PMS (Property Management System)
Software that brings together the management of a short-term rental: calendar, bookings, guest messages, cleaning, payments and, for a property manager, owners. It often includes a channel manager.
Channel manager
A tool that syncs a property's availability, prices and bookings across several platforms (Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo…) to prevent double bookings.
OTA (online travel agency)
A platform that sells stays online in exchange for a commission: Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia.
API connection
A direct link between two pieces of software. Between a channel manager and a platform, it sends bookings, prices, rules and often messages within seconds.
iCal
A calendar format shared through a link. It only sends booked dates, with no prices or messages, and updates with a delay: the risk of double booking is higher than with an API connection.
Double booking (overbooking)
Two guests book the same property for the same dates on two platforms. A calendar synced in real time prevents it.
Occupancy rate
The share of nights booked out of the nights available in a period. 20 nights booked out of 30 available: 67%.
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Average daily rate (ADR)
Accommodation revenue divided by the number of nights booked.
RevPAR
Revenue per available night: accommodation revenue divided by the number of available nights, booked or not. It also equals the average daily rate times the occupancy rate.
Dynamic pricing
Adjusting each night's price to demand: season, day of the week, events, prices of nearby properties, time left before arrival.
Minimum stay
The minimum number of nights required to book. It can vary by date to avoid isolated nights that can't be sold.
Short-term rental property management company
A company that manages properties on behalf of their owners: listings, guests, cleaning, linen, maintenance. It is usually paid a commission on revenue.
Management agreement
The contract by which an owner entrusts the management of their property to a property manager. It sets the services, the commission and how revenue is paid out.
Management commission
The share of rental revenue the property manager keeps for its work. The agreement specifies the base: gross revenue, revenue net of platform fees, with or without cleaning.
Security deposit
An amount that protects the property against damage. In short-term rentals it is often a card hold: the amount is blocked on the guest's card without being charged, then released after the stay.
Card hold
An authorization that blocks an amount on a card without charging it. It expires after a few days: for a long stay, it must be renewed.
Welcome book
A guide given to guests: access, Wi-Fi, house rules, amenities, useful addresses. In digital form it is shared by link or QR code.
Self check-in
The guest gets into the property on their own with a lockbox or a smart lock, using a code sent before arrival.
Direct booking
A booking made without a platform, on the host's website or through a payment link. The host avoids the platform commission but handles payment and the security deposit themselves.
Tourist tax
A tax owed by the guest for each night, with the rate set by the municipality: a fixed amount per person per night for a classified furnished rental, a percentage of the nightly price (between 1% and 5%, capped) for an unclassified one. Airbnb collects and remits it for non-professional hosts when it takes the payment; on Booking.com it depends on the settings; for direct bookings, the host collects it and remits it to the municipality.
Furnished tourist rental
A furnished property rented to short-stay guests who do not live there, by the night, week or month (French Tourism Code, article L324-1-1). Under the Le Meur law (law no. 2024-1039 of November 19, 2024), every furnished tourist rental, including a primary residence, must be declared on the national online service since May 20, 2026; the thirteen-character registration number must appear in every listing. A primary residence cannot be rented for more than 120 days a year, a cap the municipality can lower to 90 days. For 2025 income, the micro-BIC allowance for an unclassified rental is 30% up to €15,000 in revenue, versus 50% up to €77,700 for a classified one.
Cleaning fee
An amount charged to the guest for end-of-stay cleaning, added to the nightly price.
No-show
The guest doesn't show up and doesn't cancel. Depending on the cancellation policy, the host may keep all or part of the amount; on Booking.com, the no-show is reported to the platform.
Co-host
A person a host gives access to their Airbnb listing to help: messages, calendar, welcoming guests. A property manager often works as a co-host.