Marketing & Communications Policy
How HotelsMint sends marketing communications, the legal basis we rely on, and how you control exactly what you receive — governed by UK PECR alongside UK GDPR.
Purpose, Scope & The Short Version
1.1 What This Policy Covers
This policy sits alongside our Privacy Policy and explains, specifically, how HotelsMint handles marketing emails, SMS, push notifications and newsletters — separately from the general use of your data to run your account and process your bookings. Under UK law, marketing communications are governed by a distinct set of rules — the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) — that sit alongside, and operate independently of, UK GDPR. The consent you give (or don't give) for marketing is separate from, and cannot be bundled into, your acceptance of our Terms & Conditions or the general processing of your data to fulfil a booking.
1.2 The Short Version
We will only send you marketing you have either clearly agreed to, or that you would reasonably expect after booking with us — and in both cases, you can turn it off in one click, at any time, with no impact on your account or any live booking.
1.3 Who This Policy Applies To
This policy applies to every individual who creates a HotelsMint account, makes a booking, or subscribes to our newsletter — whether or not you go on to book a hotel. It also applies to hotel businesses and corporate travel accounts onboarded to HotelsMint, with additional notes on business-to-business marketing in Part 4.
Service Messages vs. Marketing
2.1 Service Communications — Not Marketing, Cannot Be Opted Out Of
Not every message we send is "marketing" under the law, and the two are treated very differently. Service messages are necessary to run your account and cannot be switched off while you use HotelsMint; marketing can always be switched off.
| Example | Why It's a Service Message |
|---|---|
| Booking confirmation, itinerary, cancellation notice | Necessary to perform the contract you have with us |
| Arrival voucher activation, balance and marketplace alerts | Operational notification tied to a live product/feature |
| Wallet transaction, top-up and withdrawal confirmations | Required record of a financial transaction |
| Security alerts, login codes, password resets | Necessary for account security |
| Changes to our Terms & Conditions or this policy | Legal notice we are required to give you |
These messages will always be sent to an active account holder, regardless of your marketing preferences, because they are not marketing.
2.2 Marketing Communications — Always Optional
These categories are always subject to your consent and can be switched off at any time:
| Example | What It's For |
|---|---|
| HotelsMint newsletter | Product news, new destinations, general updates |
| Similar hotel deals and offers | Promotional pricing on hotels like the ones you've booked before |
| Seasonal and destination campaigns | Broader promotional content, not tied to a past booking |
| Partner offers (insurance, transfers, car hire, experiences) | Promotions from named third-party partners |
The Legal Basis for Marketing
3.1 Explicit Consent
HotelsMint relies on one of two lawful routes before sending you marketing, and we are always explicit about which one applies. Where you tick a clearly labelled, unticked box to opt in — for example, subscribing to our newsletter, or opting in to partner offers — we rely on your explicit consent. This is always a separate action from creating an account, completing a booking, or accepting our Terms.
3.2 The Commercial "Soft Opt-In"
UK law (PECR Regulation 22(3)) allows a business to email existing customers about its own similar products or services, without a fresh opt-in, provided four conditions are all met:
- Your details were collected in the course of a booking.
- The marketing is about similar HotelsMint services.
- You were given a clear, easy way to opt out at the point of booking.
- Every message gives you the same easy way to opt out again.
Where HotelsMint relies on the soft opt-in, this is disclosed clearly at checkout and you are given a genuine, unticked opt-out at that point, not buried default consent.
3.3 What the Soft Opt-In Does Not Cover
The soft opt-in only ever covers HotelsMint's own similar services. It never extends to marketing from our partners — travel insurance, car hire, airport transfers or any other third party. Partner marketing always requires your separate, explicit opt-in consent.
Your Choices, Records & Partner Marketing
4.1 How to Opt Out or Change Your Preferences
Every marketing email, SMS or push notification we send includes a clear, working unsubscribe or opt-out link. Using it takes effect immediately and does not affect your account, active bookings, or any service messages. You can also manage every category of marketing individually from your account's Communication Preferences page at any time, without needing to contact us:
- HotelsMint newsletter
- Similar hotel deals and offers
- Partner offers (insurance, transfers, car hire, experiences)
- Push notifications for offers and marketplace alerts
- SMS offers
Opting out of marketing does not delete your account or affect your ability to book. It only stops the categories of message you switch off.
4.2 How We Record Consent
For every marketing communication we send, we keep a record of: what you were told, what action you took (ticked, left unticked, opted out), the date and time, and the version of this policy in force at that point. This record allows us, and the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if ever asked, to demonstrate that any marketing sent to you was properly authorised at the time. You can ask what marketing consent record we hold for your account at any time by contacting info@hotelsmint.com.
4.3 Marketing From Our Partners
HotelsMint works with partners for travel insurance, airport transfers, car hire and similar services. If you choose to purchase one of these at booking, we may share the minimum information needed to fulfil that specific purchase with that partner — this is a service message, not marketing. Separately, if you opt in to receive promotional offers from our partners, this is always a distinct, named, explicit opt-in — never bundled with any other consent, and never assumed from a purchase. We do not sell, rent or pass on your contact details to any partner or third party for their own independent marketing use.
4.4 Business & Corporate Accounts
Marketing to a named individual at a hotel business or corporate travel account follows the same rules as for a personal account — explicit opt-in or a valid soft opt-in, with a clear opt-out. Marketing sent to a generic business address (for example, a shared reservations inbox) may in limited circumstances fall under the separate "corporate subscriber" treatment in PECR — we still provide an opt-out in every message regardless.
Data Protection & Marketing Complaints
5.1 New Legal Requirement — Effective 19 June 2026
Under the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, every UK organisation processing personal data is required to have a formal, documented data protection complaints procedure in place from 19 June 2026. This is now a standing legal obligation, not a courtesy — and it applies directly to any complaint about how HotelsMint uses your data for marketing, as much as to any other data protection complaint.
5.2 How to Complain
If you are unhappy with any marketing communication you have received from HotelsMint, or believe we have sent marketing without a proper legal basis, you can complain in any of the following ways: by email to privacy@hotelsmint.com, through the Contact Us form in your account, or in writing to our registered office. Your complaint should include what happened, when, and — if you have it — a copy or description of the communication in question.
5.3 What Happens Next
All data protection and marketing complaints are logged in a central register and reviewed by HotelsMint's Data Protection Lead:
| Step | Timing | What We Do |
|---|---|---|
| Acknowledgement | Within 10 working days | We confirm receipt and give you a reference number |
| Investigation | Within 20 working days | Our Data Protection Lead reviews the complaint, including our consent records for your account |
| Outcome | Within 60 working days | We write to you with our findings and any corrective action taken |
| Escalation | At any point | If unresolved, or if you're unhappy with our response, you can escalate to the ICO |
If, having gone through our procedure, you remain unsatisfied, you have the right to complain directly to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk or on 0303 123 1113. You do not need to complain to us first, though we would always welcome the opportunity to put things right.
To manage your preferences, request your consent record, or raise a marketing complaint, contact privacy@hotelsmint.com or write to Bankitt LTD, 167-169 Great Portland Street, 5th Floor, London, W1W 5PF.
This policy works alongside our Privacy & Cookie Policy and Terms & Conditions. Choosing whether to receive marketing never affects the service messages needed to run your account, such as booking confirmations or security alerts.