Privacy Policy
Last updated: June 2026
Your privacy is important to us. This Privacy Policy explains how GDLN LLC (d/b/a Guidepole) (“Guidepole,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) collects, uses, shares, and protects your personal information when you use the Guidepole platform at guidepole.com (the “Platform”). This policy applies to all users of the Platform, including Guides, Employees, and visitors.
By using the Platform, you consent to the data practices described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not agree, you should not use the Platform.
1. Information We Collect
1.1 Information You Provide
We collect information you provide directly when creating an account and using the Platform, including:
- Account information: Name, email address, phone number, and OAuth provider identifiers (Google, Apple, or Microsoft account IDs)
- Business information: Business name, business address, service areas, guide specialties, licensing details, and business description
- Profile information: Profile photographs, bio, experience level, and other details you choose to share
- Trip listings: Trip descriptions, pricing, availability, photos, requirements, and cancellation policies
- Communications: Messages sent to Clients and support requests
- Employee information: Names, email addresses, and roles of team members you add to your account
1.2 Financial Information
We facilitate payment processing through Stripe. We do not directly store your credit card numbers, bank account numbers, or other sensitive financial data. Stripe collects and processes this information in accordance with their privacy policy. We do store:
- Stripe account identifiers and connection status
- Transaction records (amounts, dates, booking references)
- Payout history and Platform Fee records
- Invoice data
1.3 Calendar Data
When you connect an external calendar (Google Calendar or Microsoft Outlook), we access only the time blocks (busy/free status) from your calendar to detect scheduling conflicts. We do not read or store the content, titles, descriptions, attendees, locations, or other details of your personal calendar events.
1.4 Location Data
We collect location information that you provide, including your business address and service areas. We may use geolocation services (Mapbox) to display your location on maps and to match you with nearby Clients. We do not track your real-time GPS location.
1.5 Device & Usage Information
We automatically collect certain technical information when you access the Platform, including:
- IP address and approximate geolocation (via Cloudflare)
- Browser type and version
- Device type and operating system
- Pages visited, features used, and actions taken on the Platform
- Referring URL and search terms that led you to the Platform
- Date and time of access
2. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- Service delivery: To provide, maintain, and improve the Platform, including account management, calendar features, booking management, and trip listing services
- Payment processing: To facilitate payments, payouts, invoicing, and financial record-keeping through Stripe
- Communications: To send transactional notifications (booking confirmations, inquiry alerts, payout notifications) via email and SMS
- Marketplace display: To display your profile, Trip listings, and availability on the Hooks.ly marketplace for Client discovery
- Calendar sync: To detect scheduling conflicts and display your availability to Clients
- Website builder: To power your custom guide website with your profile data, Trip listings, and photos
- Analytics: To understand how the Platform is used and to improve features, performance, and user experience
- Security: To detect, prevent, and investigate fraud, abuse, security incidents, and violations of our Terms of Service
- Legal compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, legal processes, and government requests
- Marketing: To send marketing communications about Platform features and updates (with your consent and with opt-out options)
We do not sell, rent, or share your personal information with third parties for their marketing purposes.
5. SMS & Text Messaging Privacy
GDLN LLC (d/b/a Guidepole) values your privacy. We collect and use information through text messaging only to provide you with verification codes, booking confirmations, trip updates, and client communications.
No Share Policy
Mobile information, opt-in data, and consent details collected for our text messaging program will not be shared, sold, or rented to any third parties, affiliates, or partners for marketing or promotional purposes under any circumstances. Phone numbers are not disclosed to any outside parties except Twilio, our SMS delivery provider, solely for the purpose of delivering messages on our behalf.
Opt-In / Opt-Out
Your interaction with our web forms signifies your consent to receive text messages. On our sign-in form, you must manually check an unchecked consent box to opt in. Message frequency varies, up to 5 messages per month. Message and data rates may apply.
You may opt out of receiving text messages at any time by replying STOP to any message you receive from us. For help, reply HELP or contact [email protected].
6. Data Retention
We retain your personal data in accordance with the following schedule:
- Active account data: Retained while your account is active and for 30 days after account deletion to allow for account recovery
- Financial records: Retained for seven (7) years after the transaction date, as required by IRS regulations and other applicable tax laws
- Communications: Retained while your account is active; anonymized upon account deletion
- Calendar data: Synced calendar data is refreshed regularly and deleted when you disconnect your calendar or delete your account
- Usage logs: Retained for twelve (12) months for security and analytics purposes, then deleted or anonymized
- Anonymized data: Aggregated, de-identified data may be retained indefinitely for analytics and service improvement
For complete retention details, see our Data Retention Policy.
7. Your Rights
You have the following rights regarding your personal data:
- Access: You may request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
- Correction: You may request correction of inaccurate or incomplete personal data
- Deletion: You may request deletion of your personal data, subject to our legal retention obligations (e.g., financial records)
- Data portability: You may request your personal data in a structured, commonly used, machine-readable format (JSON or CSV)
- Opt-out of marketing: You may opt out of marketing emails at any time via the unsubscribe link in any marketing email
- Opt-out of SMS: You may opt out of SMS messages at any time by replying STOP
- Withdraw consent: Where we process data based on your consent, you may withdraw consent at any time
To exercise these rights, contact us at [email protected]. We will respond to your request within thirty (30) days. We may require verification of your identity before processing your request.
8. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and the California Privacy Rights Act (CPRA):
- Right to know: You may request information about the categories and specific pieces of personal information we have collected, the sources of collection, the business purposes for collection, and the categories of third parties with whom we share information
- Right to delete: You may request deletion of your personal information, subject to legal exceptions
- Right to opt out of sale: We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising
- Right to non-discrimination: We will not discriminate against you for exercising your privacy rights
To exercise your CCPA rights, contact us at [email protected] or call us at the number provided on our contact page. You may also designate an authorized agent to make requests on your behalf.
8.1 Categories of Personal Information Collected
In the preceding 12 months, we have collected the following categories of personal information as defined by the CCPA:
- Identifiers (name, email, phone number, IP address)
- Commercial information (transaction records, booking history)
- Internet/electronic activity (browsing history on our Platform, interactions with features)
- Geolocation data (business address, service areas)
- Professional information (guide licenses, business details)
8.2 Sale of Personal Information
We do not sell personal information as defined under the CCPA. We do not share personal information for cross-context behavioral advertising purposes.
9. Children's Privacy
The Platform is not intended for use by anyone under the age of eighteen (18). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18. If we become aware that a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, we will take steps to delete that information promptly. If you believe a child under 18 has provided us with personal information, please contact us at [email protected].
10. International Data Transfers
The Platform is operated from the United States. If you are accessing the Platform from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, where data protection laws may differ from those in your jurisdiction. By using the Platform, you consent to the transfer of your information to the United States.
We take appropriate measures to ensure that your personal data receives an adequate level of protection regardless of where it is processed.
11. Security
We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your personal information, including:
- TLS encryption for all data in transit
- Encryption of sensitive data at rest
- Passwordless authentication (eliminating password-related vulnerabilities)
- Secure session management with JWT tokens
- Audit logging of account access and administrative actions
- Regular security reviews and monitoring
- Cloudflare WAF and DDoS protection
While we strive to protect your information, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security. See our Security page for additional details.
12. Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Material changes will be communicated via email to the address associated with your account and/or through a prominent notice on the Platform at least thirty (30) days before taking effect. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page indicates when the policy was last revised.
Your continued use of the Platform after changes take effect constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
13. Contact Information
For questions about this Privacy Policy or to exercise your privacy rights, contact us at:
GDLN LLC (d/b/a Guidepole)
Seattle, WA
Privacy inquiries: [email protected]
General support: [email protected]