About Express Connect: Express ConnectTM is used by the coordinators of conferences (“Conference Coordinators”) to allow Attendees to schedule time to meet with “Hosts” at mutually-agreeable times, typically in a private setting. These meetings typically occur in a business “Suite” away from the exhibit hall. This allows the Attendees to discuss their needs and the Hosts to discuss their services in a more private, distraction-free environment.
Who We Are: Express Connect is a service offered by Forum Makers, LLC of Baltimore, MD. For more information about Forum Makers, please visit https://ForumMakers.com. Forum Makers is referred to as “we” in this Privacy Policy (the “Policy”). Questions or concerns about this Policy should be directed to [email protected].
About this Policy: This Policy applies to information collected as part of your interaction with the Express Connect service, including without limitation your interactions with any websites, mobile apps, or related interfaces.
Who’s Information We Collect:
- Visitors – Everyone visiting the Express Connect service will be Visitors. “Visitors” are people who access the Express Connect service, including the main website, mobile app, or other interface without logging in.
- Attendees – Many people visiting the Express Connect service are likely to be Attendees. “Attendees” are people who have typically purchased a ticket to attend a conference where one of the conference perks is to be able to meet with one or more Hosts via Express Connect. Attendees have been authorized to login to the Express Connect service (including any related mobile app(s)) for a variety of purposes, including to set their availability and schedule meetings.
- Hosts – Only a small percentage of people using the Express Connect service are likely to be Hosts. These are typically representatives of vendors (the “Host”) who offer products or services that are likely to be relevant for, or of interest to, conference attendees.
What We Collect: For Express Connect to work, we need to collect certain information about both Attendees and Hosts. This includes first name, last name, company name, title/role, E-mail address, phone number, and notes for/about each person (collectively your “Profile”). To support the Express Connect service, we also collect certain basic information about every Visitor including without limitation the Internet Protocol (“IP”) address used, the country of origin for the communications, time of day, browser/app/device information, and information about how the visitor interacts with the website, app, and Express Connect service.
Why We Collect it: We primarily collect this information for two purposes: 1) to help us operate the services; 2) to communicate with you, including contacting you about your Express Connect meeting(s).
How we Use it: Although the Express Connect service allows for some communication between Attendees and Hosts, we recognize that this is not always the most efficient or effective ways for the parties to communicate. We therefore may share your information with the people you are expected to meet, and have met, so they can contact you before/after the meeting. This may include, for example and without limitation, for logistical purposes (e.g., someone is stuck in traffic or they want to know if you have a food allergy), to follow up with you after the meeting, and for marketing or related purposes.
What we Share:
- Visitors do not receive any information.
- Attendees receive the Profile information for each Host that they meet.
- Hosts receive the Profile information for the Attendees with whom they are scheduled to meet or have met. We may also share the Profile information for all Express Connect Attendees with the Hosts in some cases (e.g., to help encourage you to select them as a Host).
- Conference Coordinators receive the Profile information for all Attendees, Hosts, and individuals associated with each Host.
How it is Used by Others:
- Visitors: We collect
- Attendees: Attendees may use the information to contact a Host company or an individual from a Host company before or after the meeting.
- Hosts: Hosts may use the information to contact Attendees before or after your meeting and for marketing purposes.
- Conference Coordinators: Conference Coordinators may share information with service providers, sponsors, exhibitors, conference attendees, or others as per their privacy policies. Please contact the coordinator for your conference for more details or a copy of their privacy policy.
- Forum Makers: We use the information to contact you about your Express Connect meeting appointment(s), and for marketing purposes, such as, without limitation, to notify you of upcoming conferences that may be of interest to you.
Other Notes:
- No Opting Out of Certain Communications: Due to the nature of Express Connect, you may not opt out of meeting-related communications from Forum Makers. If you opt out of meeting-related communications, or if E-mails to you bounce, we reserve the right to cancel your meetings and you will not receive any benefits associated with those meetings.
- Cookies: We use cookies as you navigate our site and to enhance your user experience once logged in. We do not use cookies to track your movement across other sites.
- Data Erasure: You have the right to request “Data Erasure,” meaning you may request that the we erase your personal data and cease further dissemination of your data. The conditions for Data Erasure and the protections thereby afforded, as outlined in Article 17 of the General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”), include data that is no longer relevant to the original purposes of data processing and storage. Any request by you for Data Erasure is subject to a balancing of your interest in the data to those interests of the Company and other Express Connect users in the data remaining available.
- Sales of Information: We do not sell information from Express Connect to parties other than those identified in this Policy.
- COPPA: Express Connect is directed at people who are at least thirteen (13) years of age or older. Therefore, Express Connect is inherently in compliance with the requirements of COPPA. We will not intentionally collect any information from anyone under thirteen (13) years of age.
- Changes: We reserve the right to change this Policy at any time. All Express Connect users should regularly review this Policy.
- Information Storage: We will maintain your user profile until you ask us to delete it. Furthermore, if your Profile has not been used for Express Connect purposes at a conference for at least three (3) consecutive years, we reserve the right to delete your Profile and information from our system.
Version 2024.11a
Revision History:
2024.11a - Updated to allow sharing of all Express Connect Attendee profile information with all hosts.
2024.10a – Initial Version
