Acronyms for the Travel Industry

OTA

Online Travel Agency - a company that allows travelers to book travel arrangements online

FIT

Free Independent Traveler - someone who plans their own trips, often alone or in small groups

DMC

Destination Management Company - a professional services firm that specializes in the design, planning, and management of events, activities, and tours

VFR

Visiting Friends and Relatives - a person who currently resides in a different area who visits another area for the purpose of visiting their friends and relatives.

TMC

Travel Management Company - a travel agency that helps businesses manage their corporate travel

PAX

Passengers - a traveler on a public or private conveyance other than the driver, pilot, or crew

ADR

Average Daily Rate - a metric used in the hospitality industry to indicate the average revenue earned for each occupied room

RevPar

Revenue Per Available Room - calculated by dividing a hotel's total revenue by the number of available rooms

GDS

Global Distribution System - an intermediary between vendors, such as hotels and airlines, and service providers, such as online travel agencies

B2B

Business-to-Business - a type of commerce where businesses exchange products, services, or information with other businesses

DMO

Destination Marketing Organization - a non-profit organization that promotes a location as a travel destination

UNWTO

United Nations World Tourism Organization - the United Nations agency responsible for the promotion of responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism

LCC

Low-Cost Carrier - an airline that offers lower fares by reducing operating costs and offering fewer amenities

MICE

Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions - a segment of the tourism industry focused on organizing large group events like business meetings, incentive trips, conferences, etc. (mainly for professional development)

CSR

Corporate Social Responsibility - a self-regulaing business model that helps a company be socially accountable to itself, its stakeholders, and the public

IATA

International Air Transport Association - an international trade association that represents the world's airlines

POS

Point of Sale - a computerized network that processes payments and orders between a hotel and its guests

RFP

Request for Proposal - a document that a company or agency uses to invite potential suppliers to submit proposals for a project

PMS

Property Management System - a software application for the operations of hospitality accommodations and commercial residential rental properties

FOH

Front of House - the part of a hospitality business that customers see and interact with

BOH

Back of House - the area of a restaurant or business where customers don't directly interact with staff

CRM

Customer Relationship Management - a system for managing all of your company’s interactions and relationships with current and potential customers

BLEISURE

Business + Leisure Travel - travel that combines work and personal time

AI

All Inclusive - a resort that charges one fee that includes the price of a room, meals, beverages, and all other expenses

APEX

Airline Passenger Experience - the overall experience a passenger has with an airline, from before their trip starts to after they arrive at their destination

PNR

Passenger Name Record - a digital record of a passenger's itinerary and personal information

RASM

Revenue per Available Seat Mile - a metric used to measure how much revenue an airline generates for each seat mile flown

CASM

Cost per Available Seat Mile - a metric used by airlines to measure the cost of flying a seat one mile

NDC

New Distribution Capability - a data exchange standard that allows airlines to distribute more detailed and personalized flight information

ATC

Air Traffic Control - a system that manages and directs aircraft in the air and on the ground to prevent collisions and ensure safety

CLIA

Cruise Lines International Association - a global trade association that represents the cruise industry, including cruise lines, ports, destinations, and travel professionals

ITIN

Itinerary - a planned route or journey

FCC

Future Cruise Credit - a voucher that can be used towards a future cruise

FOC

Free of Charge - used in the travel industry to describe additional services for which the client does not have to pay for

ADA

Americans with Disabilities Act - a federal law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination in many areas of public life

ASL

American Sign Language - a visual language that uses hand and facial movements to convey meaning

EPI

Epinephrine (EpiPen, for severe allergic reactions) - used for emergency trreatments of severe allergic reactions (including anaphylaxis) to insect bites or stings, medicines, foods, or other substances

FARE

Food Allergy Research & Education - a non-profit organization that aims to improve the lives of people with food allergies

GF

Gluten-Free - food not containing gluten

DDA

Disability Discrimination Act (UK) - a law to protect anyone with a disabilites

504 Plan

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (disability accommodations) - a legal document that provides support for students with disabilities in public schools

LSS

Low-Sensory Space - a space that has been designed to provide an immersive sensory experience for people with various abilities

Celiac

Refers to gluten intolerance/disease - a digestive problem that hurts your small intestine

NKA

No Known Allergies - used to indicate that a patient doesn’t have any known allergies or intolerances

ALS

Assisted Listening System - a device that helps people hear speech in situations where it might be difficult or impossible to hear otherwise

HAACP

a method to ensure food is safe for consumption by analyzing potential hazards and taking preventive actions at critical stages of production

HHS

Heightened Hygiene Standards (used by some travel companies post-pandemic) - practice of keeping yourself and your surroundings clean, especially in order to prevent illness or the spread of diseases

SES

Special Education Services - a set of services that help students with disabilities learn and participate in school

WCAG

Web Content Accessibility Guidelines - a set of recommendations for making web content more accessible, primarily for people with disabilities

PSA

Peanut and Shellfish Allergies - immune responses to proteins in peanuts and shellfish that can trigger mild to severe reactions