Last updated: January 15, 2025
1. Introduction
Culture Travel History Journeys LLC, a limited liability company organized under the laws of the State of New York, with its principal business address at 99 Wall Street, Suite 5868, New York, NY 10005, United States of America, in New York County (this address is referred to in this policy as our "New York office"), operates the website culturetravelhistory.com and related booking and client services for curated heritage tours, museum weekends, scholar-led packages, private guide arrangements, and associated travel planning (collectively, the "Services"). This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, disclose, store, and protect personal information when you interact with us online, by telephone, by email, or through third-party systems that we use to deliver the Services.
This policy applies to visitors to our website, individuals who submit inquiries or request brochures or itineraries, clients who reserve or purchase travel arrangements, and anyone whose personal information we otherwise receive in connection with the Services. By accessing our website, submitting a form, or purchasing or using the Services, you acknowledge that you have read this Privacy Policy and understand our practices regarding personal information, subject to any additional terms that may apply to a specific product, promotion, or contract.
We are committed to handling personal information responsibly and in accordance with applicable law, including privacy and data security requirements that apply to businesses operating in the State of New York and New York County. This document is designed to give you a clear picture of what we collect, why we collect it, who may receive it, how long we keep it, and what choices and rights you may have. If any provision of this policy conflicts with a written agreement you have signed with us, the terms of that agreement will control to the extent of the conflict, solely with respect to the subject matter of that agreement.
We do not sell your personal information to third parties in exchange for money, and we do not use your personal information in ways that are incompatible with the purposes described in this policy without providing appropriate notice and, where required, obtaining your consent. Certain activities described below involve service providers and travel industry partners who process information on our behalf or jointly with us; those relationships are governed by contracts and professional standards, as further explained in the sections that follow.
2. Information We Collect
Depending on how you interact with Culture Travel History Journeys LLC, we may collect the categories of information described below. We collect only what is reasonably necessary to operate our business, fulfill travel arrangements, comply with law, and communicate with you in a professional manner.
Identity and contact details
We collect names, postal addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers, and similar identifiers that you provide when you complete inquiry forms on culturetravelhistory.com, correspond with us by email at [email protected] or [email protected], call our office at +1 (646) 603-7841, or provide information through a travel registration or booking process. If you book on behalf of a group, we may collect names and contact details for additional travelers when required to complete reservations.
Travel preferences and itinerary-related information
To design and operate heritage tours, museum weekends, scholar-led packages, and private guide experiences, we collect information about your travel interests, preferred destinations, travel dates, pacing, accommodation expectations, dietary or accessibility needs when you choose to share them, language preferences, and other trip-specific details. This information helps us match you to suitable departures, prepare itineraries, coordinate with local guides and venues, and meet reasonable service expectations before and during travel.
Booking, reservation, and payment-related data
When you reserve travel with us, we collect booking references, tour or package selections, pricing, deposit and payment status, billing address, and transaction records. Payment card numbers and similar sensitive payment credentials are typically collected and processed by our payment processors or financial institutions rather than stored on our own servers. We may receive limited payment metadata, such as partial card digits, transaction identifiers, authorization results, and refund records, as necessary to confirm payment and resolve billing questions.
Account, authentication, and communications
If we provide you with an account, client portal, or secure link for documents, we may collect login identifiers, password reset requests, and security-related logs. We also maintain records of your communications with us, including email threads, call notes taken by our staff in the ordinary course of business, and messages sent through web forms, so that we can respond to inquiries, document agreements, and provide consistent service.
Device, browser, and online technical information
When you visit culturetravelhistory.com, our hosting environment and analytics tools may automatically collect technical information such as Internet Protocol address, browser type and version, device type, operating system, referring URL, pages viewed, date and time of access, and general geographic information derived from IP data at a regional or city level. We use this information to secure our systems, understand how visitors use the site, improve performance, and detect fraud or abuse.
3. How We Collect Information
We collect personal information through several channels, including direct interactions, automated technologies, and trusted partners. Understanding these channels helps you see where your data originates and how you can control certain types of collection.
Forms and direct submissions
When you complete contact forms, brochure requests, waitlist sign-ups, newsletter subscriptions where offered, or pre-departure questionnaires, you provide information voluntarily. Fields marked as required are necessary for us to respond or to fulfill the request; optional fields help us tailor recommendations. You should not submit sensitive information unless a form specifically requests it for travel planning or health and safety purposes related to a booked trip.
Cookies and similar technologies
Our website may use cookies, local storage, pixels, and similar technologies to remember preferences, measure site traffic, and support security features. These technologies may collect identifiers and usage data as described in our Cookie Policy. You can manage certain cookies through your browser settings and, where applicable, through our cookie banner or preference tools. For more detail, see Section 7 below.
Analytics and performance tools
We may use third-party analytics services to understand aggregate usage patterns, such as which pages are most visited, how long visitors stay on a page, and general navigation paths. Where permitted, these tools may set cookies or read device information. We configure analytics to reduce unnecessary identification of individuals and to use data in aggregate or pseudonymous form where feasible.
Booking systems, email platforms, and operational software
We use customer relationship management systems, email service providers, booking and itinerary management tools, calendar systems, document storage, and accounting software. Personal information you provide enters these systems when our staff enter data, when forms integrate with our tools, or when booking platforms synchronize reservation details. Each provider processes data according to its agreement with us and applicable law.
Information from travel partners
Hotels, ground operators, airlines, museums, private guides, insurance providers, and other travel partners may send us information necessary to confirm reservations, manage manifests, or handle disruptions. We may combine that information with what you provided directly to ensure coherent service delivery.
4. How We Use Your Information
We use personal information for legitimate business purposes that are consistent with your relationship with Culture Travel History Journeys LLC and with applicable legal requirements. We do not use personal information in ways that are materially incompatible with the purposes described here without providing notice as required by law.
Processing bookings and delivering the Services
We use identity, contact, travel preference, and payment-related information to prepare quotes, confirm reservations, issue itineraries, coordinate transportation and lodging, assign guides, communicate meeting points and schedule changes, and address issues that arise before or during travel. This processing is necessary to perform our contract with you or to take steps at your request before entering a contract.
Communicating about tours and travel arrangements
We send service-related messages such as booking confirmations, payment reminders, pre-departure instructions, safety notices, and responses to your questions. We may also contact you by phone or email using the numbers and addresses you provided, including through our primary inbox at [email protected] and operational messages that may involve [email protected] for internal coordination and client support.
Marketing and client engagement
Where permitted by law and your preferences, we may use contact information to send newsletters, tour announcements, cultural content, or invitations to events. You may opt out of promotional emails by using unsubscribe links or by contacting us as described in Section 13. We do not require you to consent to promotional marketing as a condition of purchasing travel where such conditioning is prohibited.
Improving services and website experience
We analyze feedback, correspondence, and aggregated usage data to refine itineraries, train staff, improve website usability, and develop new offerings. We may use survey responses or post-trip evaluations for quality assurance and marketing testimonials only if we have obtained appropriate permission to attribute quotes.
Legal, security, and compliance
We use personal information to comply with applicable laws, respond to lawful requests from public authorities, enforce our terms, protect the rights and safety of clients, staff, and partners, investigate fraud, and defend legal claims. We also use technical data to monitor for unauthorized access and to maintain the integrity of our systems.
5. Information Sharing and Disclosure
We share personal information only where necessary to operate the Services, meet your travel needs, or comply with law. We require recipients to protect the information appropriately and use it only for the purposes we disclose.
Service providers
We engage vendors that host our website, provide email delivery, process payments, supply customer support tools, store documents, and perform similar functions. These service providers access personal information only to perform services on our instructions and are subject to contractual confidentiality and security obligations.
Travel partners and local operators
To deliver itineraries, we share relevant details with hotels, airlines, rail operators, coach companies, museums, site authorities, licensed guides, restaurants, and insurance carriers as needed for reservations, ticketing, access permissions, dietary accommodations, and emergency support. Partners may be located in the United States or abroad; when information is transferred across borders, we take steps that are appropriate under the circumstances to safeguard personal information.
Professional advisers
We may disclose information to attorneys, accountants, insurers, and banks when necessary for corporate governance, litigation, regulatory compliance, or financing, subject to professional obligations of confidentiality.
Legal requirements and protection of rights
We may disclose personal information if required by subpoena, court order, or other lawful process, or if we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to protect the safety of any person, address fraud or security incidents, or enforce agreements. We will scrutinize requests and disclose only what we believe is legally required or justified.
Business transfers
If we pursue a merger, acquisition, financing, reorganization, or sale of assets, personal information may be transferred as part of that transaction. In such cases, we will require the successor to honor this Privacy Policy or provide notice of changes consistent with applicable law.
No sale of personal data
We do not sell personal information to third parties for monetary consideration. We do not share personal information with data brokers for their independent marketing purposes. If our practices change in the future in a way that constitutes a "sale" under applicable state law, we will provide required notice and opt-out mechanisms.
6. Data Security
We maintain administrative, technical, and physical safeguards designed to protect personal information against unauthorized access, loss, misuse, alteration, or destruction. These measures are appropriate to the nature of the information and the risks involved, and they align with our obligations under applicable data security laws in the State of New York, including requirements that relate to reasonable safeguards for private information.
Our safeguards include, where appropriate, access controls that limit employee access to personal information on a need-to-know basis, authentication requirements for systems that store client data, encryption of data in transit using industry-standard protocols for website connections, secure configuration of servers and cloud environments, and policies governing portable devices and remote work. We work with reputable hosting and payment partners that maintain industry-recognized security practices.
No method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is completely secure. While we strive to use commercially reasonable means to protect personal information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. You can help protect your information by using strong passwords, keeping login credentials confidential, avoiding unsecured public networks when submitting sensitive details, and notifying us promptly if you suspect unauthorized access to your account or booking.
In the event of a security incident that compromises private information and requires notification under applicable law, we will follow required timelines and methods for informing affected individuals and regulators, and we will take steps to mitigate harm and prevent recurrence.
7. Cookie Policy Reference
This Privacy Policy works together with our Cookie Policy, which describes the types of cookies and similar technologies we use on culturetravelhistory.com, how long they may persist, and how you can control them. Cookies help us remember preferences, maintain secure sessions, measure site performance, and understand aggregate visitor behavior. Some cookies are strictly necessary for the website to function; others are optional or used only with your consent where required.
For full details, including categories of cookies, purposes, and third-party providers where applicable, please review our Cookie Policy at cookie-policy.html. If you disable certain cookies through your browser, parts of the website may not work as intended, and some features related to forms or saved preferences may be unavailable.
8. Your Rights
Depending on where you live and the nature of our relationship, you may have rights regarding your personal information. Residents of the State of New York benefit from protections under the Stop Hacks and Improve Electronic Data Security Act and related provisions that require businesses to maintain reasonable safeguards for private information and, in certain circumstances, to provide notice when a breach affects private information. Additional consumer privacy laws may apply depending on legislative updates; we will adjust our practices and this policy as needed to remain compliant.
Access and portability
You may request confirmation of whether we hold personal information about you and ask for a copy of certain information in a readable format, subject to verification of your identity and exceptions permitted by law.
Correction
If personal information we maintain is inaccurate or incomplete, you may request that we correct it, particularly for information that could affect bookings, billing, or emergency contacts.
Deletion
You may request deletion of personal information where applicable law allows and where we no longer have a legitimate need to retain it. We may retain certain records where retention is necessary to complete transactions, meet legal obligations, resolve disputes, or enforce agreements.
Opting out of marketing
You may unsubscribe from promotional emails using the link in those messages or by contacting us. If you have an account or client profile where preference centers are available, you may update settings there as well.
Non-discrimination
We will not deny services, charge different prices, or provide a different level of service solely because you exercised privacy rights granted by applicable law, unless permitted by law in a narrow set of circumstances.
How to submit requests
To exercise rights, contact us using the details in Section 13. We may need to verify your identity before processing requests. Authorized agents may submit requests on your behalf where the law allows, provided we can verify authorization. We will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law or, if no specific timeframe applies, within a reasonable period.
9. Data Retention
We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Retention periods vary depending on the type of information, whether a booking was completed, and whether we have an ongoing legal or business need to keep records.
Booking records, contracts, itineraries, payment documentation, and related correspondence are typically retained for a number of years to support accounting, tax, and consumer protection requirements, to resolve disputes, and to document services provided. Marketing contact lists are refreshed periodically, and individuals who unsubscribe are suppressed from future promotional sends as required. Website server logs and security logs are retained for limited periods consistent with troubleshooting and security monitoring needs, then deleted or aggregated.
When personal information is no longer needed, we take steps to delete, anonymize, or aggregate it so that it can no longer be linked to an identifiable individual, subject to legal holds or archival policies that require longer storage.
10. Third-Party Links
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including tourism boards, museums, airlines, payment pages, or partner organizations. This Privacy Policy applies only to Culture Travel History Journeys LLC and culturetravelhistory.com. We are not responsible for the privacy practices, content, or security of external sites, even if we provide links for your convenience.
When you leave our website, we encourage you to read the privacy policy of each site you visit, especially before you submit personal information or make purchases. If you have questions about how a partner handles data in connection with a booking we arranged, you may ask us for the partner's identity so you can review their policies directly.
11. Children's Privacy
The Services are not directed to individuals under 18 years of age, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18 through our website or marketing channels. If you are a parent or guardian and believe that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 18, please contact us immediately using the information in Section 13. Upon verification, we will take steps to delete such information from our active systems, consistent with applicable law.
If you are booking travel that includes minors as participants, the responsible adult should provide information about those travelers only as needed for reservations and safety, and we rely on the submitting adult to have authority to provide that information.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our Services, legal requirements, industry practices, or technology. When we make material changes, we will post the revised policy on culturetravelhistory.com and update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. For significant changes that require additional notice under law, we may also send an email to the address associated with your account or booking, or display a prominent notice on our website.
Your continued use of the website or Services after the effective date of an updated policy constitutes your acknowledgment of the revised terms, except where your explicit consent is required for new processing activities. We encourage you to review this page periodically when you interact with us.
13. Contact Information
If you have questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact Culture Travel History Journeys LLC using the following channels. For general privacy inquiries and client correspondence, email us at [email protected]. For administrative, operational, or technical matters related to bookings and records, you may also contact [email protected].
You may call us at +1 (646) 603-7841 during our published business hours. You may send written correspondence to our New York office: Culture Travel History Journeys LLC, 99 Wall Street, Suite 5868, New York, NY 10005, United States, State of New York, New York County. Please include sufficient detail in your message so that we can identify your request and respond appropriately.
If you believe we have not addressed your concern, you may have the right to lodge a complaint with a state or federal consumer protection agency or data protection authority where applicable law provides such a right. We welcome the opportunity to resolve issues directly when you contact us first.