Privacy Policy for Aussie Escapes Travel
Introduction
At Aussie Escapes Travel, we are committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal data responsibly. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, disclose, and protect your information when you engage with our services, including bespoke itinerary planning, group tour bookings, adventure travel packages, luxury and honeymoon tours, corporate travel management, visa and travel insurance assistance, cruise bookings, and accommodation sourcing.
Information We Collect
We collect various types of information to provide and improve our travel services to you. This includes:
- Personal Identification Information: Name, address, email address, phone number, date of birth, gender, nationality, passport details, visa information, and any other unique identifiers.
- Payment Information: Credit/debit card details (processed securely and not stored by us), bank account information for refunds.
- Travel Information: Travel dates, destination preferences, dietary requirements, special needs or medical conditions (if voluntarily provided to ensure suitable arrangements), emergency contact details, and travel insurance details.
- Communication Data: Records of your correspondence with us via email, phone, or other channels.
- Usage Data: Information about how you interact with our online platform, such as browser type, pages viewed, access times, and IP addresses. This helps us improve our website and services.
How We Collect Your Information
We collect information in several ways:
- Directly from You: When you make an inquiry, book a tour, request a quote, subscribe to our newsletter, or communicate with us directly.
- From Third Parties: Such as airlines, hotels, tour operators, and other service providers when necessary to fulfill your travel arrangements.
- Automated Technologies: Through cookies and similar tracking technologies when you visit our website.
How We Use Your Information
Your information is used for the following purposes:
- To Provide Services: To process your bookings, create bespoke itineraries, arrange flights, accommodation, tours, and other travel components.
- To Communicate with You: To confirm bookings, send updates about your travel plans, respond to your inquiries, and provide customer support.
- For Legal and Safety Reasons: To comply with legal obligations, enforce our terms and conditions, or protect the rights, property, or safety of Aussie Escapes Travel, our customers, or others.
- For Marketing: To send you promotional offers, newsletters, and information about our services that may be of interest to you, based on your preferences. You can opt-out at any time.
- To Improve Our Services: To analyze usage patterns, troubleshoot problems, and enhance the functionality and user experience of our online platform.
Disclosure of Your Information
We may share your information with third parties only when necessary to provide our services or as required by law:
- Service Providers: Airlines, hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, ground transport providers, and other travel-related service providers essential for your booking.
- Third-Party Vendors: Companies that provide services on our behalf, such as payment processors, IT support, marketing services, and analytics providers. These vendors are obligated to protect your information.
- Legal and Regulatory Authorities: When required by law, subpoena, or other legal process, or if we believe in good faith that disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
When sharing your data with international service providers, we ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your privacy rights in accordance with applicable data protection laws.
Data Security
We implement robust technical and organizational measures to protect your personal data from unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. This includes encryption, firewalls, secure server environments, and strict access controls. While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the internet or method of electronic storage is 100% secure.
Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes for which it was collected, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements. When your personal information is no longer needed, we will securely dispose of it.
Your Rights
Under Australian privacy law and other applicable data protection regulations (such as GDPR for individuals within the EU), you have certain rights regarding your personal data:
- Access: The right to request access to the personal data we hold about you.
- Correction: The right to request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data.
- Deletion: The right to request the deletion of your personal data, subject to certain legal exceptions.
- Objection/Restriction: The right to object to or request restriction of the processing of your personal data in certain circumstances.
- Data Portability: The right to receive your personal data in a structured, commonly used, and machine-readable format.
- Withdraw Consent: Where processing is based on your consent, the right to withdraw that consent at any time. This will not affect the lawfulness of processing before its withdrawal.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details provided below. We may ask you to verify your identity before responding to your request.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Our online platform uses cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance user experience, analyze website traffic, and personalize content. You can set your browser to refuse all or some browser cookies, or to alert you when websites set or access cookies. Please note that if you disable or refuse cookies, some parts of this website may become inaccessible or not function properly.
Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites for your convenience and information. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of these external sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. We will post any changes on this page and encourage you to review it periodically. Your continued use of our services after any changes indicates your acceptance of the updated policy.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us at:
Aussie Escapes Travel
15 / 22-26 Flinders Street,
Melbourne, VIC 3000,
Australia