Key Sections of the Privacy Policy:
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Introduction & Scope – Outlines what this policy covers.
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What Data We Collect – Explains the types of data collected.
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How We Use Your Data – Describes the purposes of processing personal data.
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Legal Basis for Processing – Specifies the legal grounds under GDPR.
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How We Share Your Data – Explains when data is shared with third parties.
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International Data Transfers – Details about transferring data outside the EU.
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Data Retention – States how long data is kept.
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Your Rights (GDPR Compliance) – Lists users’ rights under GDPR.
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Security Measures – Explains how user data is protected.
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Cookies & Tracking Technologies – Describes cookie usage.
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Children’s Privacy – Addresses data collection for minors.
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Changes to the Policy – Covers updates to the policy.
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Contact Information – Provides details for user inquiries.
Privacy Policy for Happy Lodgings
Effective Date: 22 March 2015
Last Updated: 1 April 2025
Welcome to Happy Lodgings! Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store, and protect your personal data in compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU 2016/679) and other applicable data protection laws.
1. Scope & Applicability
This Privacy Policy applies to all users of Happy Lodgings, including:
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Guests booking vacation rentals
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Hosts listing their properties
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Visitors browsing our website/app
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Anyone interacting with our services
By using our platform, you agree to this policy. If you do not agree, please do not use our services.
2. What Data We Collect
We collect different types of personal data to provide our services:
2.1 Personal Information You Provide
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Name, email, phone number
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Address and payment details
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Profile information (e.g., bio, profile picture)
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Booking details (dates, preferences, etc.)
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Communications with hosts/guests
2.2 Data Collected Automatically
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IP address, device type, browser type
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Usage data (e.g., pages visited, actions taken)
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Cookies and tracking technologies
2.3 Third-Party Data
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Payment processors may collect financial data
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Social media accounts (if linked)
3. How We Use Your Data
We process your data to:
✅ Facilitate bookings and transactions
✅ Improve user experience
✅ Provide customer support
✅ Prevent fraud and ensure security
✅ Send marketing and promotional content (with consent)
✅ Comply with legal obligations
4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR Compliance)
Under GDPR, we process personal data based on:
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Contractual necessity – To provide services (e.g., processing bookings)
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Legitimate interests – To improve and secure our platform
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User consent – For marketing communications and cookies
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Legal compliance – When required by law
You can withdraw your consent at any time.
5. How We Share Your Data
We do not sell your data. We only share it with:
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Hosts & Guests (to complete bookings)
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Service Providers (e.g., payment processors, customer support)
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Legal Authorities (when required by law)
All third parties must comply with GDPR and protect your data.
6. International Data Transfers
If we transfer your data outside the European Economic Area (EEA), we ensure:
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Adequate protection (e.g., EU-U.S. Data Privacy Framework)
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Standard Contractual Clauses (SCCs) for lawful transfers
7. Data Retention
We retain your data for as long as necessary to:
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Provide our services
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Comply with legal obligations
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Resolve disputes
Retention periods:
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Account data: Until you delete your account
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Booking history: 5 years (for legal compliance)
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Cookies: As per our Cookie Policy
8. Your Rights Under GDPR
You have the right to:
🔹 Access your personal data
🔹 Correct inaccurate data
🔹 Delete your data (Right to be forgotten)
🔹 Restrict processing of your data
🔹 Object to data processing
🔹 Withdraw consent for marketing communications
🔹 Data portability (request a copy of your data)
To exercise your rights, contact us at: [Insert Contact Email]
9. Security Measures
We use industry-standard security measures, including:
🔒 Encryption for data storage & transactions
🔒 Access controls to limit data access
🔒 Regular security audits
Despite these measures, no system is 100% secure.
10. Cookies & Tracking Technologies
We use cookies to:
🍪 Improve website functionality
🍪 Personalize content
🍪 Analyze user behavior
You can manage cookies in your browser settings. See our Cookie Policy for details.
11. Children’s Privacy
Happy Lodgings does not knowingly collect data from individuals under 16 years old. If we discover such data, we will delete it.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this policy from time to time. We will notify you of significant changes via:
📢 Email notification
📢 Platform announcements
Check this page regularly for updates.
13. Contact Information
For questions or requests regarding your data, contact our Data Protection Officer (DPO):
📧 Email: wecare@happylodgings.com
If you believe we have mishandled your data, you can file a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority (DPA).