Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

Blank Canvas Destinations is an independent travel business operated by Alka Shah as a sole trader. We are a member of Protected Trust Services (PTS), membership number 6575.

For the purposes of UK data protection law, Blank Canvas Destinations is responsible for the personal information we collect and use in connection with our own business activities.

Contact: info@blankcanvasdestinations.com

2. Information We Collect

When you enquire about or book travel with us, we may collect information including:

• your name and contact details;
• date of birth;
• passport and nationality information where required for travel arrangements;
• travel preferences and requirements;
• accommodation and rooming requirements;
• dietary requirements;
• emergency contact details;
• information about your booking, itinerary and travel arrangements;
• correspondence between you and Blank Canvas Destinations; and
• payment or transaction information relevant to your booking.

3. How We Use Your Information

We may use your personal information to:

• respond to enquiries and prepare travel proposals;
• arrange and administer your booking;
• communicate with hotels, tour operators, destination management companies, guides, transport providers and other suppliers involved in your journey;
• provide information and assistance before, during and after your trip;
• process or facilitate payments;
• meet our legal, regulatory and accounting obligations;
• manage our relationship with you; and
• send you information about future Blank Canvas Destinations journeys where you have agreed to receive such communications.

4. Sharing Your Information

Travel arrangements often require personal information to be shared with third parties. Depending on your booking, we may provide relevant information to tour operators, destination management companies, hotels, transport providers, guides and other travel suppliers where this is necessary to arrange or deliver your journey.

We will only share information that is reasonably required for that purpose.

Where payments or financial protection arrangements are administered through a Trust Service or another authorised payment provider, your information may also be processed in accordance with that organisation's own privacy policy.

We do not sell your personal information.

5. Sensitive Personal Information

Certain information you provide, such as information concerning health, accessibility requirements or dietary requirements that may reveal health or religious information, can constitute special category personal data under UK data protection law.

Where such information is required to make appropriate travel arrangements, we will ask for it only where necessary and process or share it only where we have an appropriate legal basis to do so.

6. International Travel

Because we arrange international travel, it may sometimes be necessary to provide your personal information to suppliers located outside the United Kingdom.

Data protection laws in those countries may differ from those in the UK. Where applicable, we will take appropriate steps to ensure that personal information is transferred and handled in accordance with UK data protection requirements.

7. Payments

Blank Canvas Destinations does not intentionally retain full credit or debit card details. Where payments are processed through a Trust, a tour operator, supplier or authorised payment provider, payment information will be handled in accordance with that provider's security and privacy procedures.

8. How Long We Keep Your Information

We retain personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including fulfilling bookings and meeting legal, accounting, tax and regulatory requirements.

When information is no longer required, it will be securely deleted or otherwise disposed of.

9. Marketing

We may occasionally send you information about future journeys, events or travel inspiration where you have consented to receive marketing communications or where we are otherwise permitted to do so by law.

You can unsubscribe at any time by contacting us or using the unsubscribe facility included in our marketing communications.

10. Cookies and Website Information

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to enable the website to function, understand how visitors use it and improve the user experience.

Where required by law, non-essential cookies will only be used with your consent.

11. Your Rights

Under UK data protection law, you may have rights in relation to your personal information, including the right to:

• request access to information we hold about you;
• request correction of inaccurate information;
• request deletion of your information in certain circumstances;
• restrict or object to certain processing;
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and
• request transfer of certain information where applicable.

12. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our business, travel arrangements or legal requirements.

The latest version will always be published on the Blank Canvas Destinations website.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact Blank Canvas Destinations using the contact details above.

You also have the right to raise a concern with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), the UK's independent data protection regulator.