Final answer:
There are two methods a hotel uses to record a free room: Allotment and Allocation. Allotment is reserving a set of rooms for a group or purpose, while Allocation is assigning a specific room to a guest.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a hotel decides to give away a free room, there are two primary record-keeping methods they can use: Allotment and Allocation. Allotment refers to the process in which a set number of rooms are held or reserved for a specific group or purpose, which could include complimentary rooms. This method is often used when a hotel has an agreement with a travel agent or a corporation, where a number of rooms are held for their use. On the other hand, Allocation involves assigning a particular room to a guest, which could also be a comp room. This process happens usually when an individual booking is made directly with the hotel or through a booking engine, at which point a specific room is allocated to meet the customer's request.