Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

Start Smart Hospitality Consulting ("we", "us", "our") is a UK-based consultancy providing operational support, systems design, and training to independent hospitality businesses. Our website is startsmarthospitality.com. For any data-related queries, contact us at help@startsmarthospitality.com.

2. What data we collect

We may collect the following personal data: • Name and contact details (email address, phone number) • Business name and type • Information you provide via our intake forms, scorecards, or contact forms • Payment and billing information (processed securely via Stripe) • Technical data such as IP address, browser type, and pages visited • Cookie and usage data (see Section 6)

3. How we use your data

We use your personal data to: • Deliver the consulting services you have purchased • Communicate with you about your project and deliverables • Process payments and send invoices • Improve our website, services, and user experience • Send relevant updates or resources (only with your consent) • Comply with legal and regulatory obligations

4. Legal basis for processing

We process your data under the following lawful bases (UK GDPR): • Contract — to fulfil services you have purchased • Legitimate interest — to improve our services, respond to enquiries, and manage our business • Consent — for optional marketing communications • Legal obligation — to comply with tax, accounting, and regulatory requirements

5. How we share your data

We do not sell your personal data. We may share limited information with trusted third-party providers who help us operate, including: • Stripe — for secure payment processing • Email delivery services — for transactional and project communications • Analytics tools — to understand website usage All third-party providers are bound by their own privacy policies and data processing agreements.

6. Cookies

Our website uses essential cookies to ensure the site functions correctly and analytics cookies to understand how visitors use the site. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings at any time.

7. Data retention

We retain your personal data only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including: • Active project data — for the duration of the engagement plus 12 months • Financial records — up to 7 years as required by UK tax law • Marketing consent records — until you withdraw consent When data is no longer needed, it is securely deleted or anonymised.

8. Your rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to: • Access the personal data we hold about you • Request correction of inaccurate data • Request deletion of your data (where applicable) • Object to or restrict certain processing • Data portability — receive your data in a structured format • Withdraw consent at any time (where consent is the legal basis) To exercise any of these rights, email us at help@startsmarthospitality.com. We will respond within 30 days.

9. Data security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against unauthorised access, loss, or misuse. This includes encrypted connections (HTTPS), secure cloud storage, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but are committed to protecting your information to the best of our ability.

10. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Any changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

11. Contact

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how we handle your data, please contact us: Email: help@startsmarthospitality.com Website: startsmarthospitality.com