Reservations

Reservations refer to arrangements made to secure access to goods or services at a future time. They are used in hospitality, travel, entertainment, and events to guarantee seating, rooms, or tickets. A reservation typically involves providing contact details, selecting a date and time, and may require a deposit or credit card hold. Many services set a time window to confirm, modify, or cancel, and policies vary on penalties for late changes or no-shows.

Process and terminology: A booking, reservation, or hold describes the same core concept. Systems range from paper-based to online platforms and apps. Customers may confirm, modify, or cancel; establishments may release held inventory if not confirmed by a deadline. Overbooking is a common practice intended to mitigate no-shows, but it can lead to accommodation issues for customers.

Reservations also has a figurative meaning: A cautious or skeptical stance about a statement, claim, or proposal. To have reservations is to retain doubts or require further evidence before accepting something as true.

Indigenous reservations: In several countries, including the United States and Canada, reservations are areas of land managed by Indigenous governments and communities. They have distinct legal status, often accompanied by treaties or compacts, and varying degrees of self-government and land rights. The history and administration of reservations are long and complex, reflecting colonial-era displacement, treaties, and ongoing efforts toward recognition and self-determination.