Terms and Conditions

Guest Terms and Conditions

These Guest Terms and Conditions (“Guest Terms”) set out the terms and conditions between Palatelocal Technologies Private Limited, operating under the brand name Palatelocal (“Palatelocal”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) and you, the individual (“Guest”, “you”, or “your”) who browses, books, or participates in home dining experiences (“Experiences”) offered by third-party individuals (“Hosts”) through the Palatelocal platform available at www.palatelocal.com and the Palatelocal mobile application (the “Platform”).

By creating an account, accessing the Platform, or booking an Experience, you acknowledge and agree to be bound by these Guest Terms and the Privacy Policy. By proceeding, you are deemed to have read, understood, and accepted these Guest Terms.

Registration and Onboarding

a. To be eligible to register and use the Platform, you must be at least 18 (eighteen) years of age and have the legal capacity to enter into a binding contract. By creating an account, you represent and warrant that you meet these and any other requirements as may be stipulated by the Platform. You may be required to verify your identity, age, or other credentials prior to participation in any Experience. The collection and use of your personal information in connection with your access to and use of the Platform is described in our Privacy Policy.

b. You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during the registration process and keep your account information updated. You are responsible for safeguarding your password and for all activities that occur under your account. You agree to notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.

c. We reserve the right to remove or suspend your account at any time and without prior notice, if we discover that any information or document you have provided is found to be incomplete, inaccurate, misleading, fraudulent or in violation of these Guest Terms, or may be violation of applicable law, or poses a safety or medical risk, or is reported to be so.

Palatelocal Platform

a. The Platform is an online marketplace that enables registered Hosts to offer an Experience of home dining and allows Guests to book these Experiences offered by the Hosts.

b. You understand and agree that Palatelocal does not own, create, sell, provide, control, manage, or offer any Experiences. Hosts are independent third parties, unaffiliated to us, and no Host is an employee, agent, or partner of Palatelocal.

c. Palatelocal has no control over and does not guarantee, and does not undertake any liability in relation to the:

The existence, accuracy, quality, safety, suitability, or legality of any Experience;
The truth or accuracy of any Experience descriptions, ratings, reviews, videos or photographs, or
The conduct of any Host or third party during the Experience. Any references to a Host being “verified” (or similar language) only indicate that the Host has completed a limited set of verification or identification process (which includes Government Identity verification and KYC and self-verification through virtual means) and is not an endorsement, certification, or guarantee by Palatelocal. We also do not conduct any background checks or verifications on Hosts, other than as stated herein.

d. While we may curate Experiences or display curated Experiences for you, based on your past bookings or preferences, we do not, in any way, endorse or obligate you to make such bookings; these are intended to be only suggestions. You remain solely responsible for enquiring and making your decision regarding the bookings and reviewing the terms, if any, accompanying any bookings.

Bookings and Payments

a. Bookings: When you book an Experience, you enter into a legally binding agreement directly with the Host, subject to any additional terms and conditions of the Host that apply to that Experience. Please review all additional terms that a Host may prescribe, prior to making any booking. A Booking is formed when the Host confirms your reservation.

b. Payments: The consideration, along with the applicable taxes, will be displayed at the time of making the booking and are due in full in advance and are non-refundable (subject to limited exceptions mentioned herein). All payments shall be made through the Platform using our designated third-party payment processors. You authorize Palatelocal to collect these amounts on behalf of the Host and to process the payment to the Host through us.

Cancellation and Refunds

All cancellations, refunds, and related claims shall be governed strictly in accordance with the terms and conditions specified under the Cancellation and Refund Policy of the Platform, as amended from time to time. The said Policy shall form an integral part of these Guest Terms and shall be deemed to have been read, understood, and accepted by the Guest.

Guest Obligations and Conduct

a. Your Responsibilities: You are responsible for your own acts and omissions and are also responsible for the acts and omissions of any individual you invite to or provide access to or accompany you to an Experience. If pets are allowed at an Experience, you remain solely responsible for and liable for them, including ensuring that the pets follow any rules/restrictions prescribed by the Host.

b. Communication of Dietary Needs: You are solely responsible for identifying and communicating any food allergies, dietary restrictions, or medical conditions to the Host, prior to the booking and upon arrival at the Experience. Palatelocal does not verify ingredient lists or cross-contamination practices and cannot be held liable for any adverse reactions. You are also advised to review the information presented for each Experience, which would generally cover dietary restrictions, allergens, etc., prior to making any booking. In the event of any adverse reaction or health issue, you are solely responsible for seeking immediate medical attention or consulting a qualified doctor or healthcare professional.

c. Respect for Hosts and Property: You are reminded that the Experience is hosted by Hosts in their residences, and hence, the experience may vary from that at a commercial restaurant. You agree to treat the Host and any other persons present at the Experience with courtesy and respect, including maintaining decorum at the house of the Host. You must comply with all house rules specified by the Host, refrain from bringing in unregistered guests unless permitted and comply with all laws that may be applicable to your attendance at an Experience. You are responsible for leaving the Host’s property in the condition it was in when you arrived. You remain solely responsible for the attendance of your pets at the Experience, if so permitted.

d. Prohibited Activities:

You agree not to:

Engage in any disruptive, abusive, harassing, bullying or illegal behavior, including excessive alcoholism, consuming prohibited substances, drugs, being inebriated;
Use the Platform or Experience for any commercial or other purposes that are not expressly permitted by these Terms;
Contact a Host for any purpose other than asking a question related to a booking or the Experience itself;
Write defamatory or derogatory comments/reviews or publish any other content on the Platform or elsewhere relating to the Experience, or other content which is untrue or inaccurate, or contains language or content that is prohibited under applicable law; and
Attempt to circumvent the Platform by making direct bookings or payments to a Host outside of the Platform.

e. Reporting of Incidents and Safety Concerns: You shall promptly report to Palatelocal any accidents, injuries, health issues, food-related incidents, safety concerns, or misconduct involving a Host or other users that occur in connection with an Experience, including where any report or complaint has been made to local authorities. You acknowledge and agree that Palatelocal may, as it deems appropriate, take interim measures during any investigation or review, including temporarily suspending or restricting access to the relevant Host listing, Experience, or user account. f. Violation: Any violation of these obligations may result in cancellation of your Booking, account suspension, forfeiture of Fees, or liability for damages.

Assumption of Risk, Liability, and Indemnity

a. You acknowledge and agree that Palatelocal acts only as an intermediary booking platform and does not provide the Experiences itself. You acknowledge that participating in a dining Experience at a private residence involves inherent risks, including but not limited to:

Foodborne illness, allergic reactions, or contamination;
Accidents involving cooking equipment, heat, or sharp utensils;
Injuries or accidents within the venue, including those caused by pets;
Actions or misconduct of other Guests or the Host, or pets/animals in the Host’s residence; and
Travel-related risks to and from the venue; and you agree to assume the entire risk arising out of your access to and use of the Platform and any Experience. This includes, but is not limited to, risks of illness, bodily injury, disability, or death, and you freely and willfully assume those risks by choosing to participate in those Experiences.

b. You acknowledge and accept these risks and agree that participation is entirely voluntary and made after considering the risks.

c. You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Palatelocal, its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, and agents from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, and expenses, including reasonable legal fees arising from:

Your breach of these Guest Terms or your improper use of the Platform;
Your negligence, fraud, misconduct, or failure to comply with applicable laws;
Any claim, illness, injury, or death suffered by Hosts or third parties arising out of, or pursuant to your participation/presence at the Experience or due to the acts of others that have accompanied you to the Experience or yours or their pets; and
Any loss or damage to property or assets of the Hosts or third parties, arising out of, or pursuant to your acts/omissions or failure to comply with applicable law.

d. In no event will Palatelocal be liable for any indirect, consequential, punitive, or special damages, including loss of profit, goodwill, or business reputation. At no point will our liability exceed Rs. 1,000/- (Rupees One Thousand Only) in the aggregate.

Disclaimers

a. The Platform and services are provided “as is” and “as available,” without warranty of any kind, either express or implied. Palatelocal explicitly disclaims any warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, quiet enjoyment, or non-infringement.

b. Given the nature of the Experience, which involves visiting individuals at their residence/home, and which assumes a high degree of trust, you are advised to exercise caution in who you visit while booking Experiences. In the absence of robust rating systems providing any indication of the conduct of individuals (whether Hosts or Guests), you may consider limiting the Experiences to individuals known to you or recommended by persons known to you.

c. Palatelocal does not endorse any Host or Experience. We do not conduct background checks on Hosts or inspect their residences. You agree that any Experience you book is at your own risk.

d. Palatelocal makes no representations or warranties regarding food preparation, safety, hygiene standards, or quality of any Experience. We are not liable for any foodborne illness, allergic reaction, or any other harm resulting from the consumption of food provided by a Host.

e. Palatelocal is not liable for any injury, damage, loss, illness, or death suffered by Guests or third parties due to any activity or incident that may occur at or during an Experience, including those caused by pets.

f. Palatelocal is not responsible for the condition of the Host’s premises or for your safety or for your belongings during an Experience, including the pets that may be present at the residences of Hosts.

g. Palatelocal is not responsible for any reviews, text, images, or other content posted by users on the Platform. Such content reflects the opinion of the user who posts it and is not verified by Palatelocal.

h. Palatelocal does not bear any responsibility or liability arising from disputes or interactions between you and Hosts or any third parties that may arise in relation to any Experience.

i. The Platform may contain links to third-party websites, payment gateways, or services. Palatelocal does not control, endorse, or assume responsibility for any such external sites or services. Use of such third-party services is entirely at your own risk.

j. These disclaimers apply to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law and shall survive the termination of your relationship with Palatelocal.

Intellectual Property Rights

a. All intellectual property, including trademarks, service marks, logos, software, text, graphics, images, and other content on the Platform, are owned or licensed by Palatelocal. You agree not to reproduce, distribute, modify, create derivative works of, or otherwise exploit any portion of the Platform or its content without prior written consent.

b. You grant Palatelocal a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use your name, trademarks, logos, photographs, videos, descriptions and other content provided by you on the Platform for marketing, advertising, or promotional purposes. You represent that you have all necessary rights to grant the above license and that Palatelocal's use of such intellectual property will not infringe third-party rights.

Data Protection and Confidentiality

a. We expect you to maintain confidentiality and respect the privacy of Host information shared with you. You may access limited personal information of Hosts solely for availing the Experience and agree to handle such data in compliance with applicable data protection laws and Palatelocal’s Privacy Policy, without retaining, misusing, disclosing, or sharing it for any other purpose other than as expressly stated herein. You are not permitted to, and should not, utilize Host's personal information for any other reason other than to avail the Experience, and shall not utilize such information after the conclusion of the Experience, unless you have explicitly obtained the Host’s consent to do so.

b. In addition to your obligation to protect personal data shared with you, you agree to maintain strict confidentiality of any proprietary, business, or technical information received from Palatelocal and not disclose or misuse such information for any purpose other than performing your obligations under these Guest Terms.

Amendment

Palatelocal reserves the right to amend or update these Guest Terms at its sole discretion. Such amended Terms shall become effective immediately upon being posted on the Platform, and your continued use of the Platform or participation in any Experience shall constitute your acceptance of the updated Terms.

Force Majeure

Palatelocal shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Guest Terms due to causes beyond its reasonable control, including, but not limited to, acts of nature, governmental actions, pandemics, technical failures, or interruptions of internet services.

Termination

Palatelocal may immediately terminate or suspend your access to the Platform immediately upon written notice (including by email) if:

You violate these Guest Terms or any other applicable agreement or terms or applicable law;
Incidents of misconduct, riotous or disorderly behaviour, or other acts or omissions constituting misconduct (including engaging in harassment, bullying, being discourteous or disrespectful to Hosts, etc.) are reported; and/or
You have misused the Platform in any other way.

Upon termination or suspension, you will not be entitled to avail any Experience, including any booked/confirmed Experiences.

Governing Law and Dispute Resolution

These Guest Terms shall be governed by the laws of India. Any dispute arising hereunder shall be subject exclusively to the courts at Bengaluru, India.

Miscellaneous

a. The Experience must be availed only by you, along with any confirmed guests that you have indicated in the booking. Hence, you shall not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Guest Terms without prior written consent from Palatelocal. Palatelocal may assign its rights and obligations to any of its affiliates or successors without restriction.

b These Host Terms, along with the Cancellation and Refund Policy and the Privacy Policy, constitute the entire understanding between Palatelocal and you with respect to your listing and bookings on the Platform.

Contact and Grievances

Please contact the below for all matters relating to these Guest Terms:

Name: Hari Duthaluru
Designation: Director
Email: admin@palatelocal.com