The Short-Term Rental Glossary

The average revenue earned per rented night over a given period, calculated by dividing total rental revenue by total occupied nights. ADR is one of the most widely used KPIs in short-term rental management.

Jurny's automated vetting system that uses artificial intelligence to assess incoming guest profiles for risk signals, fraud indicators, and policy compatibility — reducing chargebacks and property damage before a booking is accepted.

A property management system built from the ground up with artificial intelligence at its core — not legacy software with AI features bolted on. An AI-native PMS like Jurny's jOS uses machine learning and autonomous agents to automate decisions across pricing, guest communication, and operations. This is the defining distinction between first-generation PMS platforms and the next generation of hospitality software.

Automated revenue-generating offers — such as early check-in, late check-out, mid-stay cleaning, or curated local experiences — delivered to confirmed guests at the right moment in their journey without any manual effort. Jurny's NIA identifies upsell opportunities and presents them automatically, turning every reservation into a higher-revenue stay.

A feature or facility provided at a rental property that enhances the guest experience — such as a pool, high-speed Wi-Fi, a fully equipped kitchen, or a smart TV. Strong amenities directly influence listing rankings and booking conversion rates.

A technical integration that allows two software platforms to exchange data automatically and in real time. In property management, API connections enable a PMS like jOS to sync with OTAs, smart device systems, and revenue management tools without manual data entry.

Pre-scheduled or trigger-based messages sent to guests without manual intervention. Automated messages handle check-in instructions, pre-arrival reminders, mid-stay check-ins, and post-checkout review requests — saving operators hours each week.

The maximum number of days in advance that a property can be booked on a listing platform — typically set anywhere from 3 to 24 months out. A narrow window creates urgency; a wider window attracts advance planners. Most operators find 9–12 months optimal for balancing forward bookings with pricing flexibility as demand data improves closer to the date.

The default nightly price set for a property before any seasonal adjustments, promotional discounts, or dynamic pricing rules are applied. The base rate serves as the pricing floor from which all other rate modifications are calculated.

A reservation tool embedded in a host's direct booking website that allows guests to check availability, view pricing, and complete reservations without going through a third-party OTA — eliminating commission costs and giving operators full control over the guest relationship.

The amount of time between when a guest makes a reservation and their actual check-in date. Understanding booking windows helps operators forecast demand, set minimum stay requirements, and time promotional offers for maximum impact.

A small, independently styled lodging property — typically fewer than 100 rooms — that emphasizes personalized service, unique interior design, and a curated guest experience. Boutique hotels increasingly use STR-style PMS platforms like Jurny to manage operations.

The rules governing guest refunds and host penalties when a reservation is cancelled before check-in. Common policies include Flexible, Moderate, and Strict tiers. Setting the right policy balances booking conversion against revenue protection.

Software that connects a property to multiple OTAs simultaneously and synchronizes availability, rates, and reservations in real time. A channel manager prevents double bookings, saves manual calendar updates, and expands a property's distribution reach across Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and more.

A forced reversal of a guest payment initiated by their bank or credit card company, often resulting in the host or property manager losing the disputed amount. AI guest screening and clear booking policies are the most effective defenses against fraudulent chargebacks.

The process by which a guest arrives at a rental property and gains access to their accommodation, beginning their stay. Modern check-ins are increasingly contactless — using smart locks, keypad codes, or digital key apps managed through a PMS like jOS.

The process by which a guest departs a rental property at the end of their stay. Smooth check-out workflows — including automated reminders, departure instructions, and immediate housekeeping triggers — are a critical component of operational efficiency.

A one-time charge added to the total booking cost to cover the expense of preparing a property between guest stays. Cleaning fees should be competitively priced relative to your market, as excessively high fees are a leading cause of booking abandonment.

A person authorized by the primary host to help manage a short-term rental property, sharing responsibilities such as guest communication, key handoffs, and cleaning coordination. Co-hosts are common among hosts scaling beyond a single property.

A curated group of comparable vacation rental properties — similar in size, location, amenities, and price point — used as a benchmark for pricing, occupancy, and performance analysis. Tracking your compset is the foundation of any data-driven revenue management strategy and helps property managers identify where they're overpriced, underpriced, or under-amenitized relative to the market.

A self-service arrival process that allows guests to access a property without meeting the host in person, typically using a smart lock, keypad code, or lockbox. Contactless check-in is now an expectation among most travelers and a key driver of guest satisfaction scores.

The percentage of listing views or booking inquiries that result in confirmed reservations. A higher conversion rate signals that your listing photos, pricing, and description are compelling to prospective guests — and is a key signal in OTA search ranking algorithms.

Insurance or a deposit mechanism that covers the cost of accidental property damage caused by guests. Operators can use traditional security deposits, OTA-provided damage programs, or specialized insurance products. Jurny's AI Guest Screening reduces damage risk at the source.

The use of historical data, market analytics, and forward-looking signals to predict future booking demand. Accurate demand forecasting enables property managers to set prices proactively, adjust minimum stays, and allocate cleaning resources more efficiently.

A web-based or app-based document that gives guests all the information they need for a smooth stay — including property access instructions, Wi-Fi passwords, house rules, appliance guides, and local recommendations. Replacing printed binders with digital guidebooks reduces guest support inquiries.

A reservation made directly through the host or property manager's own website, bypassing OTA platforms and their commission fees. Direct bookings typically yield 15–25% higher net revenue per reservation and give operators full ownership of the guest relationship.

A host- or operator-owned platform that accepts reservations directly from guests, completely bypassing OTA platforms and their commission fees. A direct booking website gives property managers full control over pricing, the guest relationship, and brand experience. Direct bookings typically yield 15–25% higher net revenue than OTA bookings — and Jurny's jOS includes a built-in direct booking website as part of the platform.

A critical error in which the same property is accidentally reserved by two different guests for overlapping dates — usually caused by calendar synchronization failures across multiple platforms. A real-time channel manager with two-way sync eliminates double bookings entirely.

An automated pricing strategy that adjusts nightly rates in real time based on demand patterns, local events, competitor pricing, seasonality, and occupancy levels. Properties using dynamic pricing consistently outperform those on fixed rates by 15–40% in annual revenue.

A flexible arrival option that allows guests to access a property before the standard check-in time — often available for an additional fee. Early check-in is a popular upsell that increases revenue per reservation while improving the guest experience.

In jOS, a folio is an itemized financial record tied to a guest reservation that tracks all charges, payments, credits, and adjustments made during a stay. Folios provide a clear audit trail for accounting and streamline the billing process for both guests and operators.

An unbooked night that falls between two back-to-back reservations — often too short to attract a standard booking. Gap nights represent revenue leakage; smart pricing tools can offer discounted last-minute rates to fill gaps and maximize occupancy.

The total value of all reservations processed over a given period, before deducting platform fees, commissions, taxes, or refunds. GBV is a top-line performance indicator used by property managers to assess portfolio growth and channel contribution.

All interactions between a host or property manager and a guest throughout the booking lifecycle — from initial inquiry through post-checkout review request. Platforms like jOS centralize guest communication across all OTA channels into a single unified inbox.

The complete sequence of touchpoints a guest experiences: discovery, booking, pre-arrival, check-in, during-stay, check-out, and post-stay review. Mapping and automating the guest journey reduces operational burden while increasing satisfaction scores and repeat bookings.

The total projected revenue a single guest will generate across all their stays with a host or management company. Increasing LTV through loyalty, repeat bookings, and direct booking incentives is one of the highest-ROI strategies in STR management.

A self-service digital interface that gives guests access to everything they need for their stay — check-in instructions, house rules, digital guidebook, local recommendations, and the ability to request early check-in or add-on services.

The process of vetting prospective guests before accepting a reservation, using profile data, booking history, ID verification, and AI risk models. Proactive guest screening is the single most effective way to reduce chargebacks, property damage, and unauthorized parties.

The set of policies and expectations governing how guests may use a rental property during their stay — covering topics like noise limits, pet policies, smoking restrictions, maximum occupancy, and trash disposal. Clear house rules reduce disputes and protect the property.

The coordination of cleaning crews, turnover schedules, supply restocking, and property inspections between guest reservations. Efficient housekeeping management is one of the highest-leverage operational improvements for any STR portfolio — directly affecting review scores, guest satisfaction, and the ability to accommodate same-day back-to-back bookings.

A calendar synchronization format that allows availability to be shared between booking platforms that don't have a direct API integration. While iCal is a low-tech fallback, it introduces sync delays that can cause double bookings — making a real-time channel manager preferable.

A booking setting that allows guests to confirm a reservation immediately without requiring manual host approval. Enabling Instant Book improves listing visibility in OTA search algorithms but requires strong guest screening protocols to manage risk.

Jurny's all-in-one AI-powered property management platform — the central operating layer for every aspect of short-term rental and boutique hotel management, including reservations, guest communications, pricing, channel distribution, reporting, and task automation. jOS is built for property managers who want to run more properties with fewer people.

A system that allows guests to access a rental property without physical keys, using a smart lock, keypad code, or mobile app. Keyless entry enables contactless check-in, eliminates key handoff logistics, and allows property managers to generate unique codes per reservation automatically.

A flexible departure option that allows guests to vacate a property after the standard check-out time, typically for an additional fee. Late check-out is a high-margin upsell that costs operators nothing when housekeeping schedules allow for it.

The total number of nights a guest stays at a property during a single reservation. Setting minimum LOS requirements helps property managers reduce turnover costs, while LOS-based discount rules can attract longer-stay guests during slow periods.

A property's public-facing profile on an OTA or booking platform, including photos, title, description, amenities, pricing, and availability. A well-optimized listing is the foundation of a property's commercial performance on any channel.

The ongoing process of improving a property's OTA profile — through professional photography, compelling copywriting, competitive pricing, faster response rates, and amenity upgrades — to increase search ranking, click-through rate, and booking conversion.

The practice of optimizing a property's OTA profile to rank higher in platform search results — through keyword-rich titles and descriptions, competitive pricing, high response rates, strong booking conversion, and earned status like Superhost or Premier Host. Listing SEO operates within each platform's proprietary search algorithm and is entirely separate from web SEO — but equally important for driving organic visibility and bookings.

Government-mandated taxes applied to short-term rental stays, also referred to as transient occupancy tax (TOT), hotel tax, or tourist tax depending on the jurisdiction. Operators must register, collect, and remit lodging taxes in each market where they manage properties.

The percentage of gross booking revenue charged by a property management company to oversee a short-term rental on an owner's behalf. Full-service STR management fees typically range from 15% to 35%, depending on the market, property type, and scope of services included. Management fees are the primary revenue model for professional property management companies.

A rental arrangement typically lasting between 30 days and 6 months, serving digital nomads, traveling professionals, and corporate relocations. Mid-term rentals avoid the regulatory restrictions of STRs in many markets while generating stable, lower-turnover revenue.

A rule set by a host or property manager requiring guests to book for at least a specified number of consecutive nights. Minimum stay requirements reduce cleaning frequency and turnover costs but can suppress occupancy if set too aggressively. Smart operators vary minimum stays dynamically — shorter minimums during slow periods, longer ones during peak demand — as part of a broader revenue management strategy.

A dashboard view that displays availability, bookings, and pricing across multiple properties in a single consolidated calendar. Multi-calendar views are essential for property managers overseeing portfolios of 5 or more listings across multiple platforms.

Jurny's AI-powered system of specialized agents that work autonomously across the property management workflow — handling guest communications, surfacing upsell opportunities, optimizing pricing, and automating operational tasks. NIA is the intelligence layer that makes jOS more than a traditional PMS.

The price charged per night for a rental stay, before service fees, cleaning fees, or taxes are added. Setting the right nightly rate requires balancing market demand, competitor pricing, and property positioning — a process that dynamic pricing tools can automate.

A smart device sensor that alerts property managers when indoor or outdoor noise levels exceed a set threshold, without recording audio or invading guest privacy. Noise monitoring is a key tool for enforcing house rules and preventing unauthorized parties.

The percentage of available nights that are booked over a given period — calculated as booked nights divided by available nights. Occupancy rate is the most fundamental performance metric in short-term rental management, used alongside ADR to calculate RevPAR.

The period of the year when demand for a rental market is at its lowest, resulting in lower occupancy and compressed rates. Skilled operators use the off-season to attract longer-stay guests, lower minimums, and run targeted promotions to maintain revenue flow.

The fee charged by an online travel agency for each booking it facilitates, typically deducted automatically from the host payout as a percentage of the reservation value. OTA commissions range from 3% to 20%+ depending on the platform and pricing model. Reducing OTA commission exposure through direct booking growth is one of the highest-ROI strategies available to property managers.

A third-party booking marketplace — such as Airbnb, Vrbo, or Booking.com — that lists rental properties and facilitates reservations in exchange for a commission, typically ranging from 3% to 20% per booking depending on the platform and model.

A secure, read-only or limited-access interface that gives property owners visibility into their properties' booking activity, occupancy trends, revenue reports, and financial statements — without giving them access to operational controls. Owner portals build transparency and trust.

The period of highest demand for a rental market, typically aligned with summer travel, winter holidays, or high-profile local events. Maximizing revenue during peak season — through optimal pricing, minimum stay requirements, and early promotions — is critical to full-year profitability.

A centralized software platform that manages the full operational lifecycle of rental properties — including reservations, guest communication, pricing, channel distribution, housekeeping coordination, reporting, and integrations. Modern PMS platforms like Jurny's jOS are increasingly AI-powered.

Jurny's data-driven pricing add-on that delivers market-based rate recommendations by analyzing competitor pricing, local demand signals, seasonal trends, and booking pace. Pricing Intelligence enables property managers to set optimal rates without manual research.

A property manager or operator who manages short-term rentals as a primary business — typically overseeing multiple properties, employing staff or vendors, and using professional-grade software to run operations at scale.

The use of software, AI, and connected tools to replace manual, repetitive tasks in rental operations — including automated guest messaging, dynamic pricing, smart lock code generation, cleaning crew scheduling, and guest screening. Property management automation is the core value proposition of AI-native platforms like Jurny, enabling operators to scale their portfolios without proportionally growing their team.

The practice of maintaining consistent pricing across all OTA channels to comply with platform agreements and avoid undercutting your own listings. Some operators apply rate parity broadly; others use direct booking incentives that OTA platforms cannot contractually restrict.

A business model in which an operator leases a property long-term from a landlord and sublets it on short-term rental platforms at a higher rate, capturing the spread as profit — without owning the underlying real estate.

A traveler who books with the same host or management company more than once. Repeat guests cost virtually nothing to acquire and tend to have higher average booking values — making them the most profitable segment in any STR portfolio.

A confirmed booking for a specific property and date range, creating a binding agreement between a guest and a property manager. Reservations trigger automated workflows in jOS — from confirmation messages to cleaning tasks and folio creation.

The strategic discipline of using pricing, availability controls, channel mix, and demand forecasting to maximize total revenue from a property portfolio. Revenue management in STRs combines data science, market intelligence, and operational execution.

A dedicated software tool that analyzes market data, competitor rates, demand signals, and historical booking patterns to generate dynamic pricing recommendations for rental properties. An RMS integrates with a PMS to push optimized rate updates automatically across all booking channels — removing manual pricing decisions from the operator's daily workflow.

A composite performance metric calculated by multiplying occupancy rate by ADR, or by dividing total rental revenue by total available nights. RevPAR captures both pricing power and occupancy efficiency in a single figure, making it the gold standard for portfolio benchmarking.

A refundable payment collected from guests before or at check-in to cover potential damage, extra cleaning, or policy violations during a stay. Security deposits are increasingly being replaced by per-stay damage protection insurance or AI-powered guest screening.

A furnished property rented to travelers for brief periods — typically fewer than 30 consecutive nights — through platforms like Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, or a direct booking website. STRs range from single rooms and apartments to entire homes, villas, and boutique hotels.

Jurny's add-on module for centralized management of connected property devices — including smart locks, noise monitors, thermostats, and access control systems — from within the jOS platform. Smart Device Hub automates guest access codes and enables proactive property monitoring.

An electronic door lock that can be remotely controlled and programmed with unique access codes — typically generated automatically per reservation. Smart locks are the backbone of contactless check-in systems and eliminate the need for physical key management.

The use of technology to handle short-term rental tasks without human intervention — from guest communication and pricing adjustments to access code generation, review requests, and cleaning triggers. STR automation is the fastest-growing capability in vacation rental technology, with AI-native platforms replacing the manual workflows that previously required dedicated staff for every additional property.

The local laws, permit requirements, zoning restrictions, and licensing obligations that govern short-term rental activity in a given city, county, or municipality. STR regulations vary dramatically by market — ranging from full bans to simple permit registration — and are among the most cited operational challenges for property managers scaling across multiple jurisdictions. Always verify current local requirements before listing a new property.

Airbnb's designation for hosts who consistently deliver exceptional guest experiences, awarded to those who meet specific annual thresholds for overall rating (4.8+), response rate (90%+), cancellation rate (under 1%), and completed stays (10+ per year). Superhost status increases listing visibility in Airbnb's search algorithm and serves as a trusted quality signal for guests evaluating unfamiliar properties.

The formal name for the local lodging tax applied to short-term rental stays in many U.S. jurisdictions — the STR equivalent of what hotels pay. Also called hotel tax, short-term rental tax, or tourist tax depending on the municipality. Hosts are typically required to register with local tax authorities, collect TOT from guests at the time of booking, and remit it on a monthly or quarterly basis. Non-compliance can result in significant fines and listing removal.

A real-time calendar and reservation synchronization that ensures any update made on one platform is immediately reflected across all connected channels. Two-way sync via API is the most reliable method for preventing double bookings in multi-channel distribution strategies.

A centralized messaging interface that consolidates guest communications from all OTA channels — Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, and direct booking — into a single stream. Jurny's Inbox integrates NIA-powered AI responses to handle routine guest questions automatically.

An offer made to a confirmed guest for additional services, upgrades, or experiences — such as early check-in, late check-out, a welcome basket, pool heating, or curated local experiences. Upselling is a high-margin revenue stream that NIA automates within Jurny's guest workflow.

A privately owned property — ranging from apartments and cottages to luxury villas and unique stays — rented to travelers on a short-term basis. The vacation rental industry has grown into a multi-hundred-billion-dollar global market, driven by platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo.

Autonomous AI programs that perform specific property management tasks without human direction — responding to guest inquiries, adjusting nightly rates, triggering cleaning workflows, screening incoming bookings, or delivering upsell offers at optimal moments in the guest journey. Jurny's NIA is a full network of vacation rental AI agents working in parallel across every reservation, making it the most advanced AI deployment in the short-term rental industry.

An automated HTTP callback that sends real-time data from one system to another when a specified event occurs — such as a new booking, cancellation, or guest message. Webhooks power the real-time integrations between a PMS and external tools like task management or CRM systems.