Accreditation

The official approval for a travel agent or tour wholesaler to issue documentation for a particular principal.

Agent's commission

The money paid to a travel agent for selling a product or service. It is calculated as either a percentage of the total sale, e.g. ten per cent, or a dollar amount.

Adjacent rooms

Rooms that are opposite each other, separated by a hallway.

American breakfast

An American breakfast consists of bacon and/or sausages with eggs and sometimes fried tomatoes, mushrooms etc. It is often classified as a hot breakfast.

BBR

Bank buying rate

The rate at which a bank or money exchange business will buy foreign currency.

BSR

Bank selling rate

The rate at which a bank or money exchange business will sell foreign currency.

Booking conditions

Sometimes referred to as conditions of sale. These are the conditions of the holiday booking such as payment conditions, cancellation fees, liability, exclusions etc.

Booking file

Sometimes referred to as client file. This is the file where a client's personal details and travel arrangement information is stored. It can be kept on computer or a manual file in a filing cabinet.

Booking form

A form that a traveller is sometimes asked to complete prior to travel. It is supplied by the tour operator/wholesaler/travel agent and is part of the contract of sale. The traveller is usually asked to provide some personal details, as well as any specific requests they may have, and to sign the form.

Cancellation procedures

The procedures that must be followed in the event of a cancellation.

Client file

See booking file.

Conditions of sale

See booking conditions.

Conjunction coach ticket

A ticket which is issued when there are more than four sectors in a person's or a group's coach itinerary.

Continental breakfast

A continental breakfast consists of coffee and juice with cereal and/or toast, muffins, doughnuts or pastries. It is often classified as a cold breakfast.

Contract rates

Rates that have been negotiated between a supplier and a tour wholesaler/travel agent.

Dispatch

Releasing completed documentation to the client. Documents can be sent out by mail, courier or via email.

Documentation

The vouchers/tickets issued for travel arrangements.

Exclusions

Products or services not included in a packaged holiday.

FIT

Fully independent traveller

A traveller who is not part of a group tour. They may however pre-book accommodation, transport and sightseeing as part of their own itinerary.

FOC

Free of charge

When there is no charge for a particular service or product it is said to be FOC.

Foreign currency

The currency of a country other than the country you are in.

Gross price

The selling price to the traveller. Commissions or mark-ups have already been included in the gross price.

Inclusions

Products or services included in a packaged holiday.

Interconnecting rooms

Interconnecting rooms are next to each other and have a doorway connecting them.

Local currency

The currency of the country a traveller is travelling to.

Mark-up

The dollar or percentage amount wholesalers or travel agents add to a net price to make a profit.

Net price

The amount the travel agent pays to the wholesaler, tour operator, hotel or car hire firm after they have deducted their commission.

Net/net price

The amount the tour wholesaler or tour operator pays to its suppliers after they deduct their mark-up.

Non-air documentation

Travel industry documentation for products or services that do not involve travel by air.

Optional tours

'Non compulsory' tours that a traveller can choose to select whilst on a group tour, at an additional cost.

Override commission

Bonus commission paid for additional sales.

Passport

An international travel identification document issued by a passport office to identify the traveller's country of residence.

Penalties

Fees for changes or late payments.

Per person

The cost for each person in a group.

Per room

The cost for each room. This rate is often divided by the total number of people sharing a room to obtain the per person cost.

Preferred agent

A travel agency who receives override commission for selling a large volume of sales.

Principal

The owner of a product or service.

Rack rates

The full, undiscounted cost that a principal charges for its products or services.

Rates

The cost of products or services.

Rate of exchange

The rate at which the bank or money exchange business converts foreign currency, e.g. BBR and BSR.

Reservation data

Personal information about a client and their travel arrangements.

Sales return

A report of sales over a given period of time, e.g. one week or month. It is sent to the principal with a cheque for payment after the travel agent deducts their commission.

Single supplement

An extra amount paid for sole/single use of a room.

Tour operator

A company that packages and operates tours themselves, e.g. AAT Kings.

Tour wholesaler

A company that produces brochures with a variety of different travel products/services in it. They can either sell through travel agents or directly to the traveller.

Transfers

Transport from one point to another. The most common is to/from airport to hotels.

Travel insurance

Insurance that will cover a client in a range of unexpected holiday situations, e.g. loss of luggage or overseas medical expenses. Each policy specifies the conditions under which payment will be made but generally cancellation fees will not be paid if a client simply changes their mind about going on holiday.

Traveller's cheques

A safe way to carry large amount of money when travelling overseas. Traveller's cheques can be issued in a variety of foreign currencies.

Triple reduction

A per person discount given if three people occupy a room instead of the usual two.

Twin share

When two people share a room they are often quoted a twin share cost that is charged per person.

Validity

The time that a rate, quote or brochure is valid for.

Visa for travel

An official stamp or leaflet allowing a traveller to enter a country where a visa is required for entry.