what does pax stand for

"Pax" is a term commonly used in the catering, hospitality, and travel industries to mean the number of people, guests, or passengers. It does not stand for a longer phrase or acronym; rather, it is a shorthand term derived from the Latin word "pax," which means peace. In practice, it is used as a convenient way to indicate the total count of individuals for whom services such as food, accommodation, or transportation are being provided. For example, if a restaurant notes a booking for 8 pax, it means there are 8 people in the reservation. The term originated from early commercial aviation where it was used to denote passengers and later spread to hospitality and events planning.