VisitHotels.com - Privacy Policy.
Last Revised: September 1st, 2006
Please contact us at the email below for further information;  
VisitHotels.com
Corporation and our subsidiaries and affiliates ("VisitHotels.com" or "we")
respect your preferences concerning the collection and use of your personal
information ("data"). Our goal is to deliver content targeted to accommodate
your stay. In order to provide you with relevant information, fulfill your
specific requests, and enhance your experience across our Web site, we will at
times request data from you. This policy lets you know how we collect data, why
we collect it, and what choices you have concerning its use.
This is the
privacy policy for the VisitHotels.com Web site. This policy describes the
broadest potential use of data throughout the VisitHotels.com.com Web site.
Parts of the site may make far less use of data than we have outlined in the
policy. Please note that VisitHotels.com maintains the same privacy practices
described in this policy for data we collect through our call center;
accordingly, references below to Web site "users" also apply to individuals from
whom we collect data off-line.
In order to provide service in a timely,
cost effective and efficient manner, data provided to VisitHotels.com may be
made available to authorized VisitHotels.com users across our global offices
that require access to the data for business purposes.
2. Types of Data Collection
VisitHotels.com
collects data related to our users through the following methods:
- Automated means such as communications protocols and cookies
- Registration screens and online forms
- Sales inquiries and transactions
- Customer communications
- Offline communications and interactions
- Third party sources of information, such as opt in lists.
Depending upon the method of collection and use, the data collected may
include information about the user from forms, registrations and transactions
(such as name, title, address, company, phone number and e-mail address),
financial/transaction information (such as credit card and payment information),
information about use of VisitHotels.com web sites (such as electronic
communications protocols, web pages visited and cookies) and user preferences
(including product requirements, areas of industry interest, newsletters,
community choices and other information managed from the customer profile that
is created when registering on VisitHotels.com.com).
Electronic
Communications Protocols and Cookies:
VisitHotels.com may receive
data from you as part of the communication connection itself, that is, the
standard electronic greeting between your computer and our servers. This
information often consists of network routing (where you came from), equipment
information (browser type), date and time. At this time our server will also
query your computer to see if there are "cookies" previously set by
VisitHotels.com.com to facilitate log in or other site navigation procedures. A
"cookie" is a small piece of information sent by a Web server to store on a Web
browser so it can later be read back from that browser.
Cookies: Some parts of the VisitHotels.com site use
cookies to collect information about visitors' use of the Web site and to
facilitate return visits. The information collected from cookies is tracked to
enhance security and/or to improve the functionality of the Web site by avoiding
duplicate data entry, facilitating navigation, and increasing the relevance of
content. Cookies on the site may collect the following information: a unique
identifier, user preferences and profile information used to personalize the
content that is shown, and membership information to access your VisitHotels.com
account. Cookies on the site, and the associated data, may be used for the
purposes stated in Section 3 below. Some cookies used by VisitHotels.com.com may
remain on the user's computer after they leave the Web site, but the majority is
set to expire within 30 - 365 days. (As discussed in more detail below, you can
set your browser to alert you to cookies being placed, in which case a prompt
screen will describe information about the cookie, its duration, and the server
to which it is being returned.) There may be some cookies on certain tools that
are of longer duration. Cookies may also be of benefit to you by creating a more
streamlined login process, keeping track of shopping cart additions and
preserving order information between sessions. In the future, as we enable
further customization of the site, cookies will help in assuring that
information provided to you will be the most relevant to your
needs.
While we do not offer an opt-out on the site for cookies, browsers
provide you with information and control over cookies. You can set your Web
browser to alert you when a cookie is being used. You can also get information
on the duration of the cookie and what server your data is being returned to.
You then have the opportunity to accept or reject the cookie. Additionally, you
can set your browser to refuse all cookies or accept only cookies returned to
the originating servers. Users can generally disable the cookie feature on their
browser without affecting their ability to use the site, except in some cases
where cookies are used as an essential security feature necessary for
transaction completion.
Embedded URLs: In order to
provide maximum site utility, VisitHotels.com also uses a tracking technique
that uses embedded URLs to allow use of the site without cookies. Embedded URLs
manifest themselves as plain text or encoded extensions to the URL that appears
in the browser address or location toolbar. This technology allows limited
information to follow you as you navigate the site, but is not identified to
personal data and is not used beyond the session. While this increases your
ability to surf the site, it does not replace the functionality or streamlining
of cookies and may limit your use of many convenience features offered by the
site.
Embedded Pixels: In an effort to provide users
with the most relevant Web site content and marketing materials, we may also use
embedded pixel technologies to help track site usage and marketing campaign
responsiveness. On the Web site, these technologies are used on selected pages
for the purposes of identifying unique user visits as opposed to aggregate hits.
The site usage information collected by these technologies is associated with
cookies and may provide data about site use by registered users of
www.VisitHotels.com.com Web sites. This information is used to evaluate site
content, navigability and composition as well as page response rates. When these
technologies are used in emails, they provide information on when the email was
opened.
Third Party Cookies: VisitHotels.com has engaged
Google Analytics, a third party, to track and analyze usage and volume
statistical information (which does not include personally identifiable
information) from visitors to the Web site to help us continue to improve the
quality of our Web site. Google Analytics uses cookies to help track visitor
behavior and sets cookies on behalf of VisitHotels.com that will be listed under
the domain VisitHotels.com. Google Analytics does not use cookies to relate Web
site visitors to any personally identifiable information. Google Analytics
provides VisitHotels.com with information about site usage that reflects
individual behavior of visitors, but not their identity. All data collected by
Google Analytics on behalf of VisitHotels.com is used only to provide us with
information on site usage and is not shared with any other third parties. Urchin
information is unique to the individual, but not personally identifiable by
Google Analytics. Google Analytics provides VisitHotels.com with this
information which we re-associate with previously collected registration
information for purposes specified in this policy, but in the main to:
- Select content based on registration data and movement through the site
- Tailor marketing to users' needs
- Aggregate web activity based on user registration attributes
Google Analytics privacy practices can be found at http://www.google.com/intl/en/privacy.html
3. The Data We Collect and How We Use It
VisitHotels.com collects data from users for the following
purposes:
As a result of your site navigation: Data may
be collected to help personalize Web site content and enable navigation that is
most relevant and user friendly.
As a result of creating an
VisitHotels.com.com account and filling out forms. Data provided by you
during these processes may be used to target future marketing communications
that meet your needs and requirements, personalize Web site content and enable
navigation that is most relevant and user friendly.
As a result
of your joining an VisitHotels.com community, such as the VisitHotels.com.
Information collected during this process may be used to provide
relevant product alerts and updates. These updates are related to product
releases, prices, terms, special offers and associated marketing campaigns. This
data is sent out as part of the program member signing up for the relevant
program or online account.
As a result of your inquiry or
request for information. Data collected as a result of your inquiry,
registration for newsletters, response to marketing campaigns and other such
activities may be used to respond to your inquiry, provide information requested
and target future marketing communications.
As a result of your
engagement in transactions or communications. Information may be
collected and stored as part of the transaction history. The majority of the
data collected under this category is business contact information.
VisitHotels.com may need to share some of this data (address, payment) with
delivery services, credit card clearing houses and other similarly situated
third parties that are required to accomplish the transaction.
As
a result of referral "tell a friend" functions. If a user elects to use
our referral service for informing a friend about our site, we ask them for the
friend's name and email address. VisitHotels.com will automatically send the
friend a one-time email inviting them to visit the site. VisitHotels.com uses
this data for the sole purpose of sending this one-time email and tracking the
success of our referral program.
As a result of your participation in
interactive discussions, public forums & reviews systems. There are
parts of the Web site that permit you to participate in interactive discussions.
Some of these are moderated; all are subject to access for technical reasons.
VisitHotels.com does not control the content that users post and some may serve
as public discussion forums. As in any interactive forum open to many users, you
should carefully consider whether you wish to submit data and should tailor any
other content submitted appropriately.
As a result of legal
requirements. VisitHotels.com may be required to provide data to comply
with legally mandated reporting, disclosure or other legal process requirements.
4.Customization, Preferences and Opt-Out
Establishing an online registration profile at VisitHotels.com.com
allows visitors the ability to opt in (or out) of communities and provides them
with control over their preferences for electronic information delivery.
Communications Choices. VisitHotels.com recognizes that
users may not wish to be contacted about new or related products.
VisitHotels.com.com allows you to opt out of some, or all, email marketing that
may result from use of the site. These choices are established and modified via
your online registration profile.
Third Party
Permission-Based Lists. On occasion, VisitHotels.com may use a third
party permission-based list to send communications about VisitHotels.com
products and services. These are lists maintained by third parties whose users
have consented to receive emails from other companies, such as VisitHotels.com.
We do not have access to the names and contact information on these lists; the
third party that has the direct relationship with these users maintains the list
and the opt-outs, removes, and unsubscribes. We require the list owners to
identify themselves as the mailers of the email and to provide appropriate
opt-out mechanisms. If you wish to be removed from a third-party list, you
should direct your opt-out request to the list owner, not to VisitHotels.com.
Nevertheless, if you have trouble opting out, or if you wish to make us aware of
any issues related to a third-party mailing, you may contact us directly When
third-party mailings are sent with an VisitHotels.com reply address,
VisitHotels.com also will provide a notice with information about how to opt-out
of future VisitHotels.com marketing communications.
Please contact us if you
believe you have mistakenly received information after opting out or if you
would like to opt out of receiving information and have been unable to use the
opt-out mechanisms provided.
5. Access
VisitHotels.com has provided you the ability to create an account or
profile of information. We maintain the data and allow you to update it at any
time. To change this information, please login as usual and follow the prompts
to "update my profile." We continue to work to increase the scope of information
that you may access and update. Please contact should you
require further assistance concerning your information or if you have trouble
accessing your profile; please indicate access in the subject line and let us
know what the access problem is in the body of the message.
6. Security
VisitHotels.com is concerned with the
security of the data we have collected and has in place reasonable measures to
prevent unauthorized access to that information. These measures include
policies, procedures, and technical elements relating to data access controls.
In addition, VisitHotels.com uses standard security protocols and mechanisms to
exchange the transmission of sensitive data such as credit card details.
7. Policy Updates
If we are going to use
your data in a manner different from that stated at the time of collection, we
will notify you via email. You will have a choice as to whether or not we use
your data in this different manner. In addition, if we make any material changes
in our privacy practices that do not affect user data already stored in our
database, we will notify you by email or post a prominent notice on this Web
site notifying users of the change. In some cases where we post the notice we
will also email users who have opted to receive communications from us,
notifying them of the changes in our privacy practices.
We may update
this policy from time to time to describe how new site features affect our use
of your data and to let you know of new control and preference features that we
provide you.
Hotels
Featured On This Site.
A number of hotel chains are featured
on Visithotels.com - including;
Also view the latest travel
information and advisories at
http://travel.state.gov/
|
