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Glossary

adventure tourism

a type of tourism which usually takes place in destinations with specific geographic features and landscape and tends to be associated with a physical activity, cultural exchange, interaction and engagement with nature.

agritourism

a form of commercial enterprise that links agricultural production and/or processing with tourism to attract visitors onto a farm, ranch, or other agricultural business for the purposes of entertaining and/or educating the visitors while generating income for the farm, ranch, or business owner.

Amusement parks

venues that typically offer a wide range of rides and attractions, including roller coasters, Ferris wheels, water rides, and more

Art museums

Organizations open to the the public that collect historical and modern works of art for educational purposes and to preserve them for future generations

back of house

refers primarily to the kitchen, but also includes the dishwashing area, food storage, and back office.

Banquet department

The venue event staff in charge of executing the event

bell attendants

uniformed employees that greet guests, assist with luggage, hail taxis, and provide directions inside and outside of the hotel

Boutique hotels

intimate, stylish, and often independently owned accommodations that emphasize individualized and unique guest experiences

Buffet service

involves food arranged and held under appropriate temperature standards while guests willingly come and choose as they prefer to select food items

Business/Airport Hotels

a specific category of accommodations designed to cater primarily to the needs of business travelers and those passing through airports.  

cafes and coffee shops

restaurants that specialize in coffee, tea, light meals, and pastries and often serve as social hubs where people can relax, work, or meet friends in a casual and comfortable atmosphere

Cart service

incorporates a portion of tableside preparation

Casual restaurants

serve moderately-priced to upscale food in a more casual atmosphere

Catering Sales department

Event venue staff responsible for securing new clients, scheduling events, establishing the banquet event orders, and maintaining relationships with current clients

Celebrity-owned restaurants

ining establishments owned, co-owned, or heavily endorsed by famous individuals from various fields such as entertainment, sports, or fashion

Charity and Fundraising Events

Special events that raise money for non-profit organizations.

City Center Hotels

hotel located in the central business district or downtown area of a city as well as in areas known for tourist, cultural and entertainment cultural attractions.

commercial foodservice

restaurant operations whose primary business is food and beverage

concierge

assist guests with restaurant reservations, tickets to the theater, concerts, and attractions as well as reserving hotel amenities

controller

responsible for overall accounting and finance-related activities

Convention Hotels

large hotels specifically designed to host conferences, conventions, and other large-scale events

Corporate Events

Company sponsored events that include board meetings, networking events, conferences, and seminars to product launches, and employee team-building retreats

Covers

the number of restaurant guests served during a specific time period

Cultural attractions

those places of culture, heritage, nature, or activities that draw people to visit, typically for its inherent or an exhibited natural or cultural value, historical significance, natural or built beauty, offering leisure and amusement.

Cultural heritage

the living expression of a society's identity.

Customer experience

the result of an interaction between the customer and the company; how customers perceive their interactions with the company or brand

Customer service

the assistance and advice provided by a company to customers throughout the customer journey; before, during, and after the sale.

customer touch-point or moment of truth

a point in time when the company connects in some form with the customer (e.g., website, phone, email, social media, retail store, returns, service, and products).

Destination mountain resorts

Ski and winter sports oriented resorts that are often significantly larger and offer a greater range of amenities such as on mountain accommodation and food services; they are also generally marketed to out-of-area and international visitors

Ethnic restaurants

restaurants that serve food and offer dining experiences that are representative of a specific ethnicity or nationality

Excursionist

someone who travels to a destination and returns to their point of origin on the same day

executive housekeeper

manages and oversees housekeeping operations and staff including the housekeeping manager, supervisor, house persons, and room attendants

experience economy

an economic concept where businesses focus on creating memorable experiences for customers rather than just selling goods or services.

Extended stay hotels

a distinct category of lodging that caters to guests looking for accommodations beyond the typical short-term stay, often a week or more.

Family-style Service

involves shared dishes served and distributed amongst a table of diners

festival

a themed public celebration that conveys, through a kaleidoscope of activities, certain meaning to participants and spectators

Fine dining restaurant

characterized by highly trained chefs preparing complex food items, exquisitely presented

Fine dining restaurants

characterized by highly trained chefs preparing complex food items, exquisitely presented

food and beverage director

responsible for catering and events, in-room dining, and stand-alone restaurants and bars

food and beverage industry

all businesses that prepare, serve, and sell food and drinks to customers

franchise

a business method that involves one business (the franchisor) licensing their trademarks and methods of doing business to another business owner (the franchisee)

franchise restaurants

operate under a business model where independent owners (franchisees) purchase the rights to use the branding, recipes, and operational systems of an established restaurant brand (franchisor).

front desk agent

works in the lobby or reception area to welcome the guests to the property, process arrivals and departures, and coordinate room assignments

front of house

the customer-facing part of the restaurant; that is, all of the areas where customers are welcomed, seated, and served their food and drinks

front office manager

controls the availability of rooms and the day-to-day functions of the front office

full-service hotels

upscale, upper upscale and luxury properties with a wide variety of onsite amenities, such as restaurants, meeting spaces, exercise rooms or spas.

full-service restaurants

provide table service, with waitstaff taking guest orders and bringing food and drinks to the table

gambling

the wagering of something of value ("the stakes") on a random event intending to win something else of value, where instances of strategy are discounted.

Gaming

a tourism option with casino gambling being offered as the core or center experience surrounded by a variety of ancillary or supporting products—food, beverage, shopping, and other amusements.

general manager

the restaurant's leader and primary decision-maker, overseeing both front-of-house (FOH) and back-of-house (BOH) operations

guest check average

the average of what each guest spends, calculated by dividing the total food and beverage sales by the total number of guests (or covers) in a particular time period

hallmark event

a unique event that is often identified with the location where it is held, like Mardi Gras in New Orleans

Highway/Interstate Hotels

lodging facilities located near major highways or interstate routes, designed to accommodate travelers who are on long road trips or need a convenient overnight stop.

historic landmark

a landmark that is specifically recognized for its historical, cultural, or architectural importance.

hospitality

the comprehensive service and experience provided to guests and customers within sectors such as lodging, food and beverage, event planning, travel, and tourism

hotel general manager

the chief executive who is responsible for overseeing the overall operation of a hotel or lodging establishment

hotel property management system

a software application that hotels use to manage and streamline various day-to-day operations.

housekeeping department

responsible for maintaining the cleanliness, order, and overall appearance of guest rooms, public areas, and other facilities within the hotel.

human resources department

oversees recruitment and selection, training and development, employee relations, and rewards and compensation

In-House Event Planner

an event planner employed by a specific nonprofit, company, or association

Independent Event Planner

A professional event planner operating independently typically runs their own business, offering event planning services to clients.

independent hotel

financed by one individual or a small group and is directly managed by its owners or third-party operators.

Independent restaurants

typically locally owned and operated by individuals or small partnerships, often just one, two, or three locations.

Intangible services

"products" that cannot be touched beforehand and must be experiences, such as a haircut or hotel stay.

Integrated resorts

large-scale complexes that combine casinos with hotels, restaurants, shopping centers, entertainment venues, and convention facilities, creating a comprehensive destination experience

landmark

a prominent or well-known feature in a location, often used as a point of reference.

limited-service hotels

properties that offer select or focused facilities and amenities, typically without a full-service restaurant

Lodging

The provision of accommodation services to travelers and guests, offering a place to sleep and rest

lodging industry

businesses that provide overnight accommodation to travelers and tourists

management contract

a service offered by a management company to manage a hotel or resort for its owners

Meetings and events

a wide range of gatherings such as conferences, conventions, trade shows, corporate meetings, exhibitions, and social events like weddings and festivals

mega-event

a large scale, highly prestigious event such as the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, and the Super Bowl sporting events or a global economic summit.

Menu development

the creation and planning of dishes that define a restaurant's identity and appeal to its target market

multiplier effect

the way that spending by tourists circulates through the local economy and generates additional economic activity.

National or corporate-owned restaurant chains

managed and operated by a central corporate entity and often have multiple locations across various regions or countries, all controlled directly by the corporation.

Native American casinos

casinos that are located on tribal lands throughout the US

nature-based tourism

those tourism experiences that are directly or indirectly dependent on the natural environment

night auditor

responsible for reconciling the hotel's financial transactions, handling guest check-ins and check-outs during late-night shifts

non-commercial foodservice

establishments where food and beverages are served but are not the primary business

Online Travel Agents

web-based platforms that provide various travel services, including booking flights, hotels, car rentals, vacation packages, and other travel-related activities.

Outdoor recreation

outdoor activities that take place in a natural setting, as opposed to a highly cultivated or managed landscape such as a playing field or golf course

Performing arts

includes theatre companies and dinner theatres, dance companies, musical groups, and artists and other performing arts companies

Personal Social Events

Events such as weddings and other celebrations that are personal and often highly emotional, requiring careful attention to detail and a strong focus on the client’s vision and desires.

Plate service

the most common service style, it involves guest orders being taken at their table.

Platter service

involves food being arranged specifically on a platter and brought out to tables for guests' viewing

professional event planner

The person responsible for coordinating and executing a wide range of events, ensuring they meet the client's objectives and expectations

quick-service restaurants

restaurants that specialize in food that is prepared and purchased quickly, and generally consumed quickly.

rack rate

the published rate for one night's stay without any discounts or premiums included

Recreation and leisure

activities that people do outside of work for pleasure.

regional mountain resorts

Ski and winter sports oriented resorts that are usually smaller in size and capacity, have fewer amenities, and often cater more directly to the local community

resort

a full-service hotel that provides access to or offers a range of recreation facilities and amenities and are generally located in areas that attract vacationers.

revenue management

the strategic practice of optimizing a hotel's revenue and profitability by effectively managing room rates, inventory, and distribution channels

Riverboat casinos

casinos that operate on waterways to comply with specific state regulations, offering a blend of nostalgia and modern gaming

room attendants

complete the day-to-day task of cleaning and preparing rooms for new guests, replenishing supplies, and coordinating with maintenance for any repairs or upgrades

room nights

the rental of a single hotel room for one night, regardless of the number of guests occupying the room or the duration of their stay

rooms division director

oversees the hotel's accommodations, including front office, reservations, housekeeping, and guest services.

Rooms Division Management

a crucial part of hotel operations with responsibility for overseeing all aspects related to the accommodation and guest services within a hotel.

sales and marketing director

responsible for establishing sales and marketing activities that maximize the hotel’s revenues

security team

responsible for ensuring the safety and security of guests and the property

Service recovery

occurs when a customer service professional takes action that results in the customer being satisfied after a service failure has occurred.

Set-Up department

The event venue staff responsible for behind the scenes activities of handling the setting up of the event space, including tables, bars, stages, dance floors, etc.

special event

a one-time or infrequent specific ritual, presentation, performance, or celebration

Sport tourism

any activity in which people are attracted to a particular location to attend a sport-related event as either a: participant, spectator, or visitor to sport attractions

Standalone or traditional casinos

casinos that focus primarily on gambling activities

standard operating procedures

procedures designed to allow businesses to create consistency in workflows and job performance.

Table service

involves servers responsible for providing meals, maintaining guest experiences, and clearing tables at the conclusion of a meal.

table turnover rate

how frequently tables are occupied and turned over during a given period

tangible product

an item that can be seen, touched, tasted, worn, or displayed

Theme parks

Amusement parks that are built around a specific theme or concept that influences the park’s design, attractions, and overall atmosphere

Theme restaurants

dining establishments that create a unique and immersive experience by centering their decor, menu, and overall ambiance around a specific concept or theme

tourism

A social, cultural and economic phenomenon which entails the movement of people to countries or places outside their usual environment for personal or business/professional purposes.

Tourist

a person who travels to and stays in places outside their usual environment for leisure, business, or other purposes for more than 24 hours but usually less than a year

travel

the activity of moving between different geographic locations for any purpose

Travel services

comprises various suppliers, tourism products, destination marketing organizations, tour operators, and travel agents, among many others that support the delivery of guest experiences

Traveler

a broad term encompassing anyone who moves from one place to another, regardless of the duration, purpose, or distance of the trip

License

Icon for the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License

Introduction to Hospitality & Tourism Copyright © 2024 by Maureen Peters Gittelman is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.

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