Privacy Policy

Effective date: June 21, 2026

Hootova ("we," "us," or "our") operates the website at hootova.com and related services. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, who we share it with, and your choices regarding your data.

By using our website or services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.

1. Information We Collect

Information You Provide

Client request forms: When you submit a request through a referral page, we collect your name, email address, phone number (if provided), and a description of what you need. This information is shared with the specific vendor you requested and the referring curator.
Email list signups: If you opt in to receive local deals, promotions, or updates from a curator's network, we collect your name and email address for that purpose.
Curator (agent) registration: When curators sign up, we collect their name, email, phone number, brokerage or business name, and market information.
Vendor registration: When vendors join the platform, we collect business name, contact information, trade or service category, and service areas.
Contact and support: If you contact us directly, we collect whatever information you provide in your message.

Information Collected Automatically

Usage data: We log page views, clicks, referral source parameters, and timestamps when you visit referral pages. This data is used to measure engagement, compensate curators, and improve the platform.
Device and browser information: We may collect anonymized or hashed browser type, operating system, and IP address fragments for analytics and fraud prevention. We do not store full IP addresses.
Tracking parameters: Referral page URLs may include source, campaign, and code parameters that help us attribute visits to specific distribution channels (e.g., printed cards, emails, QR codes).

2. How We Use Your Information

Transactional Use

Forward your service request to the vendor you selected
Notify the referring curator that a request was made through their page
Send you a confirmation that your request was submitted
Facilitate communication between you and the vendor

Marketing and Promotional Use (With Your Consent)

Send periodic emails featuring local deals, promotions, and updates from vendors in a curator's network — only if you have opted in to receive them
Feature vendor offers and seasonal promotions in email communications
You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time using the link in every email

Platform Operations

Calculate curator compensation based on referral page traffic and engagement
Generate performance analytics for vendors (e.g., lead volume, contact rates)
Improve the platform, including vendor matching, page design, and recommendation quality
Detect and prevent fraud, abuse, or unauthorized use
Automated client check-in messages may be generated or personalized with the assistance of AI tools. These messages are reviewed and sent automatically as part of the Service on behalf of curators.

Aggregated and Anonymized Data

We may use aggregated, anonymized interaction data (click patterns, lead volumes, engagement trends) for platform analytics, market insights, and business development
Aggregated data does not identify individual users and may be used or shared without restriction

3. How We Share Your Information

With vendors: When you submit a request, we share your name, contact information, and service description with the specific vendor you selected. We also identify which curator referred you.
With curators: Curators see that a request was made through their page. They receive the client's name and the vendor contacted. Curators see aggregate traffic and engagement metrics for their referral page.
With service providers: We use third-party services for email delivery, payment processing, analytics, and hosting. These providers access your data only to perform services on our behalf and are contractually bound to protect it.
For legal reasons: We may disclose your information if required by law, subpoena, or legal process, or to protect our rights, safety, or property.
In a business transfer: If Hootova is acquired, merged, or sells assets, user data may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any such change.

We do not sell your personal information to third parties for their independent marketing purposes.

4. Email Communications and Consent

Transactional emails (request confirmations, vendor introductions) are sent as part of the service you requested and do not require separate marketing consent.

Marketing emails (local deals, promotions, curator updates) are sent only to users who have explicitly opted in. You may unsubscribe at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any marketing email or by contacting us at hello@hootova.com.

Opting out of marketing emails does not affect transactional emails related to a service request you have already submitted.

5. Data Ownership and Curator Relationship

Hootova operates and manages all data collected through the platform, including client requests, email list subscriptions, and engagement analytics. Curators (agents, businesses, and other referral page operators) are the public-facing representatives of their referral pages, but Hootova is the data controller.

Curators may access engagement metrics and lead activity for their own referral pages. Curators do not have the ability to export, download, or independently access raw client email lists or personal information beyond what is provided in individual lead notifications.

6. Data Security

We implement reasonable technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information, including encryption in transit (TLS), access controls, and secure hosting infrastructure. However, no method of transmission or storage is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

7. Data Retention

We retain personal information for as long as necessary to provide our services, comply with legal obligations, and resolve disputes. Specifically:

Client request data: Retained for the duration of the curator and vendor relationship with the platform, or until you request deletion.
Email list subscriptions: Retained until you unsubscribe or request removal.
Usage and analytics data: Anonymized engagement data may be retained indefinitely for platform analytics.
Vendor and curator accounts: Retained for the duration of the account, plus a reasonable period after closure for legal and accounting purposes.

8. Your Rights and Choices

Access and correction: You may request access to the personal information we hold about you and ask us to correct any inaccuracies.
Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal information. We will comply unless we have a legal obligation to retain it.
Opt out of marketing: You may unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time.
Do Not Track: Our website does not currently respond to browser "Do Not Track" signals.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@hootova.com.

9. California Residents

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA), including the right to know what personal information we collect, the right to request deletion, and the right to opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information. We do not sell personal information as defined by the CCPA. We do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising as defined by the CPRA.

To exercise your "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" rights or to submit any other verifiable consumer request, contact us at hello@hootova.com.

10. 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 we learn that we have collected information from a child under 18, we will delete it promptly.

11. Third-Party Links

Referral pages may contain links to vendor websites or other third-party sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites. We encourage you to review their privacy policies.

12. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with a revised effective date. Your continued use of the service after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised policy.

13. Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or your personal data, contact us at:

Hootova
Email: hello@hootova.com