Terms and conditions

Dear user,
If you book a service with us, please note the applicable General Terms and Conditions for your service..

Definitions and scope of application

1. BhaktiMarga Italia Seminar Centre: the organising body offering courses, seminars, events,festivals, accommodation services and combined packages.
2. Customer: the natural or legal person who purchases the services of the Seminar Centre. Where the Customer acts for purposes unrelated to any business, commercial, craft or professional activity they may carry out, they are classified as a consumer; in all other cases, they are classified as a professional.
3. Contract: the agreement between the Seminar Centre and the Customer concerning participation in courses, seminars, events or festivals, any accommodation and/or the purchase of combined packages.
4. Package: a combination of at least one training service (course, seminar, event, festival) with one or more additional services (e.g. accommodation, meals, ancillary services).
5. Website: the Seminar Centre’s website through which online bookings and purchases can be made.

These general terms and conditions apply to all contracts concluded with the Seminar Centre, whether in person, remotely or electronically, unless specific terms have been agreed in writing.

Conclusion of the contract (including online)

1. The contract is deemed to be concluded when the Customer receives written confirmation (including by email) of the booking or order from the Seminar Centre.
2. In the case of an online booking via the Website, the Customer:
   • completes the electronic form, entering the required details and selecting the desired service or package;
   • declates that they have read and accepted these general terms and conditions, which are made available to them in a clear and easily accessible manner;
   • submits the request via the appropriate confirmation button;
   • receives an order confirmation by email, containing a summary of the services purchased, the price and any applicable penalties.
3. The general terms and conditions are made available to the Customer on a durable medium (e.g. in a downloadable or printable electronic format) and remain accessible for future reference.

Subject matter of the contract: courses, events, accommodation and packages

1. The Seminar Centre organises courses, seminars, events, festivals and other educational, cultural or recreational initiatives.
2. The contract may include, as applicable:
   • participation in one or more courses, seminars, events or festivals;
   • accommodation services in the Centre’s own or affiliated accommodation, a farmhouse located at Via Campana No. 3, Tarano (Rieti);
   • additional ancillary services (e.g. meals, coffee breaks, use of communal areas, unstaffed car park);
   • packages combining several of the services listed above.
3. The essential features of the services (dates, duration, venue, any participation requirements, main content) are set out in the information material and/or on the Website and in the booking confirmation.

Prices, payments and deposits

1. The prices of individual services and packages are quoted in euros, inclusive of VAT where applicable, unless otherwise stated.
2. Payment may be required:
   • in full in advance; or
   • by paying a deposit of up to 30% of the total price, with the balance to be paid by the deadline indicated in the booking confirmation.
3. Failure to pay the deposit or the balance within the agreed terms may result in the termination of the contract due to the Customer’s breach, with the Seminar Centre entitled to retain any sums already paid as a penalty in accordance with the cancellation rules set out in the section ‘Cancellation by the Customer and penalties’.
4. Payments may be made using the methods specified by the Seminar Centre (e.g. bank transfer, credit card, other electronic payment systems).

Event tickets and non-refundability policy

1. Unless otherwise expressly stated, tickets for individual events or festivals are non-refundable in the event of cancellation, non-attendance or late arrival by the Customer, even for reasons not attributable to them.
2. In the event of the Seminar Centre cancelling the event in its entirety, the Customer shall be entitled, at the Seminar Centre’s discretion, to a refund of the ticket price or to the issue of a voucher of the same value to be used for subsequent events within the specified period.
3. In any event, further compensation or damages are excluded, except in cases of wilful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the Seminar Centre.

Cancellation by the Customer and penalties (20% / 50% / 100%)

1. The Customer may withdraw from the contract before the start of the course, event, stay or package by notifying the Seminar Centre of the cancellation in writing (including by email).
2. Unless otherwise specified in the offer or booking confirmation, the following cancellation fees apply in the event of cancellation, calculated on the total price of the service or package:
   • cancellation notified well in advance of the start date (e.g. more than a certain number of days) → 20% penalty;
   • cancellation notified within an intermediate notice period → 50% penalty;
   • cancellation notified at short notice or no-show → 100% penalty.
3. The exact time limits (number of days’ notice for each period) are specified in the information material or in the booking confirmation; failing that, the time limits usually communicated by the Seminar Centre at the time of booking shall apply.
4. Further penalties also apply to any overnight stays included in the package, unless more favourable conditions are specified in the confirmation.
5. The Customer acknowledges that these penalties constitute a penalty clause intended to predetermine the damages arising from withdrawal and to simplify the settlement of relations between the parties.

Withdrawal and cancellation by the Centre

1. The Seminar Centre may cancel or postpone the course, event, stay or package, in whole or in part, due to:
   • force majeure (e.g. natural events, health emergencies, official measures, sudden unavailability of the venue);
   • just cause, including, by way of example, failure to reach the minimum number of participants, the sudden unavailability of the teacher or speaker who cannot be replaced, or situations that compromise the safety or the smooth running of the event.
2. In such cases, the Seminar Centre will inform the Customer as soon as possible and offer, at its discretion:
   • participation on an alternative date or in an equivalent event; or
   • a refund of the sums already paid for the part of the service not used.
3. Any further compensation or indemnity (e.g. travel costs, loss of earnings, etc.) is excluded, except in cases of wilful misconduct or gross negligence on the part of the Seminar Centre.

Consumer withdrawal in distance contracts

1. If the Customer is a consumer and the contract is concluded at a distance or outside business premises, the right of withdrawal applies within the limits and under the conditions provided for by current legislation, taking into account the legal exceptions (in particular for services relating to leisure activities with a specific date or period of performance).
2. The Seminar Centre shall inform the consumer, prior to the conclusion of the distance contract, of the existence or otherwise of the right of withdrawal and the relevant procedures for exercising it, in accordance with applicable legislation.

Customer Liability

1. The Customer is required to use the premises, equipment and property made available by the Seminar Centre with due care, and is liable for any damage caused by themselves or by persons or minors accompanying them.
2. The Customer is responsible for the accuracy and correctness of the information provided to the Seminar Centre at the time of booking or registration.
3. The Customer undertakes to comply with the internal regulations of the Seminar Centre and the accommodation facility, as well as any instructions provided by staff regarding safety, hygiene and coexistence.

Liability of the Centre, items on the premises and unguarded car park

1. The Seminar Centre shall be liable to the Customer only for direct and immediate damage resulting from the non-performance or improper performance of its obligations, to the extent permitted by law and except in cases of wilful misconduct or gross negligence.
2. The Seminar Centre shall not be liable for theft, loss or damage to the Customer’s personal property occurring within the premises, save as strictly provided for by the applicable legislation regarding the hotelier’s liability.
3. Any parking areas made available to the Customer are to be regarded, unless otherwise expressly stated, as unguarded parking; the Seminar Centre assumes no duty of care regarding vehicles and the property contained therein.
4. Under no circumstances shall the Seminar Centre be liable for indirect, consequential or loss of profit damages, except in cases of wilful misconduct or gross negligence.

Personal requirements of the Customer and absence of a guarantee of results

1. The Customer declares that they are in a suitable physical and mental condition to participate in the courses, seminars, events or activities of the Seminar Centre and undertakes to inform the Centre in advance of any special needs or conditions that may require specific measures.
2. The courses, seminars and events are intended for educational, cultural or personal development purposes; the Seminar Centre makes no guarantee of results in terms of personal, professional, financial or other benefits, undertaking solely to provide the agreed training services in accordance with fairness and good faith.

Confidentiality obligation and prohibition on recording

1. The Client undertakes to keep strictly confidential the contents of the courses, seminars, events and teaching materials (in any format, whether printed or digital) made available by the Seminar Centre or by the lecturers/speakers, as well as any confidential information of which they become aware during the activities carried out.
2. The Client is expressly prohibited from making audio, video or photographic recordings of lessons, meetings or projected materials, unless prior written authorisation has been obtained from the Seminar Centre.
3. The Client undertakes not to disseminate, reproduce, disclose to third parties or use for commercial purposes the content and materials received, except for strictly personal use and within the permitted limits.

Penalty clause for breach of confidentiality (€10,000)

1. In the event of a breach of the confidentiality obligations and the prohibition on recording referred to in the preceding article, the Client shall be required to pay the Seminar Centre, by way of a penalty clause, the sum of €10,000.00 for each established breach, without prejudice to any greater damages.
2. The penalty clause serves to conventionally predetermine the loss arising from the unauthorised disclosure of confidential content and does not preclude the Seminar Centre’s right to seek an injunction and compensation for any further damages.

Protection of personal data (Privacy – GDPR)

1. The processing of the Customer’s personal data is carried out in compliance with European and national legislation on the protection of personal data.
2. The Seminar Centre, as the data controller, processes the Customer’s data for purposes related to the management of the contract (bookings, invoicing, service communications) and, where the Customer consents, for additional purposes (e.g. sending informational or promotional communications).
3. Detailed information on the methods of processing, the purposes, the legal bases, the retention periods, the rights of the data subject and the contact details of the data controller and any data protection officer is contained in the privacy policy made available on the Website and/or at the Seminar Centre’s premises.
4. For the sending of promotional communications via email, text message or other electronic means, the Seminar Centre will use the Customer’s data only where there is free, specific and informed consent, except in cases permitted by current legislation.
5. The Customer may at any time exercise their rights of access, rectification, erasure, restriction, objection and data portability, as well as withdraw any consent given, in accordance with the procedures set out in the privacy policy.

Governing law and jurisdiction

1. This contract is governed by Italian law.
2. In the event of disputes between the Seminar Centre and a consumer Customer, exclusive jurisdiction lies with the Court of Rieti.
3. In the event of disputes between the Seminar Centre and a business Customer (B&B contracts), the parties agree that the Court of Rieti shall have exclusive jurisdiction, with express derogation from any other concurrent jurisdiction that may be provided for by law.
4. The agreement on the exclusive agreed jurisdiction for business customers is subject to specific written approval by the business customer.

Partial invalidity

1. The possible nullity, voidability or ineffectiveness of one or more clauses of these general terms and conditions shall not entail the nullity of the entire contract, which shall continue to remain valid and effective for the remaining part, unless the affected clauses are essential to the overall balance of the contract.
2. In such a case, the parties undertake to replace the invalid or ineffective clauses with valid and effective ones that reflect as closely as possible the original intention and the economic purpose pursued.

Clauses requiring specific written approval

The Customer declares that they have read carefully and expressly approve, in accordance with the applicable regulations on general terms and conditions and unfair terms, the following clauses of these general terms and conditions:

• clause on cancellation penalties and the non-refundability of event tickets (sections “Cancellation by the Customer and penalties” and “Event tickets and non-refundability rule”);
• clause on the Seminar Centre’s limitation of liability, items on the premises and unguarded car park (section “Centre’s liability, items on the premises and unguarded car park”);
• clause on the duty of confidentiality, the prohibition on recording and the penalty clause of €10,000.00 per breach (sections “Duty of confidentiality and prohibition on recording” and “Penalty clause for breach of confidentiality”);
• a clause on the competent court for contracts with professional clients, designating Rieti as the exclusive venue (article “Applicable law and competent court”);
• clause on partial invalidity (article “Partial invalidity”).