Privacy Policy

Introduction

Welcome to Stay in Smokies ("we," "our," or "us"). We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, make a reservation, or interact with our hotel services.

Please read this privacy policy carefully. If you do not agree with the terms of this privacy policy, please do not access our website or use our services.

Information We Collect

Personal Information You Provide

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

• Make a hotel reservation or booking
• Create an account on our website
• Subscribe to our newsletter or promotional communications
• Contact us with inquiries or feedback
• Participate in surveys or promotions
• Leave a review or rating for our properties

This information may include:

• Name, email address, and phone number
• Billing and payment information
• Mailing address
• Date of birth (when required for booking)
• Government-issued ID information (for check-in purposes)
• Travel preferences and special requests

Information Automatically Collected

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information, including:

• IP address and browser type
• Device information and operating system
• Pages visited and time spent on our site
• Referring website or source
• Location data (with your consent)

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for various purposes, including:

• Processing Reservations: To complete and manage your hotel bookings, process payments, and send confirmation details
• Customer Service: To respond to your inquiries, provide support, and address any issues with your stay
• Communications: To send you booking confirmations, updates, promotional offers (with your consent), and important service-related notices
• Improving Our Services: To analyze usage patterns, conduct research, and enhance our website and guest experience
• Security: To protect against fraudulent transactions and ensure the safety of our guests and properties
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes

Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website. These technologies help us:

• Remember your preferences and settings
• Keep you logged into your account
• Understand how you use our website
• Deliver personalized content and advertisements
• Analyze website traffic and performance

Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for the website to function properly (e.g., session management, booking process)
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors interact with our website
• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements and track campaign effectiveness
• Preference Cookies: Remember your choices and preferences

You can control cookies through your browser settings. However, disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of our website.

Third-Party Services

We may share your information with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our business:

• Payment Processors: To securely process credit card and other payment transactions
• Booking Platforms: Third-party reservation systems and online travel agencies
• Email Service Providers: To send transactional and marketing communications
• Analytics Providers: To help us understand website usage and improve our services
• Review Platforms: To manage and display guest reviews (e.g., Google, TripAdvisor)
• Marketing Partners: To deliver targeted advertising (with your consent)

We require all third-party service providers to maintain the confidentiality and security of your information and to use it only for the purposes for which it was disclosed.

Data Security

We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures to protect your personal information, including:

• Encryption of sensitive data in transit and at rest
• Secure socket layer (SSL) technology for data transmission
• Regular security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Access controls and authentication procedures
• Employee training on data protection practices

While we strive to protect your personal information, no method of transmission over the Internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to maintaining industry-standard protections.

Your Rights

Depending on your location, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information:

General Rights

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal retention requirements)
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time

GDPR Rights (European Economic Area Residents)

If you are a resident of the European Economic Area, you have additional rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR):

• Right to data portability
• Right to restrict processing
• Right to object to processing
• Right to withdraw consent
• Right to lodge a complaint with a supervisory authority

CCPA Rights (California Residents)

If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) provides you with specific rights:

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

We do not sell your personal information to third parties.

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. Factors that determine retention periods include:

• The duration of your relationship with us
• Legal obligations to retain data
• Resolution of disputes or enforcement of agreements
• Business operational requirements

Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately, and we will take steps to delete such information.

Updates to This Policy

We may update this privacy policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors. When we make material changes, we will:

• Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Post a notice on our website
• Send an email notification to registered users (for significant changes)

We encourage you to review this privacy policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Contact Information

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

We will respond to your inquiry within 30 days. For GDPR-related requests, we will respond within the timeframes required by applicable law.