Property management system (PMS)
The operational system used to manage reservations, rooms, guests, front-desk activity, housekeeping and property reporting.
Hospitality technology glossary
Clear definitions for the systems, metrics and workflows behind hospitality.
Plain-English explanations of hotel technology, distribution, guest experience and revenue terminology—connected to the guides where each concept matters.
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Latest hospitality technology glossary entries
Clear definitions of the systems, metrics and workflows used across hospitality technology.
Our first hospitality technology definitions are coming soon.
Core terms
Start with the language used across the hospitality stack.
Central reservation system (CRS)
A system that centralises rates, availability and reservations across properties, brands and distribution channels.
Booking engine
Software that allows guests to search availability and complete direct reservations on a hotel website.
Channel manager
A tool that synchronises rates, availability and inventory between a property and external booking channels.
Revenue management system (RMS)
Software that uses demand, pricing and performance data to support room-rate and inventory decisions.
Average daily rate (ADR)
The average room revenue earned per occupied room during a defined period.
Revenue per available room (RevPAR)
A metric combining room rate and occupancy by dividing room revenue by available rooms.
Rate parity
The consistency of publicly available room rates across direct and third-party channels.
Online travel agency (OTA)
A third-party marketplace that displays accommodation inventory and processes traveller bookings.
Guest messaging platform
Software for automated and agent-led guest communication before, during and after a stay.
Application programming interface (API)
A defined method allowing hospitality systems to exchange data and trigger actions.
System of record
The authoritative platform a team relies on for a specific type of operational or customer data.
Glossary structure
More than a definition page.
Direct answer first
The opening definition stands alone and answers the term immediately.
Operational context
Each entry explains where the concept appears in workflows and why it matters.
Connected learning
Terms link into relevant listicles and guides so readers can move from vocabulary to action.
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