GLOSSARY OF TERMS

*AAA:* The American Automobile Association. Works with hotel companies
to provide discounted rates to AAA members.

*AARP:* the American Association of Retired Persons. Works with hotel
companies to provide discounted rates to AARP members.

*Actual Expenses:* One of the programs identified by the Governmentwide
Per Diem Subcommittee under which a lodging program could exist. Under
this program, an entity establishes a benchmark, for example, the
government per diem rates. When travelers conduct business, they are
reimbursed for actual expenses within a threshold of "reasonableness" as
defined by the sponsoring entity.

*Area or Location-Based:* One of the programs identified by the
Governmentwide Per Diem Subcommittee under which a lodging program could
exist. Under this program an entity would set a general rate for an area
and set additional rates that are substantially more expensive.

*Average ADR:* For each hotel, multiply the rate by the total number of
rooms available. Those numbers should be added together and divided by
the total number of available room nights.

*Available Room Nights:* The total number of room nights that can be
sold (often referred to as "inventory").

*Benchmarking:* The search for best practices that will lead to the
superior performance of a company.

*Best Value Lodging Program:* Also known as BVL. A negotiated rate
lodging program created by one of the General Services Administration's
regional offices to provide lodging to Federal travelers on official
business travel. This program is being gradually phased out as the
Federal Premier Lodging Program expands.

*Census Tracts:* For each county or statistically equivalent entity,
these county-based maps show the boundaries and numbers of the census
tracts, and name the features underlying the boundaries. They also show
the boundaries, names, and codes for American Indian areas/Alaska Native
areas/Hawaiian homelands, counties, county sub-divisions and places.

*Central Reservation System:* Also known as CRS. Used in the hotel
industry to refer to a hotel company\'s central reservation system, an
internal computerized system used by hotel staff to accept, verify, and
confirm lodging reservations from travelers.

*Commercial Travel Offices:* Also known as CTO's. A CTO is another name
for a Travel Management Center.

*Commission:* The payment a travel agent receives from a supplier for
selling transportation, accommodations, or other travel related
services. Global Distribution System providers also receive commissions
or fees from suppliers for the use of their systems.

*Company-Wide Discount:* One of the programs identified by the
Governmentwide Per Diem Review Subcommittee under which a lodging
program could exist. Under this program, an entity would issue its
travelers a card indicating that the traveler is an employee of the
sponsoring entity. The hotel, in turn, agrees to provide a negotiated
percentage discount off the typical room rate. This program would be
very similar to the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP).

*Connectivity:* The data communication process linking a global
distribution system to a hotel\'s central reservation system.

*CONUS (Continental United States):* All areas in the 48 contiguous
states and the District of Columbia.

*Corporate Rate:* A discounted rate offered by hotel properties to
corporate or business clients.

*Cost Reimbursable Contractor (CRC):* An employee of a privately owned
firm performing business on behalf of the government as a subcontractor.
Generally, these employees are reimbursed at the government per diem
rates.

*Determine Demand and Geographic Areas:* One of the components of the
decision-making process Flow Chart. This defines where people are
traveling to, logical geographical boundaries for locations, and
identifies how many lodging options are needed in a given area.

*Determine Time Frames:* One component of the decision-making process
Flow Chart. This component addresses how frequently rates should be
updated, how to deal with seasonality, separate weekend versus weekday
rates, and contract or agreement length.

*Direct Connection (or Direct Connectivity):* A data communications
product that enables users to view a hotel\'s rates, availability, and
other property information drawn directly form the hotel\'s central
reservation system.

*Distribution Channels:* Term used to collectively refer to the various
ways hotels allow their rooms to be booked. Includes, but is not limited
to, telephone systems, central reservation systems, Internet web sites,
and global distribution systems.

*Dun & Bradstreet:* A financial information company that the Federal
government uses to collect financial and past performance information on
potential contractors as required by the Federal Acquisition Regulation.

*e-Travel:* Name given to the Federal Government\'s effort to create an
end-to-end electronic environment encompassing travel authorization to
travel arrangements, and procurement, travel expense auditing, and
reimbursement.

*Federal Premier Lodging Program:* A negotiated rate program created and
managed by the General Services Administration to contract directly with
hotels to provide lodging to Federal travelers (on official business
travel) in top Federal travel markets at guaranteed rates.

*Federal Travel Regulation:* Also known as the FTR. The FTR comprises
Title 41 Code of Federal Regulations, Chapters 300-304. Chapter 301
governs travel and transportation allowances and other travel related
policies for Federal civilian employees. Visit www.gsa.gov/travelpolicy
for information.

*Global Distribution System:* Also known as GDS. These are computerized
reservation networks through which users (travel agents, airline
employees, internet travel web sites, and travelers) view data on a wide
range of travel services including air, hotel, and auto rental
reservation services.

*Fire Safety Act of 1990:* Public Law 101-391, September 25, 1990. An
Act to amend the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to
allow for the development and issuance of guidelines concerning the use
and installation of automatic sprinkler systems and smoke detectors in
places of public accommodation affecting commerce, and for other
purposes. A copy of the Act can be obtained by writing: Hotel/Motel Fire
Safety, Office of Fire Prevention and Arson Control, Fire
Administration, 16825 S. Seton Ave., Emmitsburg, MD 21727.

*Hotel/Motel Fire Safe Master List:* List of places of public
accommodation that meet the fire prevention and control guidelines under
the Fire Safety Act of 1990. Current information is also available on
the Internet at http://www.usfa.fema.gov/hotel.

*Hotel Property-Based:* One of the programs identified by the
governmentwide Per Diem Subcommittee under which a lodging program could
exist. Under this program the sponsoring entity would have contracts
with specific hotels through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process.
Participating hotels guarantee the rate through the contract period.

*Incidental Expenses**:*** Fees paid to porters, baggage carriers,
bellhops, hotel maids, and for transportation between places of
lodging/business, where meals are taken, and postage to mail in travel
vouchers.

*Last Room Availability:* Also known as LRA. Term given to a travel
agent\'s ability (or a hotel\'s willingness) to book the last room
available in a hotel at a particular rate.

*Lodging Success Program:* Also known as LSP. A negotiated rate program
managed by the Department of the Army which contracts directly with
hotels to provide lodging to the Army\'s civilian and uniformed
personnel on official business travel.

*Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA\'s):* The general concept of an MSA
is that of a core area containing a large population nucleus, together
with adjacent communities having a high degree of economic and social
integration with that core.

*MOBIS:* Management, Organizational, and Business Improvement Services
\-- is a multiple award schedule offered by GSA's Federal Supply Service
that lists many contractors that have been awarded a contract by GSA
that can be used by all Federal agencies to acquire services and/or
products to help improve their management and organizational
effectiveness through the use of specialized consulting, facilitation,
survey, and training services.

*Navy Elite:* A negotiated rate program created by the Department of the
Navy and operated by SATO Travel to provide lodging to Navy\'s civilian
and uniformed personnel on official business travel. Limited to Navy
personnel making reservations through SATO Travel.

*Negotiated Rate:* A commercial rate that has been offered to a travel
agency or a consortium of travel agencies to be used for any of their
clients in return for volume business. These are sometimes called
Preferred Rates. Viewership of these rates in the GDS by users is
restricted unless an authorized code is entered.

*Per Diem:* A rate established by the GSA for reimbursement of lodging,
meals, and incidental expenses for Federal civilian employees while
traveling overnight on official business within CONUS. The rate should
provide sufficient reimbursement for government travelers to eat in safe
and comfortable full service/chain style dining establishments, and
lodge in safe and comfortable accommodations.

*Program Type:* One of the components of the decision-making process
Flow Chart. The basic procedures governing a travel reimbursement
process.

*Psuedo City Code:* Also known as a PCC. An identifier that
distinguishes one travel agency location from another within a Global
Distribution System. Generally, a three to five character code (alpha,
numeric, or a combination thereof). PCC\'s are necessary when adding
negotiated rates to a GDS, as these rates can be \"defined,\" secured,
or limited to a travel agency by using their PCC.

*Property/Chain Selection:* One of the components of the decision-making
process Flow Chart. This component determines which properties or chains
are included in the program.

*Rack Rate:* The regular (or non-discounted), public rate for a hotel
room.

*Rate Research:* One component of the decision-making process Flow
Chart. The component dictates which data source(s) to rely on for rate
information and how to use that information to set per diems.

*Reimbursed Expenses Accountable Plan:* Payment(s) made to an individual
for charges incurred on behalf of the affiliate. If the payment
represents reimbursement to the individual for actual expenses paid,
documented and submitted to the affiliate, the payment to the individual
is treated as a non-taxable reimbursed expense. The individual must
submit paid receipts for all expenses incurred. By submitting paid
receipts to the affiliate, the individual has accounted for expenses and
neither the individual nor the affiliates are required to report the
payments or the expenses to the IRS.

*Reimbursed Expenses Non-Accountable Plan:* Payment(s) made to an
individual as compensation for costs incurred or expected to be incurred
in performing union services. No expense report or other accounting for
these funds is required. All payments made under the \"Non-Accountable
Plan\" are considered compensation and are treated as taxable income to
the recipient. Examples of these payments include car allowances,
officer allowances, stipends and convention advances for which no
accounting is required or expected.

*Reimbursement Options:* One of the components of the decision-making
process Flow Chart. The component identifies the most efficient and
reasonable way to reimburse the traveler for travel expenses that have
been, or will be, incurred.

*Request for Information:* Also known as RFI. Before it purchases a
product or service, the government may issue a request for information
seeking to gauge a market's ability to meet the Government's needs,
identify potential suppliers, identify technical issues, identify
potential risks, and seek guidance from the market place on how best to
fulfill the government\'s needs.

*Request for Proposal:* Also known as RFP. \"Solicitation\" means any
request to interested parties to submit offers or quotations to provide
services or products to the government. Solicitations under negotiated
procedures are called \"Requests for Proposals.\"

*Revenue Procedure 97-45:* The lodging per diem is a reimbursement
requiring substantiation and payment is capped at the per diem, unlike
M&IE, which is paid as a lump sum allowance not requiring
substantiation. However, under Revenue Procedure 97-45 (Internal Revenue
Bulletin No. 1997-41), an agency can satisfy the substantiation
requirement without submission of receipts.

*Reverse Auction:* A process for hotel companies to sell/book rooms.
Unlike traditional auctions where buyers bid against each other and the
supplier sells an item to the highest bidder, reverse auctions feature
suppliers bidding against each other and the buyer purchasing an item
from the lowest bidder.

*Seasonality:* Within many markets, lodging rates follow a predictable
and discernable season. In some cases, the change in seasonal rates can
be over 100%. These seasons are broad trends that repeat year after
year, and are characterized by their broad sweep across many weeks.

*Self-Book Tool:* A system or software package that provides
reservations functionality to a user and allows that user to
independently book hotel and other reservations via a desktop computer,
an Internet site, personal digital assistant, or some other device.

*Service Contract Act of 1965:* The Act (see Title 41 United States
Code, Chapter 351, et seq.) requires that contractors providing the
Federal government products and services worth over \$2,500 shall follow
mandatory provisions regarding minimum wages and fringe benefits, safe
and sanitary working conditions, notification to employees of the
minimum allowable compensation, and equivalent Federal employee
classifications and wage rates.

*Travel Agency Consortia:* A group of travel agents banding together to
negotiate special rates with hotel companies. These rates are generally
restricted to consortia members and their clients.

*Travel Agent:* A business entity that provides to clients travel
services such as hotel reservations, rental car arrangements,
cruise-line reservations, airline reservations and ticketing, etc.

*Travel Management Center:* Also known as a TMC. A commercial travel
firm under contract to GSA to provide reservations, ticketing, and
related travel management services to Federal travelers.

*Universe Selection:* One of the components of the decision-making
process Flow Chart. This component identifies which properties should be
included in the rate-setting review process.

*USG Rate Code:* Proposed new rate code to represent the published or
public lodging rates offered to Federal travelers by hotels within the
Global Distribution Systems.

*Viewership Tables:* Electronic lists within Global Distribution Systems
used to limit who can view and reserve hotel rooms at certain negotiated
rates.