General Conditions of Sale

Article 1. Scope of the General Conditions of Sale (GCS)

The Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau, hereinafter called "The PCVB", is an Association governed by the law of the 1 July 1901. Its head office is located at N˚ 25 Rue des Pyramides, Paris 75001 – France.

The Website www.parisinfo.com published by the PCVB (hereinafter the "Website") contains various spaces such as spaces accessible to any Website visitor, spaces reserved for its members or even free spaces or those accessible for a fee on which PCVB offers, in particular, a ticketing service for tourist services (excursions, cruises, outings, admission tickets for some museums or amusement parks, packages including admission tickets and tickets for public transport, a reductions booklet etc) and an online booking service in particular for accommodation and catering services.
These general conditions of sale ("GCS") exclusively relate to orders and/or bookings made and paid for in full or part online by the User on the Website in the context of the use of online ticketing and booking services (the "Services"). Accordingly, , bookings and/or orders for which the Website refers the User to the PCVB's partner service providers, such as the partner Fastbooking for certain hotel or residential hotel booking services, are excluded from the scope of these applicable GCS since these services are exclusively supplied and managed by and under the responsibility of the aforementioned third party partner, in accordance with this third party partner’s applicable contractual terms.. The restaurant booking service is also excluded from the scope of the present GCS.

The User is also expressly informed and recognises that the Services ordered or booked via the Website are likely to be subject, in addition to these GCS, to the general or particular terms applied by the Partners that supply the ordered or booked Services. It is thus up to the User to be aware of these additional contractual terms before making any purchase or booking of Services on the Website.

Article 2. Definitions

The terms employed with a capital letter in the present GCS will have the meaning given hereinafter, whether used in the singular or plural.
"Force Majeure" designates an event like a natural disaster or a major political event (war etc), that proves to be, with regard its circumstances, unpredictable, unstoppable and external and is thus recognised by the case law of the Court of Cassation as constituting a case of force majeure.
"Partner" designates the supplier or suppliers of the Services provided.
"Service Provision" designates any provision of a service, such as an accommodation, transport, leisure or visits service, supplied by a Partner that can be ordered or booked with the PCVB on the Website. The characteristics and contents of the Service Provision are determined by the Service provider that supplies the aforementioned Service Provision and are set out on the Website.
"Service" designates the ticketing service and/or hotel booking service offered by PCVB on its Website that allows the online purchase or booking of the Service Provision. The characteristics and functionalities of these Services are more specifically described on the Website, notably on the "FAQ" page which provides help with the use of these Services.
"User" designates any user of the Website who books, orders and/or buys one or several Service Provisions offered on the Website.

Article 3. Ordering or booking on the Website www.parisinfo.com

3.1 Prior Conditions for using the Services

Any order or booking made and paid for via the Website supposes the User's full prior acceptance of the present GCS, to be signalled by ticking the box provided for this purpose and as appropriate, the acceptance of the applicable contractual conditions of the Partner supplying the Service Provision concerned. Without this acceptance, the continuation of the order or booking process is technically impossible.
The characteristics of the Service Provision that can be ordered or booked on the Website feature on the Website. The photos shown on the Website do not, however, have any contractual force. By placing an order or booking a Service Provision on the Website, the User implicitly recognises that he has obtained all the desired information about the nature and characteristics of this Service Provision.
The User must be aged at least 18 and be legally capable of taking out a contract and of using this Website in accordance with the GCS applicable on the confirmation date of his order or booking.
The User attests to the veracity and accuracy of all the information that he communicates to the PCVB in the context of the use of the Services and, as such guarantees the PCVB against any third party action or claim relating to an unlawful or fraudulent use of its data by a User in the context of the use of the Services.

3.2 Online contractualisation process applicable to all Services

3.2.1 The present GCS are offered in French and foreign languages (English, Spanish and German). They can be referred to at any time from any Internet page on the Website.

3.2.2 The User has the option of saving the GCS by storing or editing them, using the standard functionalities of his browser or computer. Such storage is his responsibility solely. For its part, the PCVB stores contracts concluded on the Website where these are worth in excess of 120 Euros. The User can ask the PCVB to access the contract archives by sending a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt to PCVB, 25 rue des Pyramides, 75001 Paris. This letter must be accompanied by all items needed to prove that the User is indeed the co-contracting party for the contract archives requested and by a copy of his identity card.

3.2.3 The procedure for the User to place an order or book on the Website relies on the double click technique and , whatever the Service concerned, takes in the following stages:

- Stage 1: the User chooses the desired Service Provision after acknowledging the essential characteristics relating to these Services as featured on the Website, and for orders placed via the ticketing Service, choosing the desired delivery method;
- Stage 2: the User fills in the compulsory fields on the order or booking forms featured on the Website (failing that, the User's order or booking request cannot be processed by the PCVB) and the information entered is temporarily confirmed;
- Stage 3: the User confirms the information featuring on the summary displayed on the Website with respect to the chosen Service Provision, the total cost of the Service Provision, the price due to the PCVB and the information entered by the user. At this stage the latter can still identify any error and correct it using the methods featured on the Website, modify his order or booking for convenience or simply abandon it;
- Stage 4: the User unreservedly accepts these GCS and if needs be, the Partners' applicable contractual conditions;
- Stage 5: the User finally confirms his order or booking request on the Website after entering and confirming information relating to the online payment method chosen by the User.

3.2.4 The contract concluded online by the User with PCVB becomes firm and permanent and the PCVB is obliged to supply the Service, when the User has (i) finally confirmed the information entered and the Service Provision chosen, (ii) unreservedly accepted the GCS and, as appropriate, the Partners' contractual conditions and (iii) paid in full the price for the Service Provision which is to be paid to the PCVB directly in accordance with Article 6 hereinafter (and this payment has been received in full by the PCVB in accordance with article 6.1.3). However, when the contract applies only to booking accommodation, the contract is then concluded under the suspensive confirmation condition relating to desired availabilities in accordance with Article 5 hereinafter. 

3.2.5 The PCVB will send an e-mail confirming the order or booking made on the Website by the User in a timely manner, before the Service Provisions ordered or booked begin and at the latest within seventy two (72) hours from receipt of the User’s order or booking.. This confirmation e-mail is sent to the e-mail address entered by the User on the order or booking form and includes, by sending the present GCS and any particular conditions specific to the order or booking made, the contractual information required by article L.121-19 of the French Consumer Code, such as the Service Provision(s) ordered and the identification of the supplier Partner, the price paid to the PCVB and as appropriate, the balance still owed by the User to the Partner, the delivery costs and the address to which the User can submit any complaints.

3.2.6 It is up to the User to print this confirmation e-mail on his printer and to benefit from the ordered or booked Service Provisions, he must present it to the Partner.. The User is therefore obliged to check beforehand that he is able to print the confirmation e-mail. On no account can a bank statement alone be used as proof of a booking or order.

3.3 Modification or cancellation of an order or booking

3.3.1 The User's attention is expressly drawn to the importance for him of checking the accuracy of the information entered and correcting it if needs be, using the methods provided on the Website in the context of the contractualisation process described in article 3.2, before any final confirmation. No order or booking made on the Website can be modified online at a later date.

3.3.2 The User does however have the option, solely in those instances and under the conditions defined in Articles 4 and 5 of the present GCS or in the event of Force Majeure, of modifying or cancelling an order or booking made on the Website.

3.4 Absence of the right of retraction

In accordance with the provisions of article L.121-20-4 of the French Consumer Code, the User should be aware that he has no right of retraction where "accommodation, transport, catering and leisure services", are remotely booking or ordering for a date or for a specific period, whether these are booked or ordered on the Website together in the form of a tourist package or separately..

Article 4. Conditions specific to the ticketing Service

4.1 Ordering procedure

The PCVB offers on the Website a ticketing service for tourist services such as excursions, cruises, outings, admission tickets for some museums or amusement parks, packages including admission tickets and tickets for public transport, reductions booklet, etc.
The tickets that can be ordered on the Website are generally subject to a set period of validity or for some, can be bought for a set date, as mentioned on the Website. By finally confirming his order on the Website, the User acknowledges that he is fully aware of the date or period of validity applicable to his order. Any ticket not used on the date provided or within the period of validity stipulated will not be refunded.

4.2 Delivery procedure

Once the contract has been finally concluded online in accordance with article 3.2.4 above, the PCVB delivers the order to the delivery address using the delivery method chosen by the User when placing his order on the Website. The various delivery methods, places, countries, and estimated deadlines offered by the PCVB are set out on the Website, as are the shipping costs. On presentation of the order confirmation e-mail mentioned in article 3.2 of the GCS (or failing that, on presentation of an identity card in the name of the person who made the booking), the order can also be collected by the User from the PCVB's main office at the address and according to the terms featuring on the Website..

In the event of a delivery request, the orders placed and paid for on the Website are shipped the day after the payment made online has been validated in accordance with article 6.1.3. Orders for which payment has been validated on a Friday or during the weekend are shipping the following Monday.
The PCVB shall not be liable for any possible delay or incapacity to deliver which is due to an incorrect or incomplete delivery address or to strikes or other problems with national or international mail delivery services, disruptions or weather conditions and will refuse to refund the order.
On receiving his order, whatever the delivery method concerned, it is up to the User to ensure that the tickets supplied comply with his order. Reservations of the kind "subject to", "subject to unpacking", “package open” etc. are not admissible in the event of a dispute.

When delivery takes place, do not forget to check the package in front of the carrier. Should the carrier not want to wait, please write the following on the freight order: "The carrier was in a hurry and did not give me time to check the parcel"

In the event of an anomaly, the User must: (i) enter very specific and descriptive written reservations on the delivery docket (e.g. number of inaccurate tickets), (ii) note the exact number of missing items and give a specific description of the state of the package (open, torn, intact etc) and (iii) send the delivery organisation a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt within 48 hours. Beyond this deadline, no total or partial refund can be made by the PCVB.

4.3 Contact

Any question or complaint relating to an order, its tracking number or any cancellation must be sent by e-mail with acknowledgement of receipt to internet@parisinfo.com.

Article 5. Conditions specific to the hotel booking service

5.1 Online booking procedure

The PCVB offers on the Website a hotel room booking service for Partner hotels and residential hotels for which the Partners’ availability is posted in real time on the Website on the basis of information given to it by these Partners. This posting of availability in real time is, however, for information only, considering transactions likely to be carried out simultaneously, and cannot be enforceable against the PCVB. Only the confirmation e-mail sent by the PCVB in accordance with article 3.2.5 above constitutes final confirmation by the PCVB of the booking made by the User.

5.2 Booking confirmation

The booking confirmation e-mail sent by the PCVB contains the booking number and constitutes a booking. No other booking confirmation is given to the User, whether by post or any other method. It is up to the User to bring this confirmation e-mail so as to be able to present it to the hotel reception on the day of arrival (or failing that, be equipped with an identity card corresponding to the person in whose name the booking was made).

5.3 Modification or cancellation of a booking

5.3.1 A booking request made in accordance with the five stages described in article 3.2.3 above can no longer, once made, be modified on line by the User in accordance with article 3.3 above. Any modification request must be sent directly to the hotel concerned, which will process this request according to its own contractual terms to which the PCVB is a third party..

5.3.2 A booking can be cancelled by the User using the link contained in the booking confirmation e-mail subject to this being done at least 48 hours before the arrival date as scheduled in the booking. Deposits paid by the User on the Website during booking in accordance with article 6.3 will be returned by the PCVB as soon as possible. The PCVB will not refund deposits paid on the Website for any booking cancellation occurring less than 48 hours before arrival. The User should furthermore be aware that in the event of a booking cancellation, the hotel is likely to debit costs from the User according to the hotel's applicable contractual conditions as agreed by the User during his booking process on the Website.

5.3.3 Any cancellation request not made by the User by means of the hypertext link featuring in the booking confirmation e-mail cannot be processed by the PCVB and the Bureau may not be held liable for retaining the deposits paid and/or costs debited by the hotel in accordance with the terms hereinafter.

5.3.4 The ability to cancel stipulated in article 5.3.2 above does not apply when the User, when making his booking, has benefited from a promotional rate or a special offer on this booking, these bookings being made finally and irrevocably once the online contract has been concluded under the terms provided for in article 3.2.4.

5.4 Contact

Any question or complaint regarding a booking request or a cancellation must be sent by e-mail with acknowledgement of receipt to hotel@parisinfo.com.

Article 6. Financial terms

6.1 Common provisions

6.1.1 The Service Provision prices referred to on the Website are expressed in Euros and are inclusive of tax. They take into account the VAT applicable on the date of the order or booking request. Prices do not include communication costs linked to the use of the Services. These remain payable by the User.

6.1.2 It should be noted that the Service Provisions prices displayed on the Website reflect the Partners’ rating practices. The PCVB is not in any way involved in setting these rates. These prices are updated on the Website when any modifications are made to rates applied by the Partners. The Service Provision prices invoiced to the User correspond to the prices applicable on the date of the final confirmation of the order or booking request made by the User on the Website.

6.1.3 When the booking or order is made by credit card, payment for Service Provisions is made online via the secure electronic payment system set up on the Website. It should be made clear that any payment by credit card launches an automatic debit authorisation request. As the order or booking request is final after full payment of the price of Services due to the PCVB, any rejection, for whatever reason, leads to the order or booking request being abandoned, and it will therefore not be processed by the PCVB.

6.2 Provisions specific to the ticketing Service

The price of Service Provisions ordered via the ticketing Service is paid in full to the PCVB via the Website.
Regarding the sale of tickets with a date (cabarets, shows), it is the general sales conditions of the ticket supplier which apply to refunds.

6.3 Provisions specific to the hotel booking Service

The price of an overnight stay in a hotel featured on the Website includes equipment featuring in the room selection category. This price does not include visitor's tax and extras (like breakfast, parking, etc.) that can be chosen by the User during the booking process.

The price of Service Provisions, as featured in the booking request summary prior to any final confirmation by the User, corresponds to the sum total of the Service Provisions due by the user, including the visitor's tax and any extras that may be chosen. This price for Service Provisions is repeated in the booking confirmation e-mail sent by the PCVB in accordance with article 3.2 of the GCS.

In order finally to confirm his booking request, the User is informed that they must provide information about their bank details on the Website, and for some hotels, the User must pay the PCVB, via the secure electronic payment system set up on the Website, deposits corresponding to 12% of the sum total of the Service Provisions. The balance of the price of Service Provisions will be paid by the User directly to the hotel during his stay.

The User should however note that the User's bank details are automatically passed on to the hotel concerned as a guarantee. As stipulated in article 5.3 above, the hotel may, in particular, use the bank details to debit costs in the event of a cancellation.

Article 7. Changes and enforceability of the GCS and Service Provisions

These GCS and/or the contents of the Service Provisions may be modified at any time by the PCVB to take into account changes to the Website, and/or the Services and/or the Service Provisions made by the Partners or, any change in the applicable regulations or any other modifications introduced by the PCVB. The version of the GCS that is enforceable against the User is the one featuring on the Website at the time of the final confirmation by the User of his order or booking request. The Service Provisions supplied to the User are those featuring in the order or booking confirmation e-mail, in accordance with the contents of the Service Provisions as described on the Website on the date when the order or booking is made.

Article 8. The liability of the PCVB

The PCVB may not be held liable for the total or partial non-performance of the contract attributable to a case of force majeure, to a third party to the contract or the User's fault. In particular, the PCVB may not be held liable for mistakes made by the User when entering information required in online forms, or in the event of the fraudulent use by a third party of the identity or payment method of the User as identified on an order or booking request.

The PCVB may not be held responsible either for damage of any kind that may result from the Website being temporarily unavailable or the connection between the User's terminal equipment and the PCVB Website being interrupted while an order or booking request is being made.

Article 9. Agreement as to proof

The User recognises that the data recorded by the PCVB in the context of orders and bookings made on the Website constitute proof of all transactions entered into with the User and that the data recorded by the electronic payment system supplied on the Website constitute proof of financial transactions.

Article 10. Personal data

In the context of Services supplied on the Website and so as to be able to process and fulfil an order or booking request on the Website and pass it on to third parties and notably, its Partners or Service providers and allow the User to be able to benefit from the Service Provisions ordered or booked on the Website, the PCVB is bound to collect for itself and/or for its Partners or service providers data of a personal nature concerning the User. In particular, the User should be aware that the bank details supplied when paying a hotel booking on the Website are automatically passed on by the PCVB to the Partner hotel concerned in accordance with article 6.3 above. By placing an order or making a booking request on the Website, the User expressly agrees to these transfers.

Data of a personal nature processed by the PCVB in its capacity as the organization responsible for the processing of data via the Website is the subject of a declaration to the CNIL – an administrative agency protecting privacy and personal data. Data concerning the User of a personal nature is processed by the PCVB according to the (modified) Data Protection Act of 6 January 1978, and this applies to data processed by the PCVB itself and that transmitted to its Partners.
In accordance with the Data Protection Act of the 6 January 1978 as amended, the User has the right to access, modify and delete data concerning him as well as the right to object, for legal reasons, to the processing of his data. The User can exercise these rights by sending a registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt accompanied by a copy of a valid identity card to the following address: OTCP, Parisinfo.com - Service Client, Direction E-business & marketing internet, 25 rue des Pyramides, 75001 Paris, France.

It should be noted that data collecting forms featuring on the Website specify compulsory and optional fields. It should be noted that if the User fails to fill in a compulsory field the PCVB will be unable to process his request.
The purpose of other requests for information calling for an optional response or information relating to the User's interest in offers likely to be sent to him, is to get to know him better as well as improve the services offered to him.
The PCVB may send the User information on its special offers or any new Service Provisions offered on the Website, unless this is refused on his part when placing his order on the Website. Furthermore the User may at any time ask no longer to receive e-mails from the PCVB by clicking on the link provided for this purpose in this information e-mail.

The User should furthermore be aware that browsing the Website implants a cookie in the User's computer. The cookie stores information relating to the User's browsing on the Website (pages looked at, date and time of the consultation, etc.) and stores information entered by the User during his visit (such as surname, first name and other identification data) allowing the User to avoid having to key these in again on the occasion of his next visit. The PCVB is thus able read all the stored information on the occasion of the User's future visits.
Cookie files may be saved temporarily or permanently. Permanent cookie files remain on the computer's hard drive as long as the User has not manually deleted them.
The User is informed that he can prevent the saving of "cookies" at any time by configuring his browser as follows:

For Mozilla Firefox:
1.Choose the "tools" menu then "Options"
2.Click on the icon "private life"
3.Locate the "cookie" menu and choose the options that suit you

For Microsoft Internet Explorer:
1. Choose the "Tools" menu "then "Internet Options".
2. Click on the tab "Confidentiality"
3. Choose the desired level using the cursor.
For Opéra:
1. Choose the "File">"Preferences" menu
2. Private life

Article 11. Intellectual property

The PCVB is the holder of all intellectual property rights attaching to the Website and the elements comprising it or holds the licences required by the holders of these rights.
It is consequently forbidden to reproduce, modify, transfer or use all or part of the Website without express and written authorisation from the PCVB:  partial reproduction for strictly private purposes may, however be tolerated.
It is forbidden to resell products or use the Website for commercial purposes without express and written authorisation from the PCVB.

Article 12. Applicable law and dispute settlement

The General Conditions are subject to French law. Any dispute relating to their interpretation and/or performance will be subject to the jurisdiction of the competent courts of Paris.