Travel Industry Glossary

1. IATA Number: An IATA (International Air Transport Association) number is a unique identifier assigned to travel agencies and individual travel advisors. It allows them to book flights directly with airlines and access industry rates and benefits.
2. ARC Number: "Airlines Reporting Corporation Number" is a unique identifier used by travel agencies to process ticket transactions with airlines.
3. GDS: GDS stands for Global Distribution System. It's a computerized network used by travel agents to access real-time information on flights, hotels, car rentals, and other travel-related services. Common GDS systems include Amadeus, Sabre, and Travelport.
4. Commission: Commission refers to the percentage of the total booking value that a travel advisor earns as compensation for selling travel products or services. It can vary depending on the type of booking and agreements with suppliers.some text
   1. Whats commissionable? Hotels, flights (some), cruises, transportation, tours, rental cars.
5. DMC - DMC stands for Destination Management Company. A DMC is a professional services company that specializes in providing local knowledge, logistical support, and ground services for travel companies and their clients in a particular destination. DMCs often assist with itinerary planning, transportation, accommodations, guided tours, and other arrangements to ensure a smooth and memorable travel experience for visitors. some text
   1. Internova/GTC calls then In-Country Partners
6. CRS: CRS stands for Computer Reservation System. Similar to GDS, a CRS is a computerized system used by airlines, hotels, and other travel suppliers to manage reservations and inventory.
7. FAM Trip: FAM (Familiarization) trip is a complimentary or heavily discounted trip offered to travel advisors by travel suppliers to familiarize them with a destination, hotel, cruise ship, or other product. It helps advisors gain firsthand knowledge to better sell the product to their clients.some text
   1. Internova and GTC call them Educational Trips
8. Blocking: Blocking refers to the temporary reservation of seats or rooms by a travel advisor for their clients. It ensures availability while the client finalizes their travel plans.
9. B2B/B2C: B2B (Business-to-Business) and B2C (Business-to-Consumer) refer to different sales channels in the travel industry. B2B transactions involve selling travel products or services directly to other businesses, such as travel agencies, while B2C involves selling to individual consumers.
10. Group Booking: A group booking involves reserving multiple seats or rooms for a group of travelers, typically with special rates or accommodations. Group bookings often come with specific requirements and policies.
11. Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is a type of insurance coverage that provides financial protection against unexpected events or emergencies that may occur before or during a trip. It typically covers expenses such as trip cancellations, medical emergencies, lost or delayed baggage, and travel interruptions. Travel insurance policies vary in coverage options and may be purchased as a standalone policy or as part of a travel package. It offers peace of mind to travelers by mitigating the financial risks associated with unforeseen circumstances while traveling.
12. Air Desk: A dedicated workspace or reservation system specifically for booking air travel. It may involve accessing airline inventory, comparing fares, and making flight reservations for clients. The Air Desk is where travel advisors manage all aspects of their clients' air travel arrangements, including seat selection, itinerary changes, and issuing tickets. It streamlines the process of booking flights and ensures efficient communication with airlines to secure the best options for travelers.
13. IFT: IFT stands for "Inclusive Tour Fare." An IFT is a type of package offered by tour operators that includes various travel components such as flights, accommodations, meals, and activities for a fixed price. Unlike individual bookings, where each component is purchased separately, an IFT provides travelers with a pre-packaged itinerary at a bundled rate. This allows travelers to enjoy a hassle-free experience with all aspects of their trip arranged in advance. IFTs are often popular among travelers seeking convenience and value for money.
14. Representation Group: An organization that represents multiple travel services providers, such as hotels or airlines, helping them market and sell their products to travel agents or directly to consumers.
15. DSOM (Director of Sales and Marketing): A senior management role responsible for leading a company's sales and marketing strategies, often found within hotel chains and other hospitality businesses.
16. Hotel Rep: Short for "hotel representative," this individual acts as a liaison between the hotel and travel agents, tour operators, or guests, providing information and resolving issues.
17. NET: Refers to net rates, which are the prices travel service providers offer to travel agents without any markups, allowing agents to add their own profit margin.
18. Gross: The total price of a travel product including all taxes, fees, and additional charges, typically what the consumer pays.
19. Internova SELECT: A program by Internova Travel Group that offers exclusive amenities, VIP status, and special privileges to travelers booking through select travel agents.
20. Internova CURATED: A collection of premium, vetted travel experiences provided by Internova Travel Group, focusing on unique and high-quality travel opportunities.
21. Preferred Program: A travel industry program where providers (like hotels or airlines) offer preferred status and benefits to certain travel agencies based on their sales volume or other criteria.
22. PNR (Passenger Name Record): A code used in the travel industry to store a reservation's travel itinerary and customer information within computer reservation systems.
23. Record Locator: A unique alphanumeric code assigned to a specific itinerary or PNR in a booking system, used to retrieve the reservation details.
24. FIT (Free Independent Traveler): Refers to individual or small group travel that is customized and usually booked through travel agents. It is tailored to the preferences and schedules of the traveler, as opposed to mass, packaged tours.
25. Booking platform: An online or software-based tool that allows travel agents or consumers to book travel services such as flights, hotels, and car rentals.
26. Rack rate: The official, full price of a hotel room before any discounts or promotions are applied.
27. Blackout dates: Specific dates on which special offers, promotions, or reservations are restricted or not available, often due to high demand.
28. Festive season: A period of high travel activity typically associated with holidays and festivals, when demand and prices are often higher.
29. Shoulder season: The time between peak and off-peak seasons when prices are lower and crowds are fewer, but the weather is still generally favorable.
30. Wholesaler: In travel, a company that buys travel services in bulk from providers and sells them to travel agencies or tour operators, usually at discounted rates.
31. Tour operator: A company or individual who packages travel components like flights, hotels, and tours into a single product sold directly to consumers or through travel agents.

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