Glossary
The short-term rental vocabulary, explained.
12 key terms for short-term rental property managers. Direct definitions, practical examples, market data.
12 terms · priority A
Tech
Channel manager: what it is and how it works
A channel manager is software that synchronizes in real time calendars, prices, and availability of a short-term rental across all booking platforms (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo) from a single interface. For property managers with five or more apartments it's an essential operational tool that prevents overbooking and reduces by hours the manual price update workload.
1,600 · Searches/monthRead the definitionProperty Management Software (PMS): what it is
A Property Management Software (PMS) is a centralized platform that manages all operational and administrative aspects of a hospitality business: bookings, calendar, billing, communication, reporting, OTA and supplier integrations. It differs from a channel manager because it covers the property manager's full workflow, not just distribution.
880 · Searches/monthRead the definitionSmart lock: what it is and which to choose for rentals
A smart lock is a digital lock that enables accommodation access via numeric code, smartphone, biometrics, or remote, eliminating the need for physical keys. For short-term rentals it's the most professional self check-in solution: each guest receives a unique temporary code that automatically deactivates at check-out, without host intervention.
1,200 · Searches/monthRead the definition
Finance
Revenue management: what it is and how to apply it
Revenue management is the discipline of optimizing accommodation prices and availability to maximize total revenue, based on demand analysis, competition, and seasonal patterns. In short-term rentals it translates concretely into weekly or daily dynamic pricing, with rates varying based on local events, predicted occupancy rate, and market behavior.
480 · Searches/monthRead the definitionDynamic pricing: what it is and how it works
Dynamic pricing is an automatic rate strategy that modifies an accommodation's prices in real or near-real time based on market demand, local events, occupancy rate, and competitor behavior. It's the main operational tool of revenue management and can increase a property manager's annual revenue by 10 to 25% vs fixed prices.
720 · Searches/monthRead the definitionOccupancy rate: what it is and how to calculate it
Occupancy rate is the percentage of nights actually booked compared to total available nights in a period. It's one of the three fundamental revenue management metrics in short-term rentals, alongside ADR and RevPAR, and indicates how effectively an accommodation is sold on the market.
320 · Searches/monthRead the definitionADR (Average Daily Rate): what it is and how to calculate it
ADR (Average Daily Rate) is the average price per night actually achieved by an accommodation in a period, calculated by dividing total revenue by sold nights. It's a fundamental revenue management metric and indicates how effectively a property manager monetizes each sold night.
210 · Searches/monthRead the definitionRevPAR: what it is, formula, and why it's the top KPI
RevPAR (Revenue Per Available Room) is the average revenue for each available night of an accommodation in a period, regardless of whether it was sold. It's calculated by multiplying occupancy rate by ADR and is the most powerful summary metric of revenue management: combines selling ability (occupancy) and pricing ability (ADR) into a single comparable number.
590 · Searches/monthRead the definition
Operations
Self check-in: what it is and how to implement it
Self check-in is an autonomous access procedure that lets guests enter the apartment without meeting the host in person, using a coded key safe, digital lock (smart lock), or biometric system. It has become the de facto standard for modern short-term rentals because it frees hosts from rigid availability and improves guest experience.
590 · Searches/monthRead the definitionOnline check-in: what it is and why it's required in Italy
Online check-in is the digital guest registration procedure that transmits their identification data to public security authorities via official portals (in Italy, the Alloggiati Web system of the State Police). It's a regulatory requirement for all hospitality structures, including short-term rentals, and differs from self check-in (physical access mode) although often confused.
880 · Searches/monthRead the definition
What is property management? A glossary for short-term rental hosts
Short-term rental property management is now a profession built on software, financial KPIs, and local rules. Channel manager, PMS, OTA, ADR, RevPAR, dynamic pricing, regional codes, and tourist tax: these acronyms describe the tools and metrics professional hosts use to take daily operational decisions. This glossary collects priority A terms — the ones most frequently searched by hosts managing 5+ apartments — with direct definitions, real-world examples, and 2026 adoption data.