Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

AdvGuides, LLC, operating as The Adventure Collective ("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 websites within The Adventure Collective Network and use our adventure tourism marketplace platform. Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access the site.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Personal Information

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

• Register for an account
• Make a booking or purchase
• Subscribe to our newsletter
• Contact us for customer support
• Leave reviews or ratings
• Apply to become an adventure guide or operator

This information may include:

• Name and contact information (email, phone number, address)
• Payment information (processed securely through third-party payment processors)
• Date of birth and government-issued ID (for age verification and safety purposes)
• Emergency contact information
• Physical fitness information and medical disclosures (for adventure activity safety)
• Preferences and interests related to adventure activities

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you access our platform, we may automatically collect:

• Device information (IP address, browser type, operating system)
• Usage data (pages visited, time spent, click patterns)
• Location data (with your permission)
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies

2.3 Third-Party Information

We may receive information from third-party booking partners (FareHarbor, Viator), review platforms (TripAdvisor, Google Reviews), and social media platforms if you choose to connect your accounts.

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect to:

• Process bookings and facilitate adventure experiences
• Communicate with you about your reservations and account
• Ensure safety and verify eligibility for adventure activities
• Provide customer support and respond to inquiries
• Send marketing communications (with your consent)
• Improve our platform and personalize your experience
• Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, and security incidents
• Comply with legal obligations and enforce our terms
• Aggregate and analyze data for business insights

4. How We Share Your Information

We may share your information with:

4.1 Adventure Operators and Guides

When you book an adventure, we share necessary information with the tour operator or guide to facilitate your experience, including your name, contact information, emergency contacts, and relevant health/fitness disclosures.

4.2 Service Providers

We work with third-party service providers who assist us with:

• Payment processing (Stripe, PayPal)
• Booking management (FareHarbor, Viator APIs)
• Email communications and marketing
• Analytics and performance monitoring
• Customer support tools
• Cloud hosting and data storage

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government regulation, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

4.4 Business Transfers

In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred to the acquiring entity.

5. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, and similar technologies to:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Analyze site traffic and user behavior
• Deliver personalized content and advertisements
• Measure marketing campaign effectiveness

You can control cookie preferences through your browser settings or our Cookie Consent Manager. See our Cookies and Marketing Preferences page for more details.

6. Your Privacy Rights

6.1 General Rights

You have the right to:

• Access and obtain a copy of your personal information
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Object to processing of your information
• Restrict certain uses of your information
• Data portability (receive your data in a structured format)
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

6.2 California Residents (CCPA)

California residents have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):

• Right to know what personal information is collected, used, shared, or sold
• Right to delete personal information
• Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
• Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights

See our Do Not Sell My Personal Information page for CCPA-specific options.

6.3 European Residents (GDPR)

If you are located in the European Economic Area (EEA), you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), including the rights listed above and the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.

6.4 Exercising Your Rights

To exercise your privacy rights, please contact us at info@advcollective.com or call 828-333-7155. We will respond to your request within 30 days.

7. Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure socket layer (SSL) technology
• Regular security assessments and audits
• Access controls and authentication requirements
• Employee training on data protection

However, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. When your information is no longer needed, we will securely delete or anonymize it.

Specific retention periods include:

• Account information: Retained while your account is active and for 7 years after closure
• Booking records: Retained for 7 years for legal and tax purposes
• Marketing data: Retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion
• Support communications: Retained for 3 years

9. Children's Privacy

Our platform is not intended for children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately, and we will delete such information.

For adventure bookings involving minors, we require parental or guardian consent and contact information for safety purposes.

10. International Data Transfers

Your information may be transferred to and processed in countries other than your country of residence, including the United States. These countries may have different data protection laws. We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information in accordance with this Privacy Policy and applicable laws.

11. Third-Party Links

Our platform may contain links to third-party websites, including tour operator websites, booking platforms, and social media. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to review their privacy policies before providing any personal information.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date. Your continued use of our platform after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us: