📜 Terms & Conditions

Scope and Acceptance
These Terms and Conditions ("Terms") form a binding legal agreement between you ("User," "Customer," or "Participant") and American History Tours LLC ("AHT," "we," or "us"). These Terms govern your access to our website (hosted via Wix Studio) and all services, tours, and products we offer. By booking a tour or using our services, you acknowledge you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms in their entirety.

Eligibility and Authority
Individual Users: You must be at least 18 years of age to enter into a contract with AHT.

• Group/School Bookings: The individual booking (the "Group Leader") confirms they have the necessary authority from their organization to enter into this contract and ensure compliance by all participants.

Service Modification and Warranties
AHT reserves the right to change any aspect of our offerings (itineraries, prices, or venues) without prior notice. We provide no implied warranties regarding the fitness of our services for a specific educational purpose.

💰 Part II: Booking, Financials, & Cancellation

Payment and Booking Confirmation
A booking is secured and contractual obligations begin only upon our issuance of a written confirmation following receipt of the required deposit or full payment.

Standard Cancellation and Refund Policy
The following schedule applies to cancellations initiated by the Customer or Group Leader:
Time of Cancellation (Prior to Tour Date)Refund Policy
->  30 Days or More Full refund, less any non-refundable deposit or service fees.
->  15 to 29 Days50% of the total tour price will be refunded.
->  Less than 15 DaysNo refund will be issued.
->  No-Show No refund will be issued.

Cancellation by American History Tours LLC (Force Majeure)

AHT reserves the right to cancel any tour due to Force Majeure (including acts of nature, venue closures, or government actions). In such cases, AHT's liability is strictly limited to offering the customer a full credit or a full refund of amounts paid.

⛔️ Part III: Risk Management and Group Liability

Required Group Documentation and Consent
For all tours involving minors, the Group Leader is solely responsible for obtaining and retaining the following documentation, and confirming to AHT that they are on file:

• Parental Consent: Signed Parent/Guardian Informed Consent Forms and Medical Authorizations for every minor participant. These forms must explicitly authorize emergency medical care and acknowledge the inherent risks.
  

• Waiver/Indemnification: The Group Leader must execute an agreement to defend, indemnify, and hold harmless AHT against claims arising from the school’s own negligence (e.g., inadequate supervision).
  

Supervision and Conduct
The Group Leader must maintain adequate adult-to-student supervision ratios as mandated by their school or district policy. AHT staff are guides, not primary supervisors for students. AHT maintains the right to remove any participant exhibiting dangerous or disruptive behavior at the Group's expense, without refund.

Transportation and Insurance
The Group Leader is solely responsible for ensuring that all group transportation (unless paid for by AHT) complies with Michigan vehicle safety laws and carries adequate commercial liability insurance. AHT maintains its own CGL insurance and may require the Group's policy to list AHT as an Additional Insured.

💿  Part IV: Privacy Policy and Data Handling 

 Data Collection and Usage
We collect information necessary to provide our services. This includes:

• Website Data (Wix Studio): Information gathered through our website (e.g., booking forms, account creation) including names, emails, and payment details. We rely on the Wix platform’s security features for protection and transmission of this data.
  

• On-Tour Data (Sensitive Data): Information collected specifically for the tour (e.g., medical conditions, allergies, emergency contacts) provided on paper or digital forms by the Group Leader. This sensitive data is used exclusively for emergency response.
  

Cookies and Tracking
Our website, as a Wix Studio site, uses cookies and tracking technologies to:

• Enable essential functions (e.g., shopping cart, secure login).
  

• Analyze website traffic (e.g., Google Analytics). By using our site, you consent to the placement of these cookies as outlined in our cookie notice.
  

Data Security and Retention
Digital Data: We use industry-standard security measures provided by the Wix platform and payment processors (e.g., PCI compliance) to protect customer data.

• On-Tour Data: Sensitive on-tour data (e.g., medical forms) is treated with the highest security. Paper copies are held by the AHT guide and Group Leader only for the duration of the tour and are securely destroyed or returned to the Group Leader immediately upon tour completion. Digital copies are stored on secure, encrypted devices and deleted within 30 days of the tour's end.
  

• Data Retention: Booking and financial records are retained as required by Michigan tax and legal compliance (typically 7 years).
  

Third-Party Sharing
We do not sell, rent, or lease your personal information. We share data only with:

1. Payment Processors: To complete financial transactions.
   

2. Required Vendors: Essential vendors (e.g., contracted bus companies, hotels) may receive limited, necessary non-sensitive information (e.g., rooming lists) to fulfill the service.
   

🗽 Part V: Limitation of Liability & Governing Law

Assumption of Risk
All participants acknowledge that tour participation involves inherent risks associated with travel, historical site conditions, and group activities. By booking, the Group Leader and participants voluntarily assume all risks.

Limitation of Liability
AHT, its employees, and affiliates will not be liable for injury, loss, damage, or death resulting from the actions of any third-party vendor or the negligence of the Group Leader or participant. AHT's maximum liability for any claim shall not exceed the total amount paid for the specific tour.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction
 These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan and applicable United States federal law, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law. You agree that any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms or your tour participation shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in Ionia County, Michigan.