modified american plan: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical (Hospitality/Tourism)
Quick answer
What does “modified american plan” mean?
A hotel pricing system that includes breakfast and either lunch or dinner in the room rate.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A hotel pricing system that includes breakfast and either lunch or dinner in the room rate.
A hospitality industry term describing accommodation packages where some meals are included, typically breakfast plus one other main meal, offering more flexibility than full board but more structure than bed and breakfast.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is understood in both varieties but is more commonly used in American English, particularly in the travel and hospitality sectors. In British English, 'half board' is a more frequent equivalent, though 'modified American plan' is recognized professionally.
Connotations
In both varieties, it connotes a mid-range hotel package, more inclusive than basic accommodation but less all-inclusive than a resort package.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English, especially in contexts advertising Caribbean or resort vacations. Lower frequency in everyday British English, where 'half board' is preferred.
Grammar
How to Use “modified american plan” in a Sentence
The hotel offers a modified American plan.We booked our stay on a modified American plan.Is the modified American plan available?Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “modified american plan” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The hotel can modify the plan to include dinner.
- They modified their offering to a half-board system.
American English
- We can modify your plan to the MAP.
- The resort modified its packages last season.
adverb
British English
- The meal was modifiedly included, depending on the day.
American English
- The service is offered modifiedly during the off-season.
adjective
British English
- The modified tariff proved popular.
- We looked at the modified board options.
American English
- The modified plan rate is listed online.
- They offer a modified package deal.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in hotel contracts, tour operator brochures, and travel agency communications to specify meal inclusions.
Academic
Appears in textbooks and papers on hospitality management, tourism economics, and service marketing.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation except when discussing specific holiday booking details.
Technical
Standard terminology in the global hotel industry for categorizing rate structures.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “modified american plan”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “modified american plan”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “modified american plan”
- Confusing it with 'American plan' (which includes all meals) or 'European plan' (which includes no meals). Using it as a general term for any package deal.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
The American Plan (AP) includes all three main meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) in the room rate. The Modified American Plan (MAP) includes only breakfast and one other main meal (usually dinner).
Yes, for most practical purposes, 'Modified American Plan' (MAP) and 'Half Board' are synonymous. Both refer to a hotel rate that includes accommodation, breakfast, and one other meal.
It is most prevalent in the North American travel industry, especially for marketing holidays in the Caribbean, Mexico, and other resort destinations. It is less common in Europe, where 'half board' is the standard term.
This depends on the specific hotel's policy. Some hotels fix the included meal (often dinner), while others may allow guests to choose between lunch and dinner, sometimes for an additional fee or with advance notice.
A hotel pricing system that includes breakfast and either lunch or dinner in the room rate.
Modified american plan is usually formal, technical (hospitality/tourism) in register.
Modified american plan: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmɒd.ɪ.faɪd əˈmer.ɪ.kən plæn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmɑː.də.faɪd əˈmer.ɪ.kən plæn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the MAP”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
MAP: Modified American Plan. Think of a map of a hotel where breakfast and one other meal are marked as included stops on your daily route.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOSPITALITY IS A PACKAGED DEAL (The experience is a bundle of services with defined components).
Practice
Quiz
What does 'modified American plan' (MAP) specifically include?