Privacy Policy

TravelGuideConnect operates the website at travelguideconnect.com. We are a marketplace platform connecting users with independent services and drivers. We are not a tour operator, employer, or data broker.

We collect only what is necessary to run the platform:

• Account information - your name, email address, and password when you register.
• Profile information - for providers: bio, photos, location, services, and pricing that you choose to make public. For businesses: business name, category, address, hours, and product listings.
• Business verification data - for businesses and providers: government-issued ID, business registration documents, proof of address, and selfie photos submitted during onboarding and verification.
• Booking and order data - dates, services, cart items, order status, and checkout details for bookings and store orders made through the platform.
• Messages - direct messages exchanged between users and providers/businesses, including real-time delivery via Pusher. Admin broadcast messages sent to your account are also stored.
• Location data - for providers and businesses: your service area and business address. For transportation providers: real-time GPS location when actively sharing during a booking.
• Usage data - pages visited, searches, cart activity, and interactions, collected automatically for analytics, personalization, and moderation.
• Device information - browser type, IP address, and device identifiers for security.

• To operate and improve the TravelGuideConnect platform.
• To verify provider and business profiles and maintain platform safety.
• To process and display store listings, cart items, and order history.
• To personalize your browsing experience based on location and preferences.
• To send transactional emails — booking confirmations, order updates, email verification, password resets, and admin broadcasts.
• To moderate content (including photos and listings) and enforce Community Standards.
• To respond to support requests.
• To comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell your personal data to third parties. Ever.

We process your information to perform our contract with you, operate our legitimate marketplace interests, keep users and providers safe, comply with legal obligations, and where appropriate, based on your consent.

When you create an account you acknowledge this policy and consent to the storage and processing necessary to provide messaging, bookings, order management, fraud prevention, and account security.

TravelGuideConnect does not process payments. All financial transactions occur directly between users and providers outside the platform. We have no access to payment card details and are not liable for financial disputes.

Your data is stored using cloud infrastructure providers and security controls appropriate to the service. We use HTTPS/TLS for data in transit, hashed passwords for account credentials, access controls for internal systems, and secure session cookies for authentication.

No system is perfectly secure. If we become aware of a breach affecting your data, we will notify you promptly.

We use session cookies for authentication (NextAuth) and analytics cookies to understand platform usage. You can disable cookies in your browser settings, though some features may not work correctly without them.

We use the following third-party services, each governed by their own privacy policies:

• Supabase - database hosting
• Cloudinary - image storage and delivery
• Vercel - hosting and edge delivery
• Pusher - real-time messaging
• Resend / Nodemailer - transactional email delivery

We keep personal data only as long as reasonably necessary for account operation, security, dispute handling, audit trails, and compliance with applicable law. We may retain limited records after account deletion where required for fraud prevention, tax, litigation, or regulatory reasons.

You have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you.
• Correct inaccurate information on your profile.
• Request deletion of your account and associated data.
• Withdraw consent for optional data processing at any time.

Submit requests to info@travelguideconnect.com. We will respond within 30 days.

Because our service providers and infrastructure may operate in multiple countries, your information may be processed outside your home jurisdiction. By using the platform, you acknowledge that such transfers may occur subject to reasonable contractual and security safeguards.

TravelGuideConnect is not intended for users under 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from minors. If we become aware that a minor has registered, we will delete their account promptly.

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. We will notify registered users of material changes by in-app message or email. Continued use constitutes acceptance.

Privacy questions? info@travelguideconnect.com