Privacy Policy

We collect various types of information to provide and improve our services for LEBIC 2026. The information we collect includes:

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Registration Information: Name, email address, phone number, company name, job title, business address
• Payment Information: Credit card details, billing address (processed securely through our payment processors)
• Profile Information: Professional interests, industry sector, business goals
• Communication Data: Messages, feedback, and inquiries sent to us
• Event Participation: Session attendance, networking preferences, badge scans

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on site, clickstream data, referral sources
• Location Data: General location based on IP address
• Cookies & Similar Technologies: See Section 5 for details

1.3 Information from Third Parties

• Business Partners: Information shared by sponsors, exhibitors, or partners
• Social Media: Public profile information if you connect social accounts
• Payment Processors: Transaction confirmation and payment status

We use the collected information for the following purposes:

• Event Registration & Management: Process registrations, issue tickets, manage attendance
• Communication: Send event updates, confirmations, reminders, and important announcements
• AI Matchmaking: Connect attendees with relevant businesses, investors, and networking opportunities
• Payment Processing: Handle transactions securely and issue receipts
• Customer Support: Respond to inquiries, provide assistance, resolve issues
• Marketing: Send promotional materials about LEBIC events (with your consent)
• Analytics: Understand user behavior, improve website functionality, enhance event experience
• Legal Compliance: Meet legal obligations, prevent fraud, enforce terms
• Research & Development: Improve our services, develop new features

We may share your information in the following circumstances:

3.1 With Your Consent

We share information when you explicitly consent to it, such as:

• Connecting with other attendees through AI matchmaking
• Sharing your profile with sponsors or exhibitors you interact with
• Publishing testimonials or success stories (with permission)

3.2 Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party providers who assist with:

• Payment processing (Stripe, PayPal)
• Email delivery (email service providers)
• Website hosting and maintenance
• Data analytics and insights
• Customer relationship management (CRM)

3.3 Business Partners

• Sponsors & Exhibitors: Basic contact information for networking purposes (opt-in)
• Official Hotel Partners: Reservation details when you book through our links
• Event Venues: Attendance information for access control and safety

3.4 Legal Requirements

We may disclose information when required by law or to:

• Comply with legal processes or government requests
• Enforce our terms and conditions
• Protect the rights, property, or safety of LEBIC, attendees, or others
• Prevent fraud or security threats

We take data security seriously and implement industry-standard measures to protect your personal information:

• Encryption: All sensitive data is encrypted in transit (SSL/TLS) and at rest
• Secure Servers: Data stored on secure, monitored servers with restricted access
• Access Controls: Limited employee access on a need-to-know basis
• Payment Security: PCI-DSS compliant payment processing
• Regular Audits: Security assessments and vulnerability testing
• Incident Response: Procedures to detect and respond to security breaches

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to enhance your experience on our website.

5.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality (login, shopping cart, security)
• Performance Cookies: Collect anonymous data about website usage and performance
• Functional Cookies: Remember your preferences and settings
• Marketing Cookies: Track your browsing to show relevant ads (with consent)

5.2 Managing Cookies

You can control cookies through:

• Browser settings (most browsers allow you to refuse or delete cookies)
• Our cookie consent banner when you first visit the site
• Opt-out tools provided by advertising networks

Depending on your location, you may have the following rights:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you
• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
• Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information (subject to legal obligations)
• Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications
• Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, commonly used format
• Objection: Object to processing of your personal information
• Restriction: Request restriction of processing in certain circumstances
• Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent for data processing (where applicable)

Our website may contain links to third-party websites and services:

• Payment Processors: Stripe, PayPal (subject to their privacy policies)
• Social Media: Links to Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram
• Hotel Partners: Hilton Garden Inn booking system
• Analytics: Google Analytics (anonymized data)

LEBIC events and services are intended for business professionals aged 18 and older. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 18.

If we discover that we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 18, we will delete it immediately. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us at privacy@lebic.org.

LEBIC operates in Canada and may process information in Canada and other countries where our service providers are located. If you are accessing our services from outside Canada:

• Your information may be transferred to and stored in Canada
• Canada has data protection laws that may differ from your country
• We ensure appropriate safeguards are in place for international transfers
• We comply with applicable data protection regulations (PIPEDA, GDPR where applicable)

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, technology, legal requirements, or other factors.

When we make changes:

• We will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this policy
• Significant changes will be notified via email or prominent website notice
• Your continued use of our services after changes constitutes acceptance

We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

If you have questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

Response Time: We will respond to your inquiries within 30 days.