Cookie Policy

1. General information

This policy pertains to the cookies implemented on the website www.continentalhotels.ro (“Site”) belonging to Continental Hotels S.A., based in Bucharest, Calea Grivitei no. 143, Sector 1, Trade Registry number J40/1754/1991, VAT number RO 1559737.

The following information is intended to provide the User with more details about the placement, use and management of the cookies used by the Site.

2. What are cookies and why are they being used?

The purpose of using cookies is to understand how users use this Site and to help us tailor the content of the Site to your needs.

Cookies are pieces of text placed by websites you visit into your computer, mobile device or other equipment from which you access the Internet. In order to function properly, most websites require the collection of basic information from users.

This automatic data storage technology is widespread and is used to collect information such as browser type and operating system, source page, domain name from which the visitor linked to the site.

The cookie is installed by a request issued by a web-server to a browser (e.g. Internet Explorer, Chrome) and is completely “passive” (contains no software, viruses or spyware and cannot access information on the user’s hard drive).

Cookies themselves do not require personal information to be used and, in most cases, do not personally identify Internet users.

Cookies play an important role in facilitating access to and delivery of the many services the user enjoys on the Internet, such as:

  • optimal operation of websites;
  • website performance monitoring;
  • improving the efficiency of online advertising;
  • recording the number of simultaneous users;
  • analysing visitors and their behaviour;
  • customising certain settings such as: the language in which a site is viewed, accessing old preferences by clicking the ”forward” and ”back” buttons.

Cookies are at the heart of the efficient operation of the Internet, helping to generate a friendly browsing experience tailored to the preferences and interests of each user.

A cookie contains information that links a web-browser (the user) to a specific web-server (the website). If a browser accesses that web-server again, it can read the information already stored and react accordingly.

Examples of important uses of cookies (which do not require a user to log in via an account):

  • Content and services tailored to user preferences – news categories, weather, sports, maps, public and government services, entertainment sites and travel services;
  • Offers tailored to users’ interests – password retention, language preferences (e.g. displaying search results in English);
  • Retain child protection filters on Internet content (family mode options, safe search functions);
  • Measurement, optimization and analytics features – such as confirming a certain level of traffic to a website, what type of content is being viewed and how a user gets to a website (e.g. via search engines, directly, from other websites). Websites perform these usage analytics to improve their operation for the benefit of users.

 

3. What types of cookies are there?

There are 2 broad categories of cookies:

  1. Session cookies – these are temporarily stored in the web browser’s cookie folder for the browser to remember until the user exits the website or closes the browser window (for example: when logging in/out of a webmail account or social network);
  2. Persistent cookies – these are stored on the hard drive of a computer or device (and generally depend on the default lifetime of the cookie). Persistent cookies also include those placed by a website other than the one the user is currently visiting – known as ‘third-party cookies’ – which can be used anonymously to remember a user’s interests so that the most relevant advertising can be delivered to users. Third party providers must also comply with applicable law and the privacy policies of the site owner.

 

4. How are cookies used by the Site?

Because we want to provide a personalized service to our users, our Site may use cookies to facilitate the storage and tracking of your preferences. For example, we may use cookies to identify you and to provide you with information and services based on the preferences you have expressed on your previous visits. Third-party online advertising networks may also use cookies to tailor advertising messages to your preferences.

Our Site uses our own and third-party cookies to provide users with a better browsing experience and services tailored to their needs and interests.

A visit to this Site may involve the following types of cookies:

  • Site performance cookies;
  • Visitor analytics cookies;
  • Geolocation cookies;
  • Registration cookies;
  • Advertising cookies;
  • Cookies from advertising providers.

Cookies used by the Site and their purpose:

  • Essential cookies: are used for the proper operation of the Site. Without these cookies we cannot guarantee that the Site will operate in optimal parameters;
  • Functional cookies: they help to make browsing the Site easier (for example: viewing the previous page or keeping the last availability search data);
  • Session cookies: are temporary only for the duration of a browsing session. They are used to improve navigation, especially in the process of making a reservation;
  • Persistent cookies: are saved on the local device and are not deleted when the browsing session ends. They store information about your chosen browsing preferences to be used in a subsequent browsing session on our Site (e.g.: selected language, uploaded photos, etc.);
  • Statistics cookies: they collect information about how the Site is used by the user in order to monitor the performance of the Site, the number of pages visited, the time spent on each page, the navigation mode, how the Site has been accessed and measure the effectiveness of promotional campaigns;
  • Advertising cookies: allow us and our collaborators to offer personalized offers on our Site or on other sites that show advertisements;
  • Social plug-in cookies: also a form of advertising cookies, but dedicated to sending personalised offers on social networks;
  • Special cookies: cookies from TheHotelNetworking for comparative analyze of online rates.

For a complete list of cookies used by the Site please go to CookieBot.

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5. Security and privacy issues

Cookies are NOT viruses. They use plain text formats. They are not made up of pieces of code, so they cannot be executed, nor can they execute themselves. Consequently, they cannot be duplicated or replicated on other networks. Since they cannot perform these functions, they are not considered viruses.

Cookies can still be used for negative purposes. Because they store information about users’ preferences and browsing history, both on a particular site and on other sites, cookies can be used as a form of spyware. Many anti-spyware products are aware of this fact and constantly flag cookies for deletion as part of anti-virus/anti-spyware deletion/scanning procedures.

In general, browsers have built-in privacy settings that provide different levels of cookie acceptance, validity period and automatic deletion after the user has visited a particular site.

Tips for safe and responsible browsing based on cookies:

  • Customise your browser settings for cookies to reflect the level of security you want;
  • Constantly install and update anti-spyware applications;
  • You may consider setting your browser to delete browsing data each time you close the browser.

 

6. How can I stop cookies?

Most browsers are set to accept cookies. But if you don’t want this, you can reset your browser to either notify you whenever you receive a cookie or refuse to accept cookies. In the case of our Site, you have the option to change your cookie settings using the cookie bar. However, some sections of our Site will not be viewable normally if you have set your browser to reject cookies.

You should also keep in mind that whenever you voluntarily disclose personal information in the online communication environment, e-mail program, FTP program or messaging services, the information you disclose can easily be collected and used by unauthorized persons.

 

7. Updates

We reserve the right to make any additions or changes to this policy. Please visit this page from time to time to be informed of new updates.

Last update: July 2023