Privacy Policy

This policy describes how we collect, use, disclose and otherwise manage personal information.
 

Scope

 

This privacy policy applies to all personal data processed by full-time and part-time employees, volunteers when acting on behalf of Destination DC and all business processes conducted by Destination DC through our website, web forms, social media, emails and phone. It is applicable to both the Washington DC Convention and Tourism Corporation, Inc. (doing business as Destination DC), a 501(c)6 organization, and the American Experience Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization, referred together herein as “Destination DC”. 

 

What information do we collect?

 

Destination DC may collect the following personal data in line with the use purposes explained in a subsequent section:

• Name and contact details ·    
• Date of birth ·    
• Online profile data/usage ·    
• Emergency contact information ·    
• Social media profile information ·    
• Copies of identification documents ·    
• Education and professional information ·    
• Registration and participation in Destination DC events and activities ·    
• Subscription preferences ·    
• Information about the device(s) you use ·    
• Information about service usage ·    
• Cookies ·    
• Authentication data ·    
• Location information ·    
• Other information you upload or provide to us

How do we use your information?

 

Destination DC uses your personal information for the following purposes:

 

To process transactions. Destination DC uses personal information such as name, physical address, telephone number, email address and company/institution to engage in interactions with you, including contacting you about your subscription, event participation or membership.

 

To provide support or other services. Destination DC may use your personal information to provide you with support or other services that you have requested. Destination DC may also use your personal information to respond directly to your requests for information, including registrations for newsletters, webinars or other specific requests.

 

To provide information based on your needs and respond to your requests. Destination DC may use your personal information to provide notices of new openings and service developments in the Washington, DC area.

 

To provide online forums and social networks. Some services available on the website permit you to participate in interactive discussions, post comments, opportunities or other content to a bulletin board or exchange, or otherwise engage in networking activities. Some services are moderated; all may be accessed for technical reasons (for example, for improvements or fixes). Destination DC does not control the content that users post to these forums or social networks. You should carefully consider whether you wish to submit personal information to these forums or social networks and tailor any content you submit appropriately and in accordance with the relevant terms of use. You should also review any additional terms and conditions that may govern your use of these services, including terms related to sharing your personal information and receiving communications.

 

To select content, improve quality, and facilitate website use. Destination DC may use your personal information, including the information gathered as a result of site navigation and electronic protocols and cookies (including third-party cookies), to help create and personalize website content, improve website quality, track marketing campaign responsiveness, evaluate page response rates, conduct usability testing and facilitate your use of the website (for example, to facilitate navigation and the login process, avoid duplicate data entry, enhance security, keep track of shopping cart additions and preserve order information between sessions).

 

To serve personalized advertising to you. We don't share your information with advertisers without your consent. We allow advertisers to choose the characteristics of users who will see their advertisements, and we may use any of the non-personally-identifiable attributes that we have collected to select the appropriate audience for those advertisements. When you click on or otherwise interact with an advertisement, there is a possibility that the advertiser may place a cookie in your browser and that your attributes meet the criteria the advertiser selected.

 

To communicate with you about a meeting, conference or event. We may communicate with you about a meeting, conference or event hosted or co-sponsored by Destination DC or one of our business members. This may include information about the event's content, logistics, payment, updates and additional information related to the event. Information that you provide when registering for or participating in a conference managed or co-sponsored by parties, other than or in addition to Destination DC, may be shared with those parties, and the treatment of such information is further subject to the privacy policies of those parties. Destination DC and its conference co-sponsors may contact you about the event, subsequent iterations of the event and related events. Please note that Destination DC conference, meeting or event organizers, co-sponsors, exhibitors and other third parties may directly request your personal information at their conference booths or presentations. Providing your information to them is optional, and you should review their privacy policies to address your needs and concerns about how they will treat your personal information.

 

To include you in Destination DC Member Directories. If you are an active member of Destination DC, at your request, we may include your information in the Destination DC Member Directory and in publications including the Official Visitor Guide and Event Planning Guide.

 

To assist in your participation in Destination DC activities. Destination DC will communicate with you, if you are participating in certain Destination DC activities such as Destination DC hosted meetings and seminars. Destination DC may send you information such as newsletters related to those activities.

 

To engage with third parties. Destination DC may share your personal data with third parties in connection with services that these individuals or entities perform for or with Destination DC. These third parties are restricted from using data in any way other than to provide services for Destination DC or for the collaboration in which they and Destination DC are contractually engaged (for example, hosting a Destination DC database or engaging in data processing on Destination DC’s behalf, or mailing you information that you requested). These third parties are carefully selected by Destination DC and are obligated to keep your data secure.

 

To protect Destination DC content and services. We may use your information to prevent potentially illegal activities and to enforce our terms and conditions. We also use a variety of technological systems to detect and address anomalous activity and to screen content to prevent abuse, such as spam. These efforts may, on occasion, result in a temporary or permanent suspension or termination of some functions for some users.

 

To get feedback or input.  To deliver services of most interest to our customers, at times, we may ask members, customers, volunteers and website visitors to provide input and feedback (for example through surveys, usability studies or focus groups).

 

To protect Destination DC information assets as well as your own personal data. The Destination DC Information Security Program protects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of Destination DC information assets by following a risk management approach based on policies, standards, guidelines and procedures to meet security objectives while supporting business and operational goals.