These General Terms & Conditions apply to all the services of BOOKINGSTEP directly or indirectly (through distributors) made available online, by email or by telephone. By accessing, browsing and using the website www.bookingstep.com and/or by completing a reservation, you acknowledge and agree to have read, understood and agreed to the terms and conditions set out below.


1. SCOPE OF SERVICE

1.1. Through this website we provide an online platform for travel agencies and visitors to the website (“USERS”) for making arrangements for hotels or any other travel services.

1.2. By making a reservation through www.bookingstep.com, the USER enters into a direct and legally binding contractual relationship with the hotel at which you book. We act solely as an intermediary between you and the hotel or other travel service provider, transmitting the details of your reservation to the relevant hotel.

1.3. When rendering our services, the information that we disclose is based on the information provided to us by the hotels or the other travel service providers. We will not verify if, and cannot guarantee that, all information is accurate, complete or correct, nor can we be held responsible for any errors, any interruptions, inaccurate, misleading or untrue information or non-delivery of information. Each hotel or travel service provider remains responsible at all times for the accuracy, completeness and correctness of the descriptive information (including the rates and availability) displayed on our website. Our website does not constitute and should not be regarded as a recommendation or endorsement of the quality, service level or rating of any hotel or travel service provider made available.

1.4. BOOKINGSTEP enables users to reserve hotels or other travel services through its worldwide reservation system. BOOKINGSTEP does not offer any travel services for which it is liable. Reservations therefore merely create a mediation contract between the USER and BOOKINGSTEP.

2. USE OF THE SYSTEM

BOOKINGSTEP provides its service free of charge. We will not charge you for our service or add any additional (reservation) fees to the room rates.

3. RESERVATION SYSTEM

3.1. Hotel rates

3.1.1. All the rates displayed on www.bookingstep.com are for the duration of the whole stay and for all rooms and room types requested. The applicable currency is shown on the respective section lists.

3.1.2. All prices include service and local taxes. Breakfast is included in the price if it is stated.

3.2. Vouchers

3.2.1. Vouchers entitle customers to use the pre-paid services, strictly as specified in the voucher in terms of particular hotel, period of stay and type of services. All additional personal charges, such as phone bills, laundry, room service etc. will be settled by clients directly with hotel upon check-out.

3.2.2. The system will issue vouchers in favor of the customers.

• The vouchers for the customers of the travel agencies will be printed by the travel agency on forms with its own logo and further provided to the customer.
• The vouchers for the direct customers of BOOKINGSTEP will be printed on forms with the logo of BOOKINGSTEP and further provided to the customer.

3.3. Types of Reservations

3.3.1. Standard reservations are generally held open by the hotel until 6.00 pm local time. If the guest fails to arrive by 6.00 pm, the hotel cancels the reservation with a cancellation fee to the user. The guest will then no longer have a right to stay at that hotel. If a guest cannot arrive before 6.00 pm, he must notify the hotel directly of his expected arrival time or the travel agent who made the reservation.

3.3.2. Package deals and prices bound by certain conditions are subject to the individual hotel's cancellation conditions.

3.3.3. The reservations are differentiated by 2 criteria:

3.3.3.1. Availability

• Available hotels – such bookings are confirmed immediately (it may take up to several minutes)
• On request hotels – such bookings may not be confirmed. The user receives a confirmation / rejection letter up to 48 hours.

3.3.3.2. Cancellation deadline

• Normal reservations (with a cancellation deadline in the future)
• Reservations in cancellation deadline (with cancellation deadline in the past – such as last minute bookings and special non-refundable rates)

3.4. Prices and Payment

3.4.1. All the rates displayed on www.bookingstep.com are for the duration of the whole stay and for all rooms and room types requested. Sometimes cheaper rates are available at our website for a specific stay at a hotel; however, these rates made by hotels may carry special restrictions and conditions, for example in respect of cancellation and refund. Please check the room and rate details thoroughly for any such conditions prior to making your reservation.

3.4.2. The rates can be net or commissionable, depending on specific agreement with BOOKINGSTEP.

3.4.3. Payment for bookings can be made via:

• Credit Card - Company Credit Card can be used to hold and/or pay for the amount of each reservation. The reservation should be finalized (paid) by the payment deadline for each reservation in order not to lose the reservation.
• Floating Deposit - With this option, you will set up an agreed amount of Floating Deposit account, and each reservation’s net rates will be deducted from the total deposit. You can add more funds when the floating deposit gets low.
• Wire Transfer - A wire transfer can be accepted for a reservation only if the payment deadline is ahead in order to make sure the bank transfer is received before this deadline. Please note that BOOKINGSTEP is not responsible for bank / money transfer fees.

3.4.4. Bookings' payment deadlines depend on the type of reservation (see 3.3.3.2).

3.4.4.1. Normal bookings (with cancellation deadline in the future) should be paid before the expiration of the cancellation period.

3.4.4.2. Bookings in cancellation deadline (such as last minute bookings and non refundable rates) require payment while they are still on status “Pending Confirmation” in order to be processed for confirmation.

3.5. Changes and Cancellations

3.5.1. Changes and cancellations should always be made through the BOOKINGSTEP reservation system. The timeliness of changes and cancellations is determined primarily by the time at which BOOKINGSTEP or the relevant hotel is notified.

3.5.2. Whenever reservations are canceled sufficiently in advance, a cancellation number is issued. Because this is also proof of the cancellation, we urge you to store it carefully. If reservations are canceled after the cancellation deadline, BOOKINGSTEP merely forwards the customer's message to the hotel. The hotel may then decide on the cancellation fee. Hotels may choose to demand compensation for early departure.

3.5.3. By making a reservation with a hotel, you accept and agree to the relevant cancellation and no-show policy of that hotel, and to any additional (delivery) terms and conditions of the hotel that may apply to your reservation or during your stay, including for services rendered and/or products offered by the hotel (the delivery terms and conditions of a hotel can be obtained with the relevant hotel). Please note that certain rates or special offers are not eligible for cancellation or change. Please note that you may be charged for your cancellation in accordance with the hotel’s cancellation and no-show policy.

4. FAIRS, SPECIAL EVENTS, GROUP RESERVATIONS

4.1. Certain periods such as international and local exhibitions, trade fairs, congresses, conventions, holidays, sporting events etc. tend to attract high occupancy and rates at hotels. These periods are accompanied by special terms and conditions imposed by hotels, generally there might be requirements for minimum stay, high room rates (usually exceeding hotel rack rates), and longer cancellation and prepayment terms.

4.2. Group bookings are subject to longer cancellation terms and early prepayment.

4.2.1. You will be advised of the particular terms for each group booking upon confirmation from suppliers. Should you fail to comply with payment deadlines booking will be automatically canceled and we will not accept any subsequent claims and/or complaints from you. Hotels usually regard party of 10 pax and over as a group.

4.2.2. If you book online on our system more than 10 pax/rooms as separate reservations, the hotel might, upon discovering party arrive and stay together refuse to honor these reservations at our FIT rates and/or cancellation terms, and either cancel the rooms or impose higher rates/aggravated terms, at their sole discretion. You should therefore not make group bookings by splitting them into FIT reservations. Whenever such cases are discovered, we will be obliged to follow the hotels’ decisions and instructions, which might among other consequences, incur such rooms being canceled, or rebooked at higher rates and longer cancellation terms. In such cases BOOKINGSTEP will bear no liability whatsoever towards yourselves and/or the clients.

5. PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION

5.1. BOOKINGSTEP uses high ethical standards and respects your privacy. Save for disclosures required by law in any relevant jurisdiction and the disclosure of your name, email address and your credit card details for completing your booking with the relevant hotel of your choice, we will not disclose your personal information to third parties without your consent.

5.2. Data entered by the user is processed electronically by BOOKINGSTEP. Only data required for booking is passed on. Data is not passed on for any other purpose. In addition, data is processed in accordance with the legal data protection regulations. This means that your personal details are usually deleted 60 days after the end of your stay. BOOKINGSTEP will never pass on your data to third parties or use in it any other way without your approval. Information collected and passed on for statistical purposes does not contain any personal data.

6. DISCLAIMER

6.1. Information, software, products and services presented on this website may include inaccuracies or typographical errors. We do not make any guarantee or representation as to the accuracy or proprietary nature of site content, and disclaim liability for inaccuracies relating to the information and description of all products displayed on this website. All services and products presented on this website are supplied by Independent contractors/Travel Suppliers and are not agents or employees of the Operator.

6.2. We are not liable for the acts, errors, omissions, representations, warranties, breaches, or negligence of any such suppliers or for any personal injuries, death, property damage, or other damages or expenses resulting there from. We have no liability and will make no refund in the event of any delay, cancellation, overbooking, strike, force majeure, or other causes beyond their direct control, and they have no responsibility for any additional expense, omissions, delays, re-routing or acts of any government or authority. We make no representations about the suitability of site content for any purpose, and the inclusion or offering for sale of any products or services on this website does not constitute endorsement or recommendation. All site content, products, and services are provided "as is" without warranty of any kind. We and our suppliers hereby disclaim all warranties and conditions with regard to site content, products, and services, including all implied warranties and conditions of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title, and non-infringement. You waive and covenant not to assert any claims or allegations of any nature relating to any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising out of, or in any way connected with, the use of this web site or with the delay or inability to use this web site, or for any information, software, products, and services obtained through this website, whether based on contract, tort, strict liability, or otherwise, even if we have been advised of the possibility of damages.

6.3. You agree to defend and indemnify us and/or our suppliers and any of their officers, directors, employees and agents from and against any claims, causes of action, demands, recoveries, losses, damages, fines, penalties or other costs or expenses of any kind or nature including but not limited to reasonable legal and accounting fees, brought by third parties as a result of your breach of these Web Site Terms, Conditions and Notices or the documents referenced herein, your violation of any law or the rights of a third party or your use of this Website.

6.4. Subject to the limitations set out in these terms and conditions, we shall only be liable for direct damages actually suffered, paid or incurred by you due to an attributable shortcoming of our obligations in respect of our services, up to an aggregate amount of the aggregate cost of your reservation (whether for one event or series of connected events). However, neither we nor any of our affiliated companies shall be liable for (i) any punitive, special, indirect or consequential loss or damages, any loss of production, loss of profit, loss of revenue, loss of contract, loss of or damage to goodwill or reputation, loss of claim, (ii) any inaccuracy relating to the (descriptive) information (including rates and availability) of the hotel as made available on our website, (iii) the services rendered or the products offered by the hotel, (iv) any (direct, indirect, consequential or punitive) damages, losses or costs suffered, incurred or paid by you, pursuant to, arising out of or in connection with the use, inability to use or delay of our website, or (v) for any (personal) injury, death, property damage, or other (direct, indirect, special, consequential or punitive) damages, losses or costs suffered, incurred or paid by you, whether due to (legal) acts, errors, breaches, (gross) negligence, willful misconduct, omissions, non-performance, misrepresentations, tort or strict liability by or (wholly or partly) attributable to the hotel (its employees, directors, officers, agents, representatives or affiliated companies), including any (partial) cancellation, overbooking, strike, force majeure or any other event beyond our control.

7. MISCELLANEOUS

7.1. Unless stated otherwise, the software required for our services or available at or used by our website and the intellectual property rights (including the copyrights) of the contents and information of and material on our website are owned by Bookingstep.com, its suppliers or providers.

7.2. These terms and conditions and the provision of our services shall be governed by and construed in accordance with Bulgarian law and any dispute arising out of these general terms and conditions and our services shall exclusively be submitted to the competent courts in Bulgaria.

7.3. We reserve the right to change or update the Terms and Conditions relating to use of the Website from time to time without prior notice to Users. The current version of the Terms and Conditions will be displayed within the Website from the date on which any changes come into effect. Continued use of the Site following any changes to the Terms and Conditions shall constitute your acceptance of such changes.