Overview
ISO 18513:2021 provides a standardized vocabulary for tourism accommodation and related services. This second edition (2021) replaces ISO 18513:2003 and consolidates terminology to improve clarity between service providers, consumers and policymakers. The document groups definitions into a single clause covering general terms, types of accommodation, room types, rates, sanitary equipment, food and beverage services, facilities and other related terms.
Why this matters: consistent terminology reduces misunderstandings in booking, regulation, classification and cross-border tourism operations.
Key Topics
The standard organizes terms to reflect the practical structure of the tourism accommodation sector. Major topic areas include:
- Types of accommodation: hotel, all-suite hotel, aparthotel, apartment complex, serviced apartments, motel, pension, hostel, bed and breakfast (B&B), holiday flat/house, homestay, couch-sharing, rural accommodation, farmhouse, holiday camp, campsite, glamping, mountain refuge, camper van/motor home, caravan, holiday caravan/mobile home, tent, trailer tent, house boat.
- Room and unit types: single room, double room, twin room, family room, junior suite, suite, studio, apartment, duplex, multiple-bedded room, dormitory, accessible room.
- Rate types: room only, bed and breakfast, half board, full board, all-inclusive.
- Sanitary and catering terms: sanitary facilities, ensuite, room with bathroom/washbasin/toilet; continental, expanded, full and buffet breakfasts, à la carte breakfast, mini-bar service.
- Facilities: kitchenette, self-catering facilities, baggage room, executive floor, business centre, conference room, lounge, lobby, entertainment area.
Applications
ISO 18513:2021 is practical for a range of stakeholders:
- Accommodation providers: use consistent labels for listings, booking engines and guest information to set clear expectations.
- Online travel platforms and guides: harmonize descriptions (room types, rate plans, amenities) to improve search accuracy and customer trust.
- Regulators and tourist boards: align classification schemes and consumer protection rules with an internationally agreed vocabulary.
- Policymakers and standards developers: reference common definitions when drafting tourism, accessibility or safety guidance.
Benefits include improved consumer decision-making, reduced disputes over service expectations, and better interoperability of data between booking systems.
Related Standards
ISO 18513:2021 was prepared by ISO/TC 228 (Tourism and related services). It references ISO terminology resources (ISO Online Browsing Platform) and aligns with other tourism standards such as accessibility-related definitions in ISO 21902. Because some cultural terms are excluded where meanings vary globally, users should consult national guidance when local definitions differ.
Keywords: ISO 18513:2021, tourism accommodation vocabulary, hotel definitions, room types, accommodation rating, sanitary facilities, catering, glamping, aparthotel.
