Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

Welcome to LocalKokani("we", "our", "us", or "the Platform").

LocalKokani is an online discovery and listing platform that helps travelers explore hotels, resorts, homestays, villas, restaurants, Khanavals, and other local businesses across the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India.

We respect your privacy and are committed to handling your personal information responsibly. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, when we share it, and the choices available to you when you visit or use our website.

This policy applies to all website visitors, travelers, customers, property owners, restaurant owners, and other business partners who interact with LocalKokani.

By using our website, you acknowledge that you have read this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

We may collect the following categories of information, depending on how you use our website.

2.1 Information Provided by Travelers and Customers

When you contact us or submit an enquiry, we may collect:

• Name
• Mobile number and WhatsApp number
• Email address, if provided
• Destination or business you are enquiring about
• Check-in and check-out dates, where applicable
• Number of guests
• Room, dining, or other service requirements
• Budget and special requests voluntarily provided
• Messages and communications with our team

Please avoid sharing unnecessary sensitive personal information through enquiry forms or messages.

2.2 Information Provided by Business Partners

When registering a hotel, resort, homestay, villa, restaurant, Khanaval, or other business, we may collect:

• Owner's or authorized representative's name
• Business name and type
• Mobile number and WhatsApp number
• Email address
• Business address and location
• Property or restaurant descriptions
• Room details, accommodation prices, menus, food prices, and amenities
• Operating hours, availability, and service information
• Business photographs, logos, and social media links
• Business registration or licence information, where applicable
• Verification documents, where required
• Selected subscription plan and partner agreement acceptance records
• Commission-related records, where applicable

Please submit documents only through the designated registration or verification process.

2.3 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we or our service providers may collect certain technical information, where enabled:

• IP address
• Browser type and version
• Device and operating system information
• Pages visited and referring website
• Visit date, time, and approximate usage information
• Cookie identifiers and analytics information, where applicable

The information collected depends on the website features and tools actually in use.

3. How We Use Your Information

We may use your information to:

• Display hotels, resorts, homestays, villas, restaurants, and Khanavals on our platform.
• Process and review business registrations.
• Publish business listings and relevant contact information.
• Receive, manage, and forward customer enquiries.
• Connect travelers with business owners.
• Communicate with customers and partners through phone, email, or WhatsApp.
• Verify submitted business and contact information.
• Manage subscriptions, partner plans, and commission arrangements.
• Maintain records of agreement acceptance and registration activity.
• Respond to complaints, disputes, and support requests.
• Prevent fraud, misuse, and unauthorized activity.
• Improve website functionality, performance, and user experience.
• Comply with applicable legal obligations.

We will use personal information for purposes consistent with this policy and applicable law.

4. Public Business Listings

Information displayed on a business listing may be publicly accessible.

Depending on the business's selected plan and the information approved for publication, this may include:

• Business or property name
• Business category
• Location and address
• Photographs and descriptions
• Room prices, menus, and food prices
• Amenities, facilities, and operating hours
• Public business contact details
• Verified status, where applicable
• Website and social media links

For free listings where enquiries are managed by LocalKokani, customers may contact our team rather than receiving the owner's direct contact details.

For eligible paid listings, the owner's approved business contact number or WhatsApp link may be displayed so customers can contact the business directly.

Business partners should not submit personal contact details for public display unless they understand and authorize that use.

5. How We Share Information

We do not sell personal information to third parties as a business model.

We may share relevant information in the following circumstances.

5.1 With Business Owners

When a traveler submits an enquiry, we may share the information reasonably necessary for the relevant business to respond.

For example, we may share a traveler's name, contact number, requested dates, guest count, or requirements with a hotel owner for an accommodation enquiry.

For restaurant enquiries, we may share the customer's contact details and enquiry information with the restaurant where necessary to respond to the request.

We aim to share only information relevant to the enquiry.

5.2 With Service Providers

We may use third-party providers to operate our website, hosting, storage, security, communication, analytics, or technical infrastructure.

These providers may process information on our behalf as necessary to provide their services, subject to applicable requirements.

5.3 For Legal or Safety Reasons

We may disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with applicable law, respond to lawful requests, investigate suspected fraud, protect our rights, or address security concerns.

5.4 Business Transfers

If LocalKokani undergoes a merger, restructuring, acquisition, or transfer of business assets, relevant information may be transferred as permitted by applicable law.

6. WhatsApp and Third-Party Services

Our website may include links or buttons for WhatsApp, Google Maps, social media platforms, and other third-party services.

When you use these services, your interaction may be governed by the relevant third party's terms and privacy policy.

For example, clicking a WhatsApp button may open WhatsApp and share information that you choose to send in your message.

LocalKokani does not control the independent privacy practices, availability, or security of third-party platforms.

Please review the relevant third-party privacy policies before using their services.

7. Business Verification and Documents

LocalKokani may review business information and supporting documents to determine whether a listing qualifies for a Premium badge.

Depending on the business category and verification requirements, this process may involve reviewing identity details, contact information, business location, property information, or applicable registration and licence details.

Verification documents are intended for review and should not be displayed publicly unless publication is necessary, lawful, and appropriately authorized.

We do not represent our internal Premium badge as government certification or a guarantee of business quality.

We take reasonable steps to restrict access to verification information to authorized personnel and service providers who need it for legitimate purposes.

8. Data Storage and Security

We use reasonable technical and organizational safeguards intended to protect personal information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction.

Depending on our technical setup, safeguards may include access controls, authentication, secure connections, restricted document access, and backups.

However, no online platform or electronic storage method can be guaranteed to be completely secure.

Users and business partners should ensure that their account credentials and verification documents are shared only through authorized channels.

9. Data Retention

We retain information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes described in this policy, including:

• Maintaining active business listings
• Managing customer enquiries
• Administering subscriptions and commissions
• Maintaining partner agreements and acceptance records
• Resolving complaints and disputes
• Meeting applicable legal and accounting requirements
• Preventing fraud and misuse

When information is no longer required, we will take reasonable steps to delete it, anonymize it, or securely dispose of it, subject to applicable legal obligations and legitimate record-retention needs.

10. Cookies and Analytics

LocalKokani may use cookies and similar technologies to support website functionality, remember preferences, understand website traffic, and improve performance.

If analytics or advertising technologies are enabled, they may collect information about how visitors interact with our website.

You can manage cookies through your browser settings and any cookie preferences made available on our website. Blocking certain cookies may affect some website features.

For more details, please refer to our Cookie Policy.

11. Your Privacy Rights and Choices

Subject to applicable law, you may request to:

• Access personal information we hold about you.
• Correct inaccurate or incomplete information.
• Update your contact details.
• Request deletion of personal information where legally permissible.
• Withdraw consent where processing relies on consent.
• Raise concerns about how your information is handled.
• Request removal or correction of a business listing you own or are authorized to manage.

Some information may need to be retained to comply with legal obligations or resolve disputes.

To exercise these rights, contact us using the details in the Contact Us section.

We may need to verify your identity or authority before processing a request.

12. Children's Privacy

LocalKokani is intended for general audiences and business users, not specifically for children.

We do not knowingly seek to collect personal information directly from children in circumstances where parental consent or other legal requirements apply.

If you believe a child has provided personal information to us improperly, please contact us so we can review the matter and take appropriate action.

13. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to external websites operated by hotels, restaurants, social networks, mapping services, or other third parties.

We are not responsible for the content, security, or privacy practices of those websites.

Visiting an external website is subject to that website's own terms and privacy policy.

14. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when our services, website features, or legal obligations change.

The revised version will be published on this page with an updated Effective Date.

Where required by applicable law, we will provide additional notice or obtain consent for material changes.

15. Contact Us

If you have questions, requests, or complaints regarding this Privacy Policy or the handling of your personal information, please contact us.

Website: https://www.localkokani.com
Email: [email protected]

Please include sufficient information to help us identify your enquiry without sending unnecessary sensitive documents.

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