Tourism Acronyms

AAA - American Automobile Association http://www.aaa.com/scripts/WebObjects.dll/ZipCode

ABA - American Bus Association http://www.buses.org/

ABT Association of Business Travellers http://www.abt-travel.com/

Accreditation is a process of qualifying, endorsing, and "licensing" entities that perform certification of businesses, products, processes, or services.

ACF American Culinary Federation http://www.acfchefs.org/

AGA American Gaming Association http://www.americangaming.org/

AH&MA American Hotel & Lodging Association http://www.ahma.com/

American Society of Travel Agents - ASTA: Trade association of retail travel agents.

ASAE American Society of Association Executives http://www.asaenet.org/

Assessment is the process of examining, measuring, testing, or otherwise determining conformance with requirements specified in an applicable standard (Toth, 2000).

ASTA American Society of Travel Agents http://www.astanet.com/

ATA Air Transport Association http://www.airlines.org/public/home/default1.asp

ATS Adventure Travel Society http://www.adventuretravel.com/Vacation

Attraction - Any visitor service or product which tourists would enjoy visiting or using. An attraction may not be an "attractor" but can still be an attraction. To be considered an attraction, a product must be: a. Findable (clearly located on maps and street addresses, and directions provided). If tourists can't find the facility, it is not a tourist attraction.

Attractor - A significant tourist attraction, which compels visitation. The primary "must sees" in an area. The top reasons a tourist would choose to visit this area.

Audit is a systematic, documented, periodic, and objective evaluation and verification of how well a particular entity (company, product, program, individual, destination, etc.) is doing compared with a set of standards.

B&B - Bed and Breakfast inn

Benchmarking is the process of comparing performance and processes within an industry to assess relative position against either a set industry standard or against those who are "best in class" (Synergy, 2000).

Best Practice(s) is used to designate highest quality, excellence, or superior practices in a particular field by a tourism operator.

Biodiversity means the variety of live forms, i.e., the different plants, animals, and microorganisms, the genes they contain, and ecosystems they form.

CAA - Canadian Automobile Association http://www.caa.ca/

Carrying Capacity - Carrying capacity refers to the number of visitors that can adequately be accommodated with existing infrastructure including lodging, dining, public bathrooms, roads, parking, etc.

Certification is a voluntary procedure that assesses, monitors, and gives written assurance that a business, product, process, service, or management system conforms to specific requirements.

Community is people living in one place, district, state, or country (NEAP, 2000).

Confidential Tariff: A schedule of wholesale rates distributed in confidence to travel wholesalers and travel agents.

Consolidator: A person or company which forms groups to travel on air charters or at group fares on scheduled flights to increase sales, earn override commissions or reduce the possibility of tour cancellations.

Consumer Show - A product showcase for the general public. Differs from a "Trade Show" as a trade show generally targets industry professionals.

Conversion - Getting "heads in beds" or otherwise closing the sale. Differs from "hospitality." Hospitality is being warm, friendly and helpful. Conversion is active selling.

Cultural tourism is travel for the purpose of learning about cultures or aspects of cultures (NEAP, 2000).

Culture is the sum total of ways of living by a group of human beings that is transmitted from one generation to another (NEAP, 2000).

CVB - Convention and Visitors Bureau. (See also DMO)

Degradation is any decline in the quality of natural or cultural resources, or the viability of ecosystems that is caused directly or indirectly by humans (NEAP, 2000).

Destination - The end point of a trip. This can be a town, a resort, or a stand-along attraction. The place to which a traveler is going; or any city, area, region or country be marketed as a single entity to tourists.

DMC (Destination Management Company): A local company that handles arrangements for tours, meetings, transportation, etc. for groups originating elsewhere.

Destination Marketing Organization (DMO): A company or other entity involved in the business of increasing tourism to a destination or improving its public image.

DMO (Destination Marketing Organization): A company or other entity involved in the business of increasing tourism to a destination or improving its public image(such as a convention and visitor bureau).

DNR - Department of Natural Resources

DOT - Department of Transportation

Eco-labeling describes a scheme in which a product or service may be awarded an ecological label on the basis of its "acceptable" level of environmental impact.

Eco-Management and Audit System (EMAS) is a voluntary European Union regulation that strengthens ISO 14001 in key areas including public access and third party verification.

Ecotourism certification programs are ones that cover businesses, services, and products that describe themselves as involved in ecotourism.

Ecotourism is "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and improves the welfare of local people," according to The International Ecotourism Society.

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a process of predicting and evaluating the impacts of specific developments or actions on the environment.

Environmental impact statement is the report resulting from an environmental impact assessment.

Environmental management system (EMS) is part of the overall management system that includes the organizational structure, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes, and resources for determining and implementing the environmental policy.

Escort: A person, usually employed by a tour operator, who accompanies a tour from departure to return as guide or trouble-shooter, or a person who performs such functions only at the destination. The terms host-escort or host are often used, and are preferred, to describe this service.

Escorted Service: A prearranged travel program, usually for a group, with escort service. Fully escorted tours may also use local guide services.

ESSTO - Educational Seminar for State Travel Officials

Familiarization Trip: A complimentary or reduced-rate travel program for travel agents, airline or rail employees or other travel buyers, designed to acquaint participants with specific destinations or suppliers and to stimulate the sale of travel. Familiarization tours, also called fam tours, are sometimes offered to journalists as research trips for the purpose of cultivating media coverage of specific travel products.

FIT - Acronym with multiple meanings. RTM has seen it used to mean the following: -Foreign individual traveler -Frequent individual traveler -Fully independent traveler - Usually a "FIT Package" will include lodging, meals, and attractions.

Foreign Independent Travel or Foreign Individual Travel - FIT: An international pre-paid unescorted tour that includes several travel elements such as accommodations, rental cars and sightseeing. An FIT operator specializes in preparing FITs documents at the request of retail travel agents. FITs usually receive travel vouchers to present to on-site services as verification of pre-payment.

Fulfillment Piece - Promotional literature, video, or other material that is sent in response to an inquiry. Usually contains full trip planning information.

Geotourism (1998) - Tourism that sustains or enhances the geographic character of the place being visited--its environment, culture, aesthetics, heritage, and the well-being of its residents

GHA Green Hotels Association http://www.greenhotels.com/

GLAMER - Group Leaders of America Travel Show http://www.glamer.com/

Ground Operator: A company that provides local travel services, including transportation or guide services.

Group Tour and Group Leader - Group Tour: A travel agent type company which plans motorcoach trips. Group Leader: A small, informal group, such as a church group, scout troup, or social group. Usually one person plans the activities for the group. Some travel shows target these planners such as GLAMER.

Hospitality - A general term used in travel & tourism describing the "hospitality industry"; refers to the general greeting, welcoming, food service, etc.

Hotel Package: A package offered by a hotel, sometimes consisting of no more than a room and breakfast; sometimes, especially at resort hotels, consisting of (ground) transportation, room, meals, sports facilities and other components.

HSMAI - Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International http://www.hsmai.org/

IAAPA International Association of Amusement Parks & Attractions http://www.iaapa.org/

IACC International Association of Conference Centers http://www.iacconline.com/

IACVB International Association of Convention & Visitor Bureaus http://www.iacvb.org/

ICTA Institute of Certified Travel Agents http://www.icta.com/

IDRC - International Development Research Council http://www.idrc.ca/

IFEA International Festival & Events Association http://www.ifea.com/

Incentive Tour: A trip offered as a prize, usually by a company to stimulate employee sales or productivity.

Inquiry - A request for more information about an attraction or destination.

Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) http://www.dot.gov/ost/govtaffairs/istea

International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureaus - IACVB: Worldwide association of convention and visitors bureaus, based in Washington, DC. http://www.iacvb.org/

International Organization for Standardization - ISO is a world federation based in Geneva to develop voluntary standards designed to facilitate international manufacturing, trade, and communications.

Interpretation - Print materials, signage, narration, guided tours, and anything that "interprets" the site for the visitor. Interpretation helps the customer "interpret" the experience and explains why a particular product is valuable. Interpretation adds value and meaning to the experience. Common interpretation techniques used in ecotourism include commentary on guided tours, presentations and discussions, drama performance, musical performance, brochures, signs, displays, and audiovisual presentations (NEAP, 2000).

ISES International Special Events Society http://www.ises.com/

ISO 14001 is the international standard for environmental management systems.

ISTEA Intermodial Surface Transportation Efficiency Act http://www.dot.gov/ost/govtaffairs/istea

Itinerary: Travel schedule provided by a travel agent for his/her customer. A proposed or preliminary itinerary may be rather vague or specific. A final itinerary however provides all details (flight numbers, departure times, reservation confirmation numbers) and describes planned activities.

Life Cycle assessment is a variant of an EMS that tracks a product, process or activity from "cradle to grave." In the tourism industry, it assesses the use of resources and social and environmental impact during three phases: 1) departure and return travel, 2) stay at the destination, and 3) activities at the destination.

Mass or mainstream tourism are terms commonly but loosely used to refer to popular forms of leisure tourism pioneered in southern Europe, the Caribbean, and North America in the 1960's and 1970's.

MPI Meeting Professionals International http://www.mpiweb.org/

Nature tourism is travel to unspoiled places to experience and enjoy nature.

NBTA National Business Travel Association http://www.nbta.org/

NCA National Concierge Association http://conciergeassoc.org/index.htm

NCBNP National Coalition of Black Meeting Planners http://www.ncbmp.com/whoweare.shtml

NCSTD - National Council of State Travel Directors ... The National Council of State Tourism Directors is an industry council of the Travel Industry Association of America http://www.tourstates.com/

NMA National Motorists Association http://www.motorists.com/

NPCA National Parks & Conservation Association http://www.npca.org/flash.html

NPF - National Park Foundation www.nationalparks.org/npf

NRA National Restaurant Association http://www.restaurant.org/

NTA National Tour Association http://www.ntaonline.com/

Package Tour: A saleable travel product offering an inclusive price with several travel elements that would otherwise be purchased separately. Usually has a predetermined price, length of time and features but can also offer options for separate purchase.

Packager: Anyone organizing a tour including prepaid transportation and travel services, usually to more than one destination.

PR - Public Relations

Product Extension - An add-on product or service, which enhances the experience of your product and generates additional revenue. Example - A state park that offers guided wildflower tours (for a fee).

Product Life Cycle - The cyclical pattern of demand for most products from "new and exciting" to "old and dated." Almost all products (tourism and otherwise) have these cycles.

PRSA - Public Relations Society of America http://www.prsa.org/

Rack Card - The typical tourism brochure sized 4" x 9" and used primarily in tourism racks. Also known as a "teaser."

Rack Rate: The official cost posted by a hotel, attraction or rental car, but not used by tour operators.

Reassurance Sign - When trying to locate an attraction, especially when the route is long and unclear, it is critical to offer "reassurance signs" that tell the visitor they are indeed going the right way.

Receptive Operator - Someone who plans to "receive" your motorcoach or tour group. They may plan your lodging, meals, attraction visits, etc. for a fee or commission. A tour operator or travel agent specializing in services for incoming visitors, such as meeting them at the airport and facilitating their transfer to lodging facilities

Reconnaissance - An on-site evaluation of an attraction or destination from the perspective of the customer. Best performed by an outsider who is not familiar with the location and who is trained in fair and scientific methods of evaluation.

Retail Agency: Travel Company selling directly to the public, sometimes a subdivision of a wholesale and/or retail travel organization.

RSA - Receptive Services Association http://www.rsana.com/

SATW - Society of American Travel Writers

SGMP - Society of Government Meeting Planners

Small and medium enterprises (SME) are generally companies that employ less than 250 but more than ten individuals. Companies employing less than ten people are generally referred to as micro-enterprises (Synergy, 2000).

SMERFs - Social, military, educational, religious, and fraternal market segments. Usually targeted and separately tracked by DMOs.

Southeast Tourism Society - (STS) - Established in 1983, STS has become the premier regional membership organization that promotes add develops tourism by pioneering programs that have a major impact on the tourism industry regionally and nationally. STS includes an eleven state region with 520+ members from every category of the tourism industry including in our sustaining member states (AL, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV). 3400 Peachtree Rd., NE; Suite 725; Atlanta, GA 30326 phone: 404.364.9847 fax: 404.262.9518 http://southeasttourism.org/ & http://www.escapetothesoutheast.com/

Stakeholders are, in the context of this report, environmentalists, park managers, tourism industry representatives, consumers, host countries, host communities, funders and financiers, and others who have an interest in a particular certification program.

Standard is a document approved by a recognized body that provides for common and repeated use of a prescribed set of rules, conditions, or requirements (Toth, 2000).

Step-on Guide - A highly knowledgeable guide whom "steps-on" an incoming motorcoach and provides narrative interpretation for the experience. Some CVBs offer step-on guides for free. Sometimes an independent company offers this service for a fee.

Supplier: The actual producer of a unit of travel merchandise, such as a carrier, hotel or sightseeing operator.

Sustainable development is that which "meets the needs of the present without Compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

Sustainable tourism certifications are programs that measure a range of environmental, socio-cultural, and economic equity issues both internally (within the business, service, or product) and externally (on the surrounding community and physical environment).

Sustainable tourism is, according to the World Tourism Organization, "envisaged as leading to management of all resources in such a way that economic, social and aesthetic needs can be fulfilled with maintaining cultural integrity, essential ecological processes, biological diversity, and life support systems."

TDA - Tourism Development Authority.

Teaser Piece - A teaser piece can either be a rack brochure (*see "rack brochure" above), or a mailer, giveaway, or some other promotional piece that is intended to "tease" the receiver into taking a specific action.

The Natural Step (TNS) is a non-profit environmental education organization founded in Sweden in 1989 that promotes both scientific principles and social equity. I

TIA Travel Industry Association of America http://www.tia.org/default.asp

TODS - Tourist Oriented Directional Signage

Tour Operator: A company that creates and/or markets inclusive tours and/or performs tour services.

Tour: Any prearranged (but not necessarily prepaid) journey to one or more places and back to the point of origin.

Tourism certification programs, such as AAA (Automobile Association of America), have typically measured and compared quantity, service, and price, areas deemed most important to travelers.

Tourism Industries, US Department of Commerce: The federal agency responsible for tracking and analyzing international visitation to the United States. http://tinet.ita.doc.gov/

Tourism: Travel undertaken for pleasure. The business of providing and marketing services and facilities for pleasure travelers. Thus, the concept of tourism is of direct concern to governments, carriers, and the lodging, restaurant and entertainment industries and of indirect concern to virtually every industry and business in the world.

Trade Show - A product showcase for a specific industry. Generally it is not open to the public. Differs from a "Consumer Show" in that a trade show targets the professional industry, while a consumer show targets consumers.

Travel Agent: The individual who sells travel services, issues tickets and provides other travel services to the travel services to the traveler sat the retail level.

Travel Industry Association of America - TIA: The non-profit umbrella trade organization of companies and government agencies representing all segments of the travel industry formed to promote travel to and within the US. http://www.tia.org/

TTRA Travel & Tourism Research Association http://www.ttra.com/

URL - Universal Resource Locator. This is the term used for the address of a Website. Think of a URL as similar to a phone number or street address. Example: http://www.rtmnet.com; http://www.usdm.net.

VFR - Visiting friends and relatives

VFRM - Visiting friends and relatives of the military

Voluntary initiatives within the tourism industry are not legally required or binding and are usually focused on

Wholesaler - A company that purchases large blocks of rooms, tickets, etc. and then resells to either the public or to other travel professionals. A company that usually creates and markets inclusive tours and FITS for sale through travel agents. Usually sells nothing at retail (as opposed to a travel agent who can sell any product)., but also does not always create his/her own product; also less likely to perform local services

WTM - World Travel Market

WTO stands for two international organizations: 1) the World Tourism Organization, a UN-related institution based in Madrid that collects data on tourism and lobbies on behalf of the industry; and 2) the World Trade Organization.