Last Updated: June 15, 2024

1. Introduction

Soft Compass ("we," "our," or "us") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website at softcompass.sbs (the "Site") or use our services.

Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this Privacy Policy, please do not access the Site or use our services. By accessing the Site, booking a tour, or using our services, you consent to the collection, use, and disclosure of information according to this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

We may collect personal information that you voluntarily provide to us when you:

  • Complete forms or create accounts on our Site
  • Book a tour or travel service
  • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Contact us via email, phone, or contact forms
  • Participate in surveys or promotions
  • Post comments or reviews

The personal information we may collect includes:

  • Full name
  • Email address
  • Postal address
  • Phone number
  • Date of birth
  • Passport information (for booking purposes)
  • Payment information
  • Travel preferences and requirements
  • Special dietary needs or mobility limitations
  • Emergency contact details

2.2 Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our Site, we may use cookies, web beacons, and other tracking technologies to collect information automatically, including:

  • IP address
  • Browser type and version
  • Operating system
  • Referring website
  • Pages viewed and time spent on pages
  • Links clicked
  • Access times and dates
  • Device information

For more information about our use of cookies, please see Section 7 of this Privacy Policy.

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third parties, including:

  • Business partners (such as airlines, hotels, or other travel service providers)
  • Social media platforms (if you interact with us through your social media account)
  • Payment processors
  • Travel agents or agencies booking on your behalf

3. How We Use Your Information

We may use the information we collect for various purposes, including to:

  • Process and manage your tour bookings and reservations
  • Communicate with you about your bookings, inquiries, or account
  • Provide customer support and respond to your requests
  • Personalize your experience and deliver content relevant to your interests
  • Send you promotional materials, newsletters, and updates (if you've opted in)
  • Improve our Site, services, and business operations
  • Conduct research and analysis to enhance our offerings
  • Detect, prevent, and address technical issues, fraud, or illegal activities
  • Comply with legal obligations
  • Process payments and prevent fraudulent transactions
  • Facilitate communication with travel suppliers regarding your bookings

4. Disclosure of Your Information

We may share your information with:

4.1 Service Providers

We may share your information with third-party service providers who perform services on our behalf, such as:

  • Payment processors
  • Email service providers
  • IT and system administrators
  • Customer service providers
  • Analytics providers
  • Marketing and advertising partners

4.2 Travel Partners

To fulfill your bookings, we may share necessary information with travel partners, including:

  • Hotels and accommodation providers
  • Transportation companies (airlines, rail, car rental)
  • Tour guides and activity providers
  • Restaurants and dining services
  • Travel insurance providers

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities (e.g., a court or government agency), or if we believe disclosure is necessary to:

  • Comply with legal obligations
  • Protect and defend our rights or property
  • Prevent or investigate possible wrongdoing
  • Protect the personal safety of users or the public
  • Protect against legal liability

4.4 Business Transfers

If we are involved in a merger, acquisition, financing, or sale of all or a portion of our assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you via email and/or a prominent notice on our Site of any change in ownership or uses of your personal information.

5. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to, and processed in, countries other than the country in which you reside. These countries may have data protection laws that are different from the laws of your country.

When we transfer your information to other countries, we will take appropriate measures to protect your information and ensure that any third party who processes your data agrees to process your information in a manner consistent with this Privacy Policy and applicable data protection laws.

By submitting your information and using our services, you consent to this transfer, storage, and processing.

6. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect the security of your personal information. However, please be aware that no method of transmission over the Internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

We maintain security protocols that include:

  • Encryption of sensitive information
  • Secure socket layer (SSL) technology
  • Regular security assessments
  • Access controls and authentication procedures
  • Staff training on data protection

In the event of a data breach that compromises your personal information, we will notify you in accordance with applicable law.

7. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track activity on our Site and hold certain information. Cookies are files with a small amount of data that may include an anonymous unique identifier. Cookies are sent to your browser from a website and stored on your device.

We use the following types of cookies:

  • Essential Cookies: Necessary for the Site to function properly.
  • Analytical/Performance Cookies: Allow us to recognize and count the number of visitors and see how visitors move around our Site.
  • Functionality Cookies: Enable us to personalize our content for you.
  • Targeting Cookies: Record your visit to our Site, the pages you have visited, and the links you have followed.

You can instruct your browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, if you do not accept cookies, you may not be able to use some portions of our Site.

We also use Google Analytics and similar services to analyze the use of our Site. These services use cookies to collect information about your use of the Site. You can learn more about how Google uses your information by visiting Google's Privacy Policy.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information, including:

  • Access: You may request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
  • Correction: You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate personal information we hold about you.
  • Deletion: You have the right to request that we delete your personal information in certain circumstances.
  • Restriction: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
  • Data Portability: You have the right to receive your personal information in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
  • Objection: You have the right to object to our processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.
  • Withdraw Consent: If we rely on your consent to process your personal information, you have the right to withdraw that consent at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information provided in the "Contact Us" section of this Privacy Policy.

8.1 Marketing Communications

You can opt out of receiving marketing communications from us by:

  • Clicking the "unsubscribe" link in any marketing email we send
  • Contacting us using the information in the "Contact Us" section
  • Updating your communication preferences in your account settings

Please note that even if you opt out of marketing communications, we may still send you service-related communications, such as booking confirmations and updates to our policies.

9. Data Retention

We will retain your personal information only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, regulatory, tax, accounting, or reporting requirements.

In determining the appropriate retention period for personal information, we consider:

  • The amount, nature, and sensitivity of the personal information
  • The potential risk of harm from unauthorized use or disclosure
  • The purposes for which we process the information
  • Whether we can achieve those purposes through other means
  • Legal, regulatory, and contractual requirements

In some circumstances, we may anonymize your personal information so that it can no longer be associated with you, in which case we may use such information without further notice to you.

10. Children's Privacy

Our Site and services are not intended for children under 16 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us, and we will take steps to delete such information from our systems.

When booking travel for children under 16, a parent or guardian must provide the necessary information and consent to the processing of the child's data.

11. Third-Party Links

Our Site may contain links to third-party websites, services, or applications that are not operated by us. If you click on a third-party link, you will be directed to that third party's site. We have no control over and assume no responsibility for the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites or services. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of every site you visit.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update our Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date at the top of this Privacy Policy.

You are advised to review this Privacy Policy periodically for any changes. Changes to this Privacy Policy are effective when they are posted on this page.

For significant changes, we will make reasonable efforts to provide more prominent notice, such as sending an email notification or displaying a banner on our Site.

13. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us at:

Soft Compass
760 Jane Cove
Edwardbury, ST16 3AP
United Kingdom

Email: [email protected]
Phone: +44 0216 358 045

For data subjects in the European Union, please note that our Data Protection Officer can be contacted at [email protected].

14. Complaints

If you have a concern about our handling of your personal information, please contact us first so we can address your concern. If you are not satisfied with our response, you have the right to lodge a complaint with the relevant data protection authority in your jurisdiction.

For UK residents, this is the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), which can be contacted at ico.org.uk.