G, g

gaijin. Japanese word for "foreigner." Considered derogatory by some.
Galileo. A computerized reservation system (qv).
galley. The kitchen in a ship.
gaming. Gambling. Any casino style activities offered on a cruise ship or at a resort.
gangway. A movable ramp or stairway between a ship and a pier; used for boarding and deboarding. Also called a "gangplank."
garden side room. A hotel room on the same level as the garden, with a door that opens onto the garden.
garden view room. A hotel room that overlooks the garden but that provides no direct access to the garden.
garni. Fr. adj. Designates a hotel without meal service.
gate. Area in an airport where passengers board an airplane.
gateway city. 1. A city that serves as a departure or arrival point for international flights. 2. A city that serves as an airline's entry or departure point to or from a country.
gateway fare. The fare to a major foreign city, or "gateway."
Gay Nineties. The 1890s. Used to refer to a style of entertainment, costume, or decoration evocative of that period.
gazebo. A small, open-sided structure designed for sitting and taking in the view.
gazetteer. 1. A geographical dictionary. 2. A directory in which the entries are arranged by geographical location. For example, a gazetteer of restaurants.
GDN. CRS. Room with a garden or a garden view. Also designated GDNVW.
GDP. Abr. Gross domestic product (qv).
GDS. Abr. Global distribution system.
Gemini®. A computerized reservation system (qv).
genealogy. 1. The study of family history. 2. A listing of a person's ancestors.
gentleman's agreement. An unwritten agreement backed solely by the honor of the participants.
GETS. Abr. Gabriel Extended Travel Services. A global system for booking air travel, car rentals, hotels, and some ferry services that is unaffiliated with any airline or other travel provider.
GFAX. Abr. General facts.
GG rate. Guaranteed group rate (qv).
GI. Abr. Global indicator (qv).
GIANTS. Greater Independent Association of National Travel Services.
GIT. Abr. Group inclusive tour. A group tour that is offered only if a minimum number of people book for it.
GIT fares. Airfares that apply when sold in conjunction with a group inclusive tour.
GLAMER. Group Leaders of America.
glider. An aircraft without an engine that is towed to a given height and then set free to glide on air currents. Used for sport and sightseeing.
global distribution system. A computer reservation system (CRS), typically owned jointly by airlines in different countries, that includes reservation databases of suppliers in many countries.
global indicator. A code that appears next to the fare and tells what route the travel must take.
global positioning system. A system using satellites and cellular communication to pinpoint a vehicle's or aircraft's location. Now being introduced in rental cars and about to be tested by the FAA.
G.M. Fr. Abr. "Gentil membre." A guest at a Club Med resort.
GM. Abr. General manager.
GMT. Abr. Greenwich mean time (qv).
GNP. Gross national product (qv).
GNR. CRS. Guest name record.
G.O. Fr. Abr. "Gentil organisateur." A staff member at a Club Med resort.
GO. CRS. Value car rental company.
Golden Age Passport. An identification card sold by the U.S. National Park Service that gives persons who are 62 or older unlimited access/entrance to the sites it operates.
gondola. 1. Passenger car suspended from a cable; used to transport skiers and sightseers. 2. Flat-bottomed Venetian boat with a high bow and stern.
GPS. Abr. Global positioning system (qv).
GPST. CRS. Group seat request.
gradient. A measure, in degrees, of how steep a slope is.
Gran Prix. Fr. One of several automobile races.
grand tour. A lengthy journey which takes in the major sights of a continent. Usually used to refer to "The Grand Tour of Europe," on which people of means saw all of the best the continent had to offer.
grandfather. v. To exempt a person or company from new laws or regulations based on circumstances that existed in the past. Example: A travel agency might decide to cut outside agents' share of total commissions earned from 60% to 50%, but grandfather those agents with whom it is already working. If that were the case, agents already on the books would continue to earn 60%, while new agents would be paid 50%.
gratuity. A voluntary payment above the stated cost of a product or service given in appreciation for the service rendered. A tip.
graveyard shift. The late-night or overnight work shift.
greasy spoon. A inexpensive restaurant or coffee shop that doesn't look particularly clean.
green card. Identity card issued by the U.S. government to noncitizens who are permanent residents of the United States.
greenback. Any denomination of U.S. paper money.
Greenwich mean time. Solar time in Greenwich, England, which is used as the basis of standard time throughout the world. Also called "Greenwich time."
gringo. A foreigner, especially an English or American person, in Spain or Latin America. Sometimes used as a slur.
grogshop. Brit. Bar, usually low class.
gross. The total amount (usually of money), before any deductions have been made.
gross domestic product.
gross national product.
gross profit. Net sales minus the cost of goods or services sold and before payment of taxes and operating expenses.
gross registered tonnage. A measurement of the enclosed space in a ship. Port officials use it to calculate harbor dues.
gross sales. Total sales receipts before subtracting any expenses or deductions for returns or other post-sale adjustments.
ground arrangements. Services covering the land portion of a trip, such as lodging, visits to museums, sightseeing tours, and transfers between airport and hotel.
ground operator. A company that provides land services such as sightseeing tours, transfers from airport to hotel, limos, taxis, and so on.
group desk. The department or counter of an airline, travel agency, hotel, or other supplier that handles group reservations.
group house. A hotel that caters primarily to the convention and meetings market.
group rate. The fare or room rate offered to a group of travelers.
group sales. 1. The act of marketing travel to affinity groups. 2. A department of an agency devoted to this type of sale.
GRPS. CRS. Groups.
GRT. Abr. Gross registered tonnage (qv).
GST. Abr. Goods and services tax.
GTIA. Golf and Travel Industry Association.
gtd. Abr. Guaranteed.
guar. Abr. Guarantee or guaranteed.
guarantee. 1. n. An assurance that a product or service will be provided at an agreed-upon time and/or meet stated specifications, often with a promise that the purchaser will be reimbursed if the product or service fails to meet the guarantee. 2. v. To answer for a product or service meeting agreed-upon conditions. 3. v. To pay for a guarantee of product or service performance.
guaranteed group rate. On a cruise ship, a group rate extended to a travel agency on a negotiated basis which will be honored regardless of the number of bookings made.
guaranteed reservation. A reservation that will be held all night, whether or not the party arrives on time. Generally, the buyer pays for the privilege by guaranteeing payment whether or not the reservation is used.
guaranteed share. A cruise line rate for a single passenger based on the line's promise to find the passenger a roommate to share a cabin. The rate will be honored even if no roommate is found.
guaranteed single. A cruise line rate for a single passenger who does not wish to share. The passenger is guaranteed a cabin in a specific category, but will be upgraded depending on availability.
guest house. A home that offers rooms to travelers. See also bed and breakfast.
guide. A person who takes visitors on tours of sites, such as museums, cities, wilderness areas, etc. and shares his knowledge about places, objects, or flora and fauna of interest.
Gulf Stream. A warm-water current that flows from the Caribbean North and East to the British Isles.
gunwale. The upper edge of the side of a boat.
gwailo. Chinese word for a foreigner, specifically a European. Translated variously as "ghost person" and "white devil." Considered derogatory by some.