, customs, languages, and travel safety. A travel counsellor may specialize in product areas such as cruises, group travel, or adventure travel. Also known as a travel agent .

travel management services

Services offered by a corporate travel agency to help a client control and monitor its business travel costs.

travel policy

The guidelines established by an organization to coordinate travel by employees and to control costs.

triple

A hotel room that is shared by three people.

trolley

A streetcar that runs on electricity.

two-city tour

A tour of two cities, either in the same country or in different countries.

unlimited kilometres

A car rental plan that allows clients to drive a rental car as far as they want for a flat fee within the allotted rental period.

unrestricted airfare

A more expensive fare that allows a passenger to board any plane going to his or her destination that has an available seat. Same as nondiscounted airfare and normal airfare.

urban bus

A bus that operates over short distances within a city.

video marketing

The use of cable television to promote and sell products and services.

Virtual Concierge

Internet service providing information about services for travellers, and a link between a guest and an area; available through websites and accessed via computer in a hotel room or lobby, or at home before a trip.

voucher

A coupon or document exchanged for tourism products such as accommodation, transportation, gratuities, etc.

wait list

A list of passengers waiting for a vacancy on a fully booked airline flight.

wireless application protocol (WAP)

Enables consumers to access websites without a computer or telephone lines.

water-based vacations

Features outdoor recreation involving lakes, rivers, and oceans, such as swimming, sailing, canoeing, scuba diving, and fishing.

wholesale distributor

Suppliers in the channel of distribution providing products/services to other suppliers or retail distributors such as travel agencies.

yield management

The use of pricing and inventory controls, based on historical data tracked through managing electronic information systems, to maximize profit by gauging rates in response to demand for products/services offered.

youth standby fares

Fares available through Travel CUTS for young people who are willing to wait for available seats rather than pay full fare to fly on a specific flight.

zoo

A zoological garden; confined area where animals are kept for exhibit.