Privacy Policy

Who we are

Destination St Helena ("we", "us", "our") is the island's destination management company. We arrange accommodation, transfers, tours and excursions for visitors and travel trade partners, and we run this website at www.destinationsthelena.co.sh.

We are the "data controller" for the personal information described in this policy, which means we decide how and why it is used. We are based on St Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean, STHL 1ZZ.

For any question about your privacy, email us at destinationsthelena@gmail.com.

Information we collect

We collect only what we need to answer your enquiry and arrange your trip. Depending on how you deal with us, this can include:

  • Contact details: your name, email address, phone number and postal address.

  • Travel details: arrival and departure dates, flight or ship details, group size, accommodation and activity preferences, and the names of the people travelling with you.

  • Special requirements: dietary, mobility, medical or other needs you tell us about so we can look after you properly. Please share only what you are comfortable with.

  • Payment details: if you buy through our website, payment is handled by our payment provider. We do not see or store your full card number.

  • Messages: emails and social media messages you send us.

  • Website data: your IP address, device and browser type, the pages you view and how you reached our site, collected through cookies and similar technologies.

  • Trade partner details: if you are a travel agent or tour operator, your business name, your contact details and information about the groups you are booking for.

How we collect it

Most information comes directly from you: when you email or message us, make a booking, buy through our website, or speak to us in person or by phone. Some comes from travel agents and tour operators who book on your behalf. Website data is collected automatically through cookies and similar technologies when you browse our site.

How we use your information

We use your information to deliver the services you ask for and to run our business responsibly. This means we use it to:

  • Reply to your enquiries and send quotes.

  • Arrange and confirm your accommodation, airport and ship transfers, tours and excursions.

  • Take payment and issue receipts and invoices.

  • Look after your safety and meet any special requirements you have told us about.

  • Contact you about your booking, including changes and practical information for your trip.

  • Send news and offers, but only if you have asked to receive them. You can unsubscribe at any time.

  • Keep our website secure, understand how it is used and improve it.

  • Meet our legal, accounting and tax obligations.

We do not sell your personal information.

Who we share it with

We share your information only where it is needed to deliver your trip or run our business. We never sell it. The people and organisations we may share it with are:

  • Local service providers: the accommodation, transport, restaurant and excursion operators who deliver your booking. They receive only the details they need, such as your name, dates and any special requirements.

  • Your travel agent or tour operator: if they booked on your behalf, we may confirm and update them on your arrangements.

  • Service providers who support our business: our website host, payment provider, email and file storage providers, and the social media platforms we use to communicate with you. They may process your information only to provide their service to us.

  • Authorities: where the law requires it, or where it is needed to protect someone's safety, we may share information with the relevant government, police, port or health authorities.

International transfers

Our guests and trade partners come from around the world, and some of the services we use, such as website hosting and email, store information on servers outside St Helena. When your information is handled overseas, we rely on reputable providers that apply recognised security and data protection standards. By contacting us or booking with us, you understand that your information may be processed in other countries.

Cookies and analytics

Our website uses cookies, which are small files stored on your device. Some are essential, for example to keep items in your cart and to keep the site secure. Others may help us understand how the site is used, so we can improve it. Our website platform, Squarespace, sets these cookies and collects some usage data on our behalf.

You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings. Essential features such as the cart may not work if you do. Links from our site to Facebook, Instagram and other websites are governed by those sites' own privacy policies, not this one.

How long we keep information

We keep your information only as long as we need it for the purposes in this policy. Booking and payment records are kept for the period required for accounting and tax purposes. Enquiries that do not lead to a booking are deleted after a reasonable time, normally within 24 months. If you ask us to stop sending news and offers, we keep just enough information to make sure you are not contacted again.

Your rights

You are in control of your personal information. Whether you live on St Helena or overseas, you can ask us to:

  • Tell you what information we hold about you and give you a copy.

  • Correct anything that is wrong or out of date.

  • Delete your information, where we have no legal reason to keep it.

  • Restrict or stop how we use it, including stopping marketing messages.

  • Withdraw any consent you have given us.

If you are in the UK or EU, you may also have rights under the UK or EU GDPR, including the right to complain to your local data protection authority. To use any of these rights, email destinationsthelena@gmail.com. We will reply within one month and may need to confirm your identity first.

How we keep information secure

We take sensible steps to protect your information, including password-protected accounts and devices, and trusted providers for payments, hosting and email. No method of sending or storing information is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security. If a breach puts your rights at risk, we will tell you and any relevant authority as the law requires.

Children's information

Our website is not aimed at children, and we do not knowingly collect their information through it. When a parent or guardian books a trip for a family, we collect the names and ages of children travelling only as needed to arrange the trip safely.

Changes and contact

We may update this policy from time to time. The date at the top shows when it was last changed, and the latest version is always on our website.

Questions or requests about your privacy: Destination St Helena, St Helena Island, South Atlantic Ocean, STHL 1ZZ, or destinationsthelena@gmail.com.