Fabian Bartnick | October 31, 2024

By Fabian Bartnick

We’ve all been there—stuck in a meeting where someone says something that makes you think, Do they actually know what they’re talking about?

Here are 8 classic phrases from revenue managers who are definitely winging it.

1. We’re optimizing our mix across all channels.

Translation: I threw some guesses out there and hoped for the best. Please don’t ask for specifics.

2. The data suggests we should hold rates steady.

Translation: I looked at the numbers, but there’s no way I can explain why it matters. Holding steady just sounded safe.

3. Our forecast accuracy is a high priority for us.

Translation: I’m aware last quarter’s forecast was a disaster, but hey, I’m trying to get better at guessing.

4. We’re leveraging seasonality insights to refine our approach.

Translation: I’m using a fancy word to make it sound like I know something about the seasons – which, by the way, I really don’t.

5. We’re seeing some interesting shifts in booking trends.

Translation: People are booking…or they’re not? Honestly, I just need more time to figure this one out.

6. Our yield management strategy is robust.

Translation: I heard ‘yield management’ in a webinar, and it sounded smart. I’m actually not sure how robust it is or what that really means here.

7. We’ll check the data again for outliers.

Translation: I don’t have the faintest idea about these trends, but data sounds like a safe word to throw out in a meeting.

8. The competition is doing as normal, but we’re monitoring closely.

Translation: I haven’t looked at the comp set in weeks. I’m just hoping they don’t notice I’m guessing at this.

Conclusion AKA Let’s be honest:

We’ve all said a few of these in a pinch. So next time you’re in a meeting, just remember: you’re not alone in the lingo – we’ve all been there!