Travel Glossary – C

 

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C

Cabin Class: Designates the level of comfort and service on flights or cruises, such as economy, business, or first class, with each offering varying amenities and space.

Car Rental: A service enabling travelers to hire a vehicle for a set period, offering the freedom to explore destinations independently.

Cabin: A compartment for passengers or crew on a ship, aircraft, or train, offering a designated space for seating, sleeping, or working during travel.

Cabin Crew: Members of an aircraft’s staff responsible for the safety and comfort of passengers during a flight, including tasks such as serving meals, providing instructions, and managing emergencies.

Cabin Steward: A member of the crew on a cruise ship or large vessel, tasked with maintaining the cleanliness and order of passengers’ cabins, as well as providing room service and addressing guests’ needs.

Cancellation Penalty: A fee charged to customers for canceling a booking or reservation after a specified period or without sufficient notice, often applied to hotels, flights, and tour packages.

Cape: A prominent point of land that extends into a body of water, usually the sea, characterized by its distinct shape or form on the coastline.

Captain: The individual in command of a vessel or aircraft, responsible for its safe navigation and operations, as well as the welfare of its crew and passengers.

Carbon Credits: Tradable certificates or permits representing the right to emit a certain amount of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases, used as a tool to reduce global emissions by allowing companies or countries to compensate for their emissions by funding reduction efforts elsewhere.

Carbon Budgets: Quantitative limits on the amount of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases that a country, company, or organization aims to emit over a specific period, as part of efforts to mitigate climate change by managing and reducing carbon footprints.

Carbon Offset: A reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for emissions made elsewhere, often through renewable energy projects, forestation, or other environmental initiatives.

Card Mill: A fraudulent operation that sells travel agent credentials to consumers, implying that these credentials will enable them to access travel industry discounts and benefits without providing legitimate training or employment in the travel industry.

Carriage: The transportation of passengers or goods, commonly used in rail and air travel contexts.

Carrier: A company that provides transportation services for passengers or goods, typically referring to airlines, shipping companies, and railway operators.

Carry-on Allowance: The regulations regarding the size, weight, and quantity of luggage passengers can bring into the plane’s cabin without extra fees.

Carry-on Luggage: Small luggage passengers can bring into the aircraft cabin, subject to the carrier’s size and weight limits.

Cashless Cruising: A system employed by cruise ships where all onboard purchases and services are charged to the passenger’s account, eliminating the need for cash transactions onboard.

Cay: A small, low-elevation, sandy island on the surface of a coral reef, often found in tropical ocean waters.

Celebrity Travel: Travel experiences or destinations popularized or recommended by celebrities, often influencing travel trends and destination choices among their fans.

Certified Tour Professional (CTP): A designation awarded to tourism professionals who have completed a specific program of study and demonstrated expertise in the field of tour operations.

Certified Travel Agent: A professional accreditation for travel agents who have successfully completed a comprehensive training program, demonstrating their proficiency in travel planning and consultation.

Certified Travel Associate (CTA): A certification granted to travel industry professionals who have undergone training and demonstrated knowledge in various aspects of travel sales, customer service, and travel industry operations.

Certified Travel Counselor (CTC): An advanced professional certification for travel agents and managers who have achieved a high level of expertise in travel business management, marketing, and customer service.

Certified Travel Industry Specialist (CTIS): A designation awarded to individuals who have completed specialized training in various sectors of the travel industry, indicating a deep understanding and expertise in those areas.

Chamber of Commerce: A local organization of businesses and companies designed to promote and protect the interests of its members, often involved in supporting tourism and economic development within a community.

Charter: The rental of an entire aircraft, boat, bus, or similar vehicle for private use by an individual or group, allowing for customized travel plans and itineraries.

Charter Services: Services that involve renting an entire vehicle or vessel, such as a bus, boat, or airplane, for private use, often customized to the specific needs of the group or individual.

Chauffeur: A professional driver hired to transport clients in a private vehicle, ensuring safety, comfort, and convenience throughout the journey.

Chauffeur-Driven Tours: Guided tours where participants are transported by a professional chauffeur in a private vehicle, offering a personalized and luxurious travel experience.

Check-In: The process by which guests or passengers register their arrival at a hotel, airport, or similar venue, receiving room keys or boarding passes. It often involves verifying identification and confirming booking details.

Check-In Procedure: The process by which guests register their arrival and gain access to accommodations or travelers confirm their presence on a flight, often involving the verification of booking details and identification.

Check-Out: The procedure for guests to formally end their stay at a hotel, involving the return of room keys, payment of any additional charges, and confirmation of services used.

Child-Friendly Travel: Travel options and accommodations that cater specifically to families with children, offering amenities and activities designed to entertain and accommodate younger travelers.

Chunnel: Informal term for the Channel Tunnel, an underwater rail tunnel that connects England and France, facilitating passenger and freight movements between the UK and mainland Europe.

Circle Itinerary: A travel route that begins and ends at the same location, typically allowing travelers to explore various destinations along a circular path without retracing steps.

Circle Trip: Similar to a circle itinerary, a trip that starts and finishes in the same place but includes travel to various destinations in a loop, maximizing the places visited during the journey.

City Guide: A resource, either in print or digital format, that provides detailed information on a city’s attractions, accommodations, restaurants, and other visitor interests.

City Pair: Two cities that are linked by a direct transportation route, often used in the context of airline routes, to indicate direct flights available between the two locations.

City Tour: A guided tour designed to showcase the major attractions, historical sites, and cultural highlights of a city, usually lasting a few hours to a full day.

City Tourism: Travel aimed at exploring urban destinations, focusing on their cultural, historical, and recreational attractions, as well as dining and shopping opportunities.

Class of Service: The categorization of seats on an aircraft, train, or other forms of transport, based on the level of comfort, amenities, and price, such as economy, business, or first class.

CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association): A trade association representing the interests of cruise lines and travel professionals within the cruise industry, promoting standards and growth in cruise travel.

Client List: A compilation of customers served by a business, particularly in the travel and hospitality sectors, detailing those who have utilized services or made purchases.

Client Mix: The variety of clients or customers that a business, such as a hotel or travel agency, serves, categorized by factors like demographics, travel purposes, or preferences.

Closeout: The finalization or completion of a travel booking period, after which no further bookings can be made, often used in the context of special offers or discount periods coming to an end.

Cluster: A group of similar things or people positioned or occurring closely together, often referring to a geographic concentration of interconnected businesses, suppliers, and associated institutions in a particular field, such as a hotel cluster in a tourist area.

Coach: A term used to describe the standard or economy class of seating on a bus, train, or airplane, offering basic amenities at a lower cost than premium classes.

Code Share: An agreement between airlines to share the same flight, allowing one airline to market and sell seats on a flight operated by another airline, expanding their network and offering more destinations to passengers.

Collision Damage Waiver (CDW): An optional car rental insurance that covers the cost of damages to the rental vehicle in the event of an accident, excluding negligence or intentional damage.

Commission: A fee paid to travel agents or agencies for selling products or services, such as airline tickets, hotel rooms, or tours, usually a percentage of the sale price.

Commission Cap: A limit set by travel suppliers on the amount of commission that can be earned by agents or agencies for selling their products or services, ensuring profitability for the supplier.

Commissionable Tour: A tour package offered to travel agents or agencies that includes a commission for each sale made, incentivizing the promotion and sale of the tour.

Commuter: A person who travels frequently between their place of residence and workplace, often referring to daily or regular trips made for work purposes.

Comp Policy: A policy regarding complimentary services or items provided by businesses, such as hotels or airlines, to guests or passengers, often used as a customer service or loyalty incentive.

Complimentary (Comps): Free services or items provided to customers, such as room upgrades, meals, or airport transfers, typically offered as a gesture of goodwill or to enhance customer satisfaction.

Computerized Reservation System (CRS): A digital system used by travel providers, such as airlines and hotels, to manage bookings, inventory, and customer information, facilitating efficient reservation processes.

Concierge: A hotel employee who provides assistance to guests, offering services like making restaurant reservations, arranging transportation, booking tours, and providing information about local attractions and activities.

Conditions: The terms and requirements specified by travel service providers, such as airlines or hotels, detailing the rules and restrictions associated with a booking or service.

Conference: A formal gathering of people with a shared interest, typically organized to discuss specific topics, present research, and exchange information, often featuring keynote speeches, panel discussions, and networking opportunities.

Conference Center: A specialized facility designed to accommodate conferences, seminars, and meetings, equipped with various sized meeting rooms, audio-visual equipment, and catering services to support business and professional events.

Conference Hotel: A hotel offering dedicated spaces and services for hosting conferences, including meeting rooms, banquet halls, and technical support, catering to the needs of business travelers and event organizers.

Configuration: The arrangement or setup of seats and facilities within a vehicle or venue, such as an airplane cabin or hotel room, impacting capacity and comfort.

Confirmed Reservation: A booking that has been accepted and guaranteed by a service provider, ensuring the customer’s place or accommodation is secured for the specified dates.

Connecting Flight: A flight itinerary that requires passengers to change planes at an intermediate stop before reaching their final destination, often used to travel longer distances or to less accessible locations.

Connecting Room: Hotel rooms that are adjacent to each other, often with a door in between, allowing guests to move between rooms without going into the hallway, ideal for families or groups.

Consolidation: The process of combining individual travel services, such as flights or accommodations, into a single package, often used by travel agencies to create customized travel options.

Consolidator: A company that buys airline tickets or other travel services in bulk at discounted rates and then resells them to travel agencies or the public, often offering lower prices than those available directly from the supplier.

Consortium: A collective of independent businesses, often within the travel industry, that join together to increase their buying power and market presence, enabling them to offer more competitive rates and services than they could individually.

Consulate: An official office of a country located in a foreign city, providing assistance and services to its citizens abroad, such as passport renewals and emergency aid, and facilitating visa processes for foreign nationals.

Consul: An official appointed by a government to live in a foreign city and protect and promote the government’s citizens and interests there, often heading a consulate.

Consumer: An individual who purchases goods or services for personal use, including travelers who buy travel products and experiences.

Continental Breakfast: A light morning meal typically included in hotel stays, consisting of bread, pastries, fruit, coffee, and sometimes cheese and cold cuts, originating from mainland Europe.

Contract: A legally binding agreement between two or more parties, often used in travel for booking hotels, flights, or services, specifying terms, conditions, and prices.

Control Tower: A building at an airport from which air traffic controllers manage the movement of aircraft on the ground and in the airspace nearby, ensuring safety and efficiency.

Convention: A large meeting or conference, typically organized by a particular industry or profession, where participants gather to discuss common interests, developments, and strategies, often involving exhibitions and workshops.

Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB): An organization that promotes tourism and provides travel planning resources in a specific city or region, often assisting with event planning and offering guides to attractions, hotels, and restaurants.

Convention Bureau: An organization, often part of a city’s or region’s tourist board, that promotes the area as a destination for conventions, meetings, and other business events, providing planning and support services to event organizers.

Convention Center: A large facility designed to host conventions, exhibitions, and large events, equipped with multiple rooms, auditoriums, and exhibition spaces to accommodate various activities and group sizes.

Co-op Tour: A tour organized and offered by a partnership of providers who share the costs and benefits, often combining resources to create more attractive or comprehensive packages.

Corporate Agency: A travel agency specializing in managing business travel needs, including flights, accommodations, and meetings, for companies and their employees.

Corporate Fare: A special flight or travel service rate negotiated between airlines or travel service providers and corporations, offering discounts for frequent business travel.

Corporate Rate: A discounted rate for hotel rooms or services offered to business travelers, negotiated between hotels and corporations based on volume and frequency of stays.

Corporate Travel: Travel undertaken for business purposes, including meetings, conferences, and corporate events, usually funded by the traveler’s employer.

Corporate Travel Management: The strategic approach to managing a company’s travel needs and policies, focusing on cost reduction, traveler safety, and efficiency, often overseen by a corporate travel manager or a specialized agency.

Costing: The process of determining all costs associated with providing a travel service or package, including transportation, accommodation, meals, and activities, to set prices.

Cost-plus pricing: A pricing strategy where the selling price is determined by adding a specific markup to the cost of providing the service or product, ensuring a profit margin.

Country of Residence: The country where a person legally resides and spends the majority of their time, often used in travel documentation and for determining visa requirements.

Country-specific Tourism: Travel focused on exploring the unique attractions, culture, and experiences offered by a specific country, often emphasizing immersive and authentic experiences.

Coupon: A voucher or code offering a discount on a product or service, used in travel for promotional offers on flights, accommodations, or activities.

Cruise Itinerary: A detailed plan or schedule of ports and destinations a cruise ship will visit during a voyage, including arrival and departure times, as well as information on optional shore excursions.

Cruise Line: A company that operates cruise ships, offering sea voyages to various destinations that include onboard lodging, dining, entertainment, and other services.

Cruise Tour: A travel package combining a cruise with a land tour, offering travelers the opportunity to explore destinations more deeply by visiting inland attractions before or after the cruise.

Cruise Tourism: A segment of tourism focused on traveling by cruise ship, where the journey itself and the ship’s amenities are part of the vacation experience, along with visits to multiple destinations.

Cruise Travel: The act of vacationing on a cruise ship, which sails to various destinations while offering onboard accommodations, meals, entertainment, and recreational activities.

Cuisine: The style or method of cooking, especially as characteristic of a particular country, region, or establishment, often a significant aspect of cultural identity and tourism.

Culinary Tourism: A type of tourism that focuses on the exploration of food and food culture, where travelers seek out unique and memorable eating and drinking experiences in different destinations.

Cultural Tourism: Travel aimed at experiencing the arts, heritage, and activities that represent the stories and people of the past and present, including museums, historic sites, performances, and festivals.

Cultural Travel: A form of travel that emphasizes engagement with a destination’s culture, traditions, and people, aiming to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of diverse ways of life.

Culture: The customs, arts, social institutions, and achievements of a particular nation, people, or other social group, often explored and experienced through travel.

Curfew: A specified time during which restrictions are placed on movements or activities, which can affect travel plans, particularly in areas with security concerns or regulations.

Currency Exchange: The process of converting one country’s currency into another, a common requirement for international travelers to facilitate local transactions.

Custom Tour: A travel package specifically designed to meet the interests, preferences, and schedule of an individual or group, offering a personalized travel experience.

Customer: An individual who purchases goods or services, in the context of travel, refers to a traveler or tourist who buys travel products such as flights, accommodations, or tours.

Customer Satisfaction: A measure of how products or services provided by a company meet or surpass the customer’s expectations, an important metric in travel for maintaining loyalty and repeat business.

Customer Service: The assistance and support provided by companies to those who use their products or services, crucial in the travel industry for addressing inquiries, solving problems, and enhancing the overall travel experience.

Customized Tours: Tailored travel experiences designed according to the specific requests and needs of travelers, allowing for personalized itineraries, activities, and accommodations.

Customs: The government agency responsible for regulating the goods entering or leaving a country, including the inspection of baggage and collection of duties or taxes on imported goods.

Customs Declaration: A document that travelers must fill out when entering a country, declaring items of value they are bringing into the country, which may be subject to duties or taxes.

Customs Duty: A tax imposed on the import and export of goods, determined by a country’s customs authority based on the value, type, and quantity of items being transported across borders. Customs duties are used to regulate international trade, protect domestic industries, and generate revenue for the government.

Cybersecurity in Travel: The protection of information technology systems, networks, and data in the travel industry, critical for safeguarding personal and financial information of travelers.

Cycling Tour: A guided or self-guided tour that involves exploring a destination by bicycle, appealing to those looking for active, environmentally friendly travel options.

Cycling Tourism: A form of tourism that involves exploring destinations by bicycle, appealing to those seeking an active, environmentally friendly way to travel. Cycling tourism can range from leisurely day trips to extensive multi-day tours, covering scenic routes, cultural landmarks, and rural landscapes, offering a unique perspective on the local environment and culture.

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