Visit Canterbury Privacy Policy

Last Updated: September 2026

1. Introduction

Visit Canterbury is committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.

This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, store and protect your personal information when you visit our website, subscribe to our communications, enter competitions, contact us, or otherwise interact with us.

Visit Canterbury is delivered by Canterbury Business Improvement District (Canterbury BID), a trading name of Canterbury Connected CIC, registered in England and Wales (Company No. 06937002), and acting as the Data Controller for the purposes of UK data protection legislation. Canterbury BID is registered with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO).

We are committed to processing your personal data in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), the Data Protection Act 2018 and other applicable data protection laws.

2. Who We Are

Visit Canterbury promotes Canterbury and the surrounding area as a visitor destination, providing information about:

• Things to do
• Places to stay
• Food and drink
• Events
• Shopping
• Visitor offers and promotions
• Destination news and inspiration

For the purposes of this policy, "we", "us" and "our" refer to Visit Canterbury and Canterbury BID.

3. The Information We Collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect the following personal data:

Information You Provide

• Name
• Email address
• Postal address
• Telephone number
• Postcode
• Organisation or business name
• Job title
• Competition entry details
• Survey responses
• Correspondence you send to us

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:

• IP address
• Device information
• Browser type and version
• Operating system
• Referral source
• Pages visited
• Time spent on pages
• Clicks, scrolls and navigation patterns
• Cookie identifiers

This information helps us understand how visitors use the website and improve the user experience.

4. How We Use Your Information

We use personal information to:

• Respond to enquiries and requests
• Manage newsletter subscriptions
• Send destination inspiration, travel information and updates
• Administer competitions and promotions
• Deliver requested services
• Improve our website and user experience
• Analyse visitor behaviour and website performance
• Conduct research and surveys
• Meet legal and regulatory obligations
• Protect our website and services from misuse or fraud

We will only use your information where we have a lawful basis for doing so.

5. Our Lawful Bases for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we process personal data using one or more of the following lawful bases:

Consent

Where you have actively opted in to receive:

• Newsletters
• Marketing communications
• Competition updates
• Promotional information

You may withdraw your consent at any time.

Legitimate Interests

We may process data where necessary for our legitimate interests, including:

• Improving our website and services
• Understanding visitor behaviour
• Managing relationships with stakeholders and partners
• Promoting Canterbury as a destination
• Maintaining security of our systems

We always balance these interests against your privacy rights.

Contract

Where processing is required:

• To administer a competition
• To provide a service you have requested
• To fulfil a booking, promotion or offer

Legal Obligation

Where we are required to process personal data to comply with legal or regulatory duties.

6. Email Newsletters and Marketing

If you subscribe to our newsletter, we may use your information to send:

• Destination inspiration
• Event information
• Seasonal campaigns
• Competitions
• Travel ideas
• Special offers

We may monitor:

• Email opens
• Click rates
• Content engagement

This helps us improve our communications and provide content that is more relevant to our audience.

You can unsubscribe at any time using the link included in every email.

7. Competitions and Promotions

When you enter a competition or promotion, we may collect:

• Name
• Email address
• Postal address
• Telephone number (where relevant)

We use this information to:

• Administer the competition
• Contact winners
• Deliver prizes
• Verify eligibility

If you choose to opt in, we may also send future marketing communications.

Where a competition is run with a partner organisation, your information will only be shared with that partner where you have explicitly consented.

8. Contact Forms and Enquiries

If you contact us through our website, email or social media channels, we may collect and retain your contact details and correspondence in order to:

• Respond to your enquiry
• Maintain records of communications
• Improve customer service

9. Surveys and Research

From time to time we may invite visitors to take part in surveys or research activities.

Participation is voluntary. Information gathered may be used to:

• Understand visitor experiences
• Improve our services
• Support destination planning and marketing activities

Survey results are often aggregated and anonymised before analysis.

10. Photography and Video

We may take photographs or videos at events, campaigns and promotional activities.

Such images may be used:

• On our website
• In social media content
• In marketing materials
• In press and promotional activities

Where individuals are clearly identifiable and the image is being used prominently, we may seek consent where appropriate.

Anyone who has concerns about the use of their image may contact us and we will review the request.

11. Cookies

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies.

Cookies help us:

• Remember your preferences
• Improve website functionality
• Measure website performance
• Understand visitor behaviour
• Deliver relevant content and advertising

You can manage cookie preferences through your browser settings and, where applicable, through our cookie consent platform.

Disabling cookies may affect the functionality of some parts of the website.

For full details, please see our separate Cookie Policy.

12. Analytics and Website Performance

We use analytics services, including Google Analytics and similar tools, to help us understand how visitors use our website.

Analytics may collect information such as:

• Pages viewed
• Session duration
• Device type
• Geographical location (generalised)
• Traffic sources

Data is generally aggregated and does not directly identify individual users.

Where heatmapping or behaviour analysis tools are used, they may record interaction patterns such as clicks, scrolling and navigation behaviour, but do not capture sensitive personal information entered into forms.

13. Advertising and Retargeting

We may use advertising technologies provided by platforms such as Google, Meta and other digital advertising services.

These technologies may be used to:

• Measure marketing effectiveness
• Deliver relevant advertising
• Retarget users who have previously visited the website

You can manage advertising preferences through the relevant platform settings.

14. Sharing Information

We do not sell your personal information.

We may share information with carefully selected third-party service providers who help us operate the website and deliver services, including:

• Website hosting providers
• CRM providers
• Email marketing providers
• Analytics providers
• Competition fulfilment partners
• Professional advisers

All providers are required to handle personal information securely and lawfully.

We may also disclose information:

• When required by law
• To prevent fraud or unlawful activity
• To protect our rights, users or property

15. International Transfers

Where some of our suppliers process information outside the United Kingdom, we will ensure appropriate safeguards are in place to protect your information, including approved contractual mechanisms where required.

16. Data Security

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against:

• Unauthorised access
• Loss
• Misuse
• Alteration
• Disclosure
• Destruction

Access to personal information is limited to authorised personnel and trusted service providers who require it to perform their duties.

17. Data Retention

We retain personal information only for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes for which it was collected, including legal, accounting and reporting requirements.

Retention periods vary depending on:

• The nature of the information
• The purpose of processing
• Legal obligations

When information is no longer required, it is securely deleted or anonymised.

18. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the right to:

• Be informed about how we use your data
• Access your personal data
• Correct inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your data
• Restrict processing
• Object to processing
• Request data portability
• Withdraw consent where processing is based on consent

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the details below.

19. Complaints

If you are unhappy with how we handle your personal information, please contact us and we will do our best to resolve the issue.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO):

Website: https://www.ico.org.uk
Telephone: 0303 123 1113

20. External Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites.

We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of external websites and encourage users to review the privacy policies of any sites they visit.

21. Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, technology or our services.

Any updates will be published on this page, and the date at the top of the policy will be updated accordingly.

22. Contact Us

If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data protection rights, please contact:

Visit Canterbury / Canterbury BID
Canterbury BID
24 Burgate
Canterbury
Kent
CT1 2HA

Email: enquiries@canterburybid.co.uk