Privacy Policy
Last Modified: October 4, 2024
Visit San Antonio (“VSA,” “we”, “us”, or “our”) values its customers, their information, their privacy, and their trust. This Privacy Policy (“Policy”) applies to information collected online from users of the VSA website, VisitSanAntonio.com (the “Site”), from information you provide us and explains how we collect, use, and protect that information. This Policy applies to VSA’s collection, use, processing, storage, and transfer of information. For the purposes of this Policy, unless otherwise noted, all references to the Site, includes VSA’s online forms, mobile applications, text messages, and other electronic messages between you and the Site.
Throughout this Policy, we refer to the term “Personal Information.” “Personal Information” means data which identifies, describes, is associated with, or could be linked to an individual, such as a name, birthdate, postal address, email address, telephone number, driver’s license number, Social Security Number or other government-issued identification number, credit card number, or other unique identifiers.
Personal Information does not include anonymous or aggregated data that can no longer be used to identify a specific person, even if combined with other data. Also, we may collect information related to businesses, companies, institutions, or other entities rather than individuals (“Business Information”). We do not consider Business Information, such as title, employer’s name, work email, work phone number, work address, and other similar business information, to be Personal Information.
Information We Collect
We collect information about you in several ways: 1) directly from you; and 2) indirectly from you via your use of the Site.
Information Collected Directly From You
When you contact us through our website, online forms, communicate with us via email messages, or mobile application we will collect certain Personal Information about you so that we may adequately respond to your inquiry or assist you with information for your trip to San Antonio. To do this, we may collect your first name, email address, zip code, phone number, and state of residence, country and information about interests when visiting San Antonio as well as the contents of any messages/texts you may send us. We may also collect your phone number in connection with our Site to provide you with relevant and the most up-to-date content to send you text messages related to your inquiries or proposed visit. You may opt out of our text program at any time by sending the SMS message “STOP” to any of the SMS messages you receive. If you wish to re-subscribe to our text program, you can reply to one of our SMS messages with START, YES, or UNSTOP. If you opt-out from receiving marketing text messages, we may still need to send you communications about your account, membership, and other matters.
Information Collected Indirectly from You
When you visit our Site, we may collect information about your visit and maintain that information in our web server logs, which are records of the activities on our Site. The servers automatically capture and store the information electronically. Examples of the information we may collect include: Internet Protocol (IP) address; browser type and language; Internet Service Provider (ISP), referring and exit websites and applications; websites viewed while on the Site; operating system; date/time stamp of activity; clickstream data; whether you are a first-time or a returning user; links you clicked on while in the Site; and your flow and navigation path through the Site. We use this information in a deidentified and aggregated fashion to help us administer the site, analyze its usage, protect the website and its content from inappropriate use, and improve your Site experience.
In some parts of our Site and through email messages, you will find a “click-through URL” linked to content on our Site. We track this click-through data to help us determine interest in particular topics and measure the effectiveness of our customer communications. If you prefer not to be tracked in this way, you should not click such links in our email messages. We and our service providers may collect other information in a variety of ways, including through your browser or device. Certain information is collected by most browsers or automatically through your devices, such as your Media Access Control (MAC) address, computer type (Windows or Mac), screen resolution, operating system name and version, device manufacturer and model, language, and Internet browser type and version. We use this information to ensure that the Site functions properly.
Cookies
We use technologies, such as “cookies,” so we can remember certain information about you, remember your preferences, or recognize you when you return to the Site. Cookies also help us compile aggregate data about Site traffic and Site interaction so that we can improve our Site and protect our Site from fraud. A cookie is a text file that is stored on your computer. As text files, cookies cannot read information on your hard drive, run programs, or deliver viruses to your computer. Most browsers are set to accept cookies automatically. You can set your browser to decline all cookies automatically or to prompt you for a response each time a cookie is offered. If you decline cookies, you may find that you cannot access all our Site’s features. During your browsing session, we use “session” cookies to store information and monitor Site function. These session cookies are installed during your browsing session and are deleted when the browsing session has ended. The only tags we utilize are for Google Analytics. Please see Google Analytics Privacy Policy https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en-US for details.
Tracking URLs are special web links that allow us to measure when a link is clicked on. They are used to help us measure the effectiveness of campaigns and advertising and the popularity of sections of the Websites. If you prefer not to be tracked in this way, you should not click such links.
If you access our Site or engage with our advertisements on your mobile device, we may collect a unique device identifier assigned to that device, geo-location data, and other transactional information for that device. We may also use the unique identifier to validate free trials or assess if you have visited a location, for example.
Pixel tags enable us to send email messages in a format that customers can read, and they tell us whether mail has been opened. We may use this information to reduce or eliminate messages sent to you.
Website Analytics
We use third-party website analytics software from third-party providers [e.g., Google Analytics] in connection with our Site to gather data such as age, gender, and interests to provide advertising targeted to suit your interests and preferences.
You may opt out of the automated collection of information by third-party ad networks for the purpose of delivering advertisements tailored to your interests, by visiting third party pages and using their opt out methods.
This analytics software helps us target our online ads based on information collected directly from you or by automated means, like cookies. These companies also use automated technologies to collect information when you click on our ads, which helps track and manage the effectiveness of our marketing efforts.
VSA utilizes analytics software provided by Google Analytics, Inc. Google collects anonymous information that is not used to identify a user. This information helps us better understand how visitors use our Sites, detect and defend against fraud and other security risks, and present advertisements, products, and/or services of interest to you.
To learn more about how Google Analytics collects and processes data, please visit “How Google users data when you use our partners’ Site or apps”, located at www.google.com/policies/privacy/partners/. To learn about how to opt-out of Google Analytics, please visit http://tools.Google.com/dlpage/gaoptout/.
Geo-Location Data Policy
When you access our website or services from a mobile device or computer, you may be asked to share your precise geo-location data (e.g., GPS-level data) to help us improve your experience. We collect this data in partnership with third-party services, including advertisers, in order to provide customized offers, recommendations, and services based on your current location.
How We Use Your Location Data
-
To deliver location-specific content, such as nearby attractions, restaurants, and events.
-
To enhance your experience by showing local recommendations and activities relevant to your visit.
-
For analytics purposes, helping us understand where our users are located and which areas of the site they engage with most.
-
To improve advertising effectiveness by delivering geo-targeted ads and promotions.
Managing Location Data
You may choose to allow or deny location data sharing at any time through the settings on your device. If you choose to deny access, we may not be able to provide certain location-specific features.
If you initially agree to share location data but later decide to opt out, you can modify the permissions in your device settings. Turning off location access will stop our collection of your precise location, though general location information (e.g., IP-based location) may still be collected for security purposes and service functionality.
Children’s Information
Our Site is not directed to children. We do not knowingly collect Personal Information from children under the age of 16. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with Personal Information without your consent, please contact us by using the information in the “Questions and Contact Information” section, below, and we will take steps to remove such Personal Information from our systems.
Use of Personal Information
We only use your Personal Information for the original purposes it was given and to further our legitimate interests, such as to respond to your requests, provide information about our organization and services, to communicate with Site visitors about our services, and to send visitors who enroll our newsletter. Personal Information is also used to provide users with a more enjoyable, convenient online experience. The content on our Site and in our communications with you may be adjusted depending on what we know about the content, products, and services that you like. This means we can highlight content and articles that we believe will be of interest to you. We provide personalization by using cookies, IP addresses, web beacons, URL tracking and mobile app settings. We may use your Personal Information to send you requested information, to personalize content for you, to compile, analyze, and better understand user data, demographics and behavior, and to detect, investigate, and prevent activities that may violate our policies or be illegal. We may also use your Personal Information to communicate with you about events and services we believe you might find of interest and to administer marketing materials and surveys in which you might participate. And, we may send you non-emergency text messages related to your interests and proposed visit to San Antonio.
We also use the information automatically collected about you during your use of the Site, as described above, to improve the effectiveness of our website, operations, mobile experience, or marketing efforts, to prevent against fraud and theft, and otherwise to protect our Site’s visitors and our organization.
Our employees and agents may view your Personal Information to perform their jobs and address your needs. We authorize their access to your Personal Information on a need-to-know basis to provide you with information or services, or for one of the other reasons listed in this section, and always in connection with a contractual obligation to protect the privacy of that information. We target and measure the performance of ads, and advertising campaigns, to Site visitors directly or through a variety of partners or technologies, using the following data, whether separately or combined:
- Data from advertising technologies on and off our Site, like web beacons, pixels, ad tags, cookies, and device identifiers;.
- User-provided information, including Personal Information (Ex: email, name, phone number);.
- Data from your use of our Site (e.g., search history, page visits, videos you watch, frequency of visitation, recency of visitation, clicking on an ad, etc.);.
- Information or cookie data from advertising partners and publishers; and
- Information inferred from data described.
We adhere to self-regulatory principles for interest-based advertising (behavioral and contextual) and participate in industry opt-outs from such ads. This does not opt you out of receiving advertising; you will continue to get other ads from advertisers not listed with these self-regulatory tools. We may also use information you provide to us to communicate with you in the future. We may contact you about other services or products we may offer in which you may have an interest. If you do not wish to receive such communications, you may opt out (unsubscribe) as described below in the “Access and Consent to Use of Your Personal Information” and “Questions and Contact Information” section.
Disclosure of Your Information
We will not sell, rent, or lease any Personal Information we collect from you to others. We will not make your Personal Information available to any unaffiliated parties, except as follows:
- To employees, contractors, agents, and/or contractors who may use it on our behalf or in connection with their relationship with us;
- To our affiliates, service providers, and third-parties [e.g., Google] for marketing purposes, building targeted ad campaigns, providing you information about us or our services, and providing you with the services described on this Site.
- To others, including law enforcement, if we believe such release is reasonably necessary to comply with law or legal process; if reasonably necessary to protect our operations, members, or users; detect, prevent or otherwise address fraud, security, or technical issues; protect the rights, property, or safety of others; in a matter of public safety or Policy; or as needed in connection with the transfer of our assets. In the event of an insolvency, bankruptcy, or receivership, your Personal Information may also be transferred as a business asset.
In addition, we may share aggregate, non-individual information, incapable of identifying a person, or Business Information, with third parties for lawful purposes. We will not disclose any of your Personal Information except when we have your permission or under special circumstances, such as when we believe in good faith that the law requires it or under circumstances described in this Policy. If you wish to restrict or limit any of this sharing, please contact us at the information provided in the “Questions and Contact Information” section below.
We do not share your Personal Information data with any third-party advertisers or ad networks for their advertising except for: (i) for hashed or device identifiers (to the extent they are considered Personal Information data in some countries); (ii) with your separate permission (e.g., email submission form) or (iii) for data already visible to any users of the Websites (e.g., comments or pictures posted on our Site). However, if you view or click on an ad on or off our Site or apps, the ad provider will get a signal that someone visited the page that displayed the ad, and they may through the use of mechanisms such as cookies determine it is you. Advertising partners can associate Personal Information data collected by the advertiser directly from you with our cookies and similar technologies. If you have provided your personal email to receive communication with us or any of our partners, we or any of our partners will provide you with email communication following the CAN-SPAM Act compliance. Each email will have a visible unsubscribe button that will allow you to stop communication from us or any of our partners at any moment.
If you have provided your personal phone number to receive communication with us or any of our partners, we or any of our partners will provide you with SMS communication following the CAN-SPAM Act compliance. To opt out of receiving our SMS communications, you can follow the instructions contained in the SMS communication.
You must opt out of both email and text programs separately if you wish to discontinue receiving such communications.
Access and Consent to Use of Your Personal Information
If you believe that the Personal Information that we have collected about you is incomplete, inaccurate, or not up to date, or if you would like to review and/or request changes or deletion of that information, please see the contact information in the “Questions and Contact Information” section.
If you do not consent or want to withdraw your consent for us to collect, use, or disclose your Personal Information as described in this Policy, please use the contact information provided in the “Questions and Contact Information” section. In your request, please identify the Personal Information at issue and the collection, use, or disclosure you wish to stop.
Denying or withdrawing consent may not allow us to provide you with some or all the products, services, or information you request.
You may opt-out of receiving marketing-related emails, targeted advertising messages, or promotional offers from VSA by clicking the "unsubscribe" link at the bottom of any email you receive from us or emailing us at marketing@visitsanantonio.com.
If you opt-out from receiving marketing emails or text messages, we may still need to send you communications about your account, membership, and other matters. If you agreed to receive future marketing communications directly from a third party through our Site, you will need to contact that party to opt-out of such communications. This process may be outlined on that party's privacy policy. We do not control third parties’ collection or use of your information to serve interest-based advertising. However, these third parties may provide you with ways to choose not to have your information collected or used in this way. You can opt out of receiving targeted ads from members of the Network Advertising Initiative (“NAI“) on the NAI’s website.
Security of your Personal Information
We are committed to protecting the information we receive from you. We take appropriate security measures to protect your information against unauthorized access to or unauthorized alteration, disclosure or destruction of data. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain data accuracy, and ensure the correct use of information, we maintain appropriate physical, electronic, and managerial procedures to safeguard and secure the information and data stored on our system. VSA uses SSL Protocol and SSL Encryption for this purpose.
When personal information (such as a credit card number) is transmitted by VSA to other websites, it is protected through the use of encryption, such as the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol. While no computer system is completely secure, we believe the measures we have implemented reduce the likelihood of security problems to a level appropriate to the type of data involved.
Links to Other Websites
Our Site may contain links to, or advertisements about, non-VAS websites. Other sites may also reference, advertise, or link to the VSA Site. You may be able to post content to third party Social Networking Sites on which we maintain a presence or share information from your Social Networking Sites with us. If you choose to do this, we will provide information to the Social Networking Site(s), and receive information from them, in accordance with your elections. You acknowledge and agree that you are solely responsible for your use of those websites and that it is your responsibility to review the applicable terms of use and privacy policies. We are not responsible for the availability, accuracy, content, products or services of third-party Social Networking Sites.
While you are using the Site, you may be linked or directed to other third-party websites that are beyond our control. These third-party websites may have privacy policies and terms of use which differ from ours. Please carefully review these policies. We are not responsible for any actions or policies of such third parties.
Articles on this Site may include embedded content (e.g. videos, images, articles, etc.). Embedded content from other websites behaves in the exact same way as if the visitor has visited the other website. These websites may collect data about you, use cookies, embed additional third-party tracking, and monitor your interaction with that embedded content, including tracking your interaction with the embedded content if you have an account and are logged in to that website.
Colorado Residents
If you are a Colorado resident, you may, upon request, have certain rights with respect to your Personal Information, including the following rights:
- To opt-out of the processing of your Personal Information for purposes of targeted advertising, the sale of Personal Information; or profiling in furtherance of decisions that produce legal or similarly significant effects concerning you;
- To confirm whether VSA is processing your Personal Information and to receive access to that Personal Information;
- To correct inaccuracies in your Personal Information, taking into account the nature of the Personal Information and the purposes of the processing of your Information;
- To delete your Personal Information; and
- When exercising your right to access your Personal Information, to obtain the Personal Information in a portable and, to the extent technically feasible, readily usable format that allows you to transmit the data to another entity without hindrance. VSA will respond to any of the above requests within forty-five days.
VSA may extend this deadline once by an additional forty-five days when reasonably necessary, taking into account the complexity and number of your requests, so long as we inform you of the extension within the initial forty-five-day response period along with the reasons for the extension. All requests pursuant to the above rights should be submitted to:
Visit San Antonio Marketing Department
110 Losoya St. San Antonio, TX 78205
markeing@visitsanantonio.com
If VSA declines to take action regarding your request, VSA shall inform you within the deadlines discussed above, along with the justification for that decision. Should you choose to, you may appeal the decision not to take action (or to take limited action) by submitting an appeal within fourteen days of receipt of VSA’s initial response to the following: marketing@visitsanantonio.com
Within forty-five days of receipt of your appeal, VSA shall inform you in writing of any action taken or not taken, in response to the appeal, including a written explanation of the reasons for the decisions. VSA may extend this period by sixty days where reasonably necessary, considering the complexity and number of requests serving as the basis for the appeal. If unsatisfied, you may file a complaint with the Colorado Attorney General at https://coag.gov/file-complaint/.
Retention and Accuracy of Personal Information
We do our best to ensure that the Personal Information we hold, and use is accurate. We rely on the individuals we do business with to disclose to us all relevant information and to inform us of any changes. Personal Information is kept only for so long as is required, in accordance with our records retention policy and legal and regulatory requirements. If Personal Information is no longer required, we destroy it or render it anonymous.
If you leave a comment, the comment and its metadata are retained indefinitely. This is so we can recognize and approve any follow-up comments automatically instead of holding them in a moderation queue. All users can see, edit, or delete their personal information at any time. Site administrators can also see and edit that information. Visitor comments may be checked through an automated spam detection service.
In any event, all cookie data is deleted after a period of 26 months. All Personal Information collected by us will be deleted within 24 months of your having last interacted with us or the Site. You can also opt out of our use of cookies and similar technologies that track your behavior on the sites of third-party digital choice controls like Ad Choices.
Changes to the Policy
From time to time, we may change this Policy and will notify you of material changes by posting the changed or modified Policy on our Site. Any changes will be effective immediately upon the posting of the revised Policy unless otherwise specified.
Questions and Contact Information
If you have any questions, wish to access, correct, or amend your Personal Information or unsubscribe, want to register a complaint or simply want more information, you may contact us at:
Visit San Antonio
c/o Marketing Department
110 Losoya St. San Antonio, TX 78205
marketing@visitsanantonio.com
And
By email: DataProtection@ATDPartners.com
By mail: ATD Partners | Data Protection 411 Brazos Suite 99 Austin, TX 78701