The short-term rental industry, which includes vacation rentals, Airbnb-style accommodations, and other alternative lodging options, has its own set of common acronyms and terminology. Here are some of the most common acronyms and terms you may encounter in this industry:
STR: Short-Term Rental. An umbrella term for accommodations rented for short periods, which can include vacation rentals, apartments, and homes.
OTAs: Online Travel Agencies. These are platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and Expedia that facilitate bookings for short-term rental properties.
ADR: Average Daily Rate. In the hospitality sector, ADR measures the average daily rate paid by guests on booked nights. To calculate ADR, you can use the following formula:
ADR = Total Revenue / Number of Booked Nights
RevPAR: Revenue Per Available Rental. RevPAR is a simple way to calculate your revenue per available rental. To calculate RevPAR, you can use the following formula:
RevPAR = Total Revenue / Number of Available Nights
Occupancy Rate: A key performance metric used to measure the utilization or occupancy level of the property during a specific period. It indicates the percentage of available nights or stays that were booked and occupied by guests. To calculate occupancy rate, you can use the following formula:
Occupancy Rate (%) = (Number of Nights or Stays Occupied / Total Number of Available Nights or Stays) x 100
Dynamic Pricing: Adjusting room rates based on demand fluctuations, events, seasons, and local market conditions to maximize pricing during peak periods and encourage bookings during slow periods.
Orphan Days: Unoccupied days between vacation rental bookings that are less than your minimum stay requirements. Also known as “gap days” or “booking gaps”.
VRM: Vacation Rental Managers. VRM’s encompass both individual property managers and professional groups responsible for the management of numerous properties.
NPS: Net Promoter Score. A measure of guest satisfaction and likelihood to recommend the property to others.
These acronyms and terms are commonly used in the short-term rental industry and are important for property owners, managers, and industry professionals to understand for effective communication and business operations.