privacy & cookie policy

Privacy Policy

At Ora Retreats, your trust matters. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use and protect your personal data when you visit our website, contact us, subscribe to our updates or book and participate in one of our retreats.

1. Who we are

Ora Retreats is a commercial name used by Julie De Winter, operating as a sole proprietorship, with registered address at Albert Claudestraat 12, 2018 Antwerpen, Belgium, registered with the Belgian Crossroads Bank for Enterprises under number 1041049530.

You can contact us at hello@ora-retreats.com.

2. What information we collect

When you fill in a contact form, request an invitation, subscribe to updates, book or participate in a retreat, we may collect:

  • your name, email address, telephone number and address;
  • booking and payment information;
  • dietary preferences, allergies or intolerances;
  • relevant health information or physical limitations that you choose to share with us;
  • emergency contact details;
  • information contained in your correspondence with us;
  • photographs or videos, where applicable;
  • technical data relating to your visit to our website, such as your IP address, browser and cookie preferences.

We only collect information that is relevant and necessary for the organisation of our retreats and the operation of our website.

3. How we use your information

We may use your personal data to:

  • respond to your enquiries;
  • provide information about our retreats;
  • process and manage bookings and payments;
  • organise accommodation, meals, yoga sessions and other activities;
  • take relevant dietary, accessibility, health or safety requirements into account;
  • communicate practical information before, during and after a retreat;
  • comply with our accounting, tax and other legal obligations;
  • improve our retreats, website and services;
  • send you updates or information about future retreats where you have agreed to receive them;
  • use photographs or videos for promotional purposes where you have given your consent;
  • manage complaints, disputes or insurance matters.

We do not sell your personal data and we do not share it with third parties for their own marketing purposes.

4. Legal basis

We process your personal data on one or more of the following legal grounds:

  • performance of a contract, for example when you book a retreat;
  • steps taken before entering into a contract, for example when you request information about a retreat;
  • your consent, for example when you subscribe to our updates, provide health information or agree to the use of photographs;
  • compliance with a legal obligation, for example in relation to invoicing, accounting and tax obligations;
  • our legitimate interests, for example to respond to enquiries, improve our services, secure our website and manage our activities.

Health information, including information concerning allergies, injuries or physical limitations, is only processed where necessary for the safe organisation of the retreat and, in principle, based on your explicit consent.

You may withdraw your consent at any time by contacting us at hello@ora-retreats.com. This does not affect the lawfulness of processing carried out before your consent was withdrawn.

5. Who we share your information with

We may share limited personal data with parties directly involved in organising or delivering a retreat, such as:

  • the accommodation provider;
  • yoga teachers, instructors or facilitators;
  • caterers;
  • activity or transport providers;
  • payment providers;
  • website, booking, email or IT service providers;
  • our accountant, insurer or professional advisers;
  • public authorities where disclosure is legally required.

We only share information that is necessary for the relevant purpose. For example, a caterer may be informed of an allergy, but will not receive other information that is not relevant to the preparation of meals.

Where an external service provider processes personal data on our behalf, we take appropriate measures to ensure that your data is processed securely and in accordance with applicable data protection legislation.

6. International transfers

Some of the service providers we use may process personal data outside the European Economic Area. Where this occurs, we ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place in accordance with the GDPR, such as an adequacy decision of the European Commission or the use of approved standard contractual clauses.

7. How long we keep your information

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary for the purposes described in this Privacy Policy or as required by law. In principle:

  • contact requests are retained for up to two years after the last contact;
  • booking and participation information is retained for as long as necessary to perform the agreement and to manage possible claims;
  • invoices and accounting records are retained for the legally required retention period;
  • health, dietary and emergency information is retained only for as long as reasonably necessary to organise and complete the retreat, unless an incident or legal claim requires longer retention;
  • newsletter details are retained until you unsubscribe;
  • photographs and videos are retained for as long as they remain relevant for the purpose for which permission was given, or until you withdraw your consent for future use.

After the applicable retention period, your personal data is deleted or anonymised.

8. Data protection

We take appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, disclosure or alteration. Access to personal data is limited to those who need the information to organise and provide our retreats or to perform supporting administrative tasks.

Although we take reasonable security measures, no electronic system or method of transmission is completely secure.

9. Your rights

Under the GDPR, you have the right to:

  • request access to your personal data;
  • request the correction of inaccurate or incomplete data;
  • request the deletion of your personal data;
  • request restriction of the processing;
  • object to certain processing activities;
  • receive certain personal data in a structured and machine-readable format;
  • withdraw your consent at any time;
  • object at any time to the use of your data for direct marketing.

These rights are subject to the conditions and exceptions provided by law. For example, we may be required to retain certain data to comply with legal obligations or to establish, exercise or defend a legal claim.

To exercise your rights, please contact us at hello@ora-retreats.com. We may ask you to provide additional information to verify your identity. We will respond to your request within the period prescribed by the GDPR, in principle within one month.

10. Newsletter and marketing communications

We only send newsletters and promotional updates where we are legally permitted to do so. You may unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe link included in our communications or by contacting us at hello@ora-retreats.com.

Operational communications relating to an existing booking, such as payment confirmations or practical retreat information, are not marketing communications.

11. Photographs and videos

Photographs or videos may be taken during a retreat. Recognisable photographs or videos of participants will only be used for promotional purposes, such as on our website, social media or in newsletters, where an appropriate legal basis applies and, where required, permission has been obtained.

You may withdraw your consent for future use by contacting us at hello@ora-retreats.com. Withdrawal does not affect uses that took place lawfully before your consent was withdrawn.

12. Cookies

Our website may use cookies and similar technologies. Strictly necessary cookies may be used to ensure that the website functions properly. Other cookies, such as analytical or marketing cookies, will only be used where permitted and, where required, after obtaining your consent.

Further information is available in the Cookie Policy below.

13. Complaints

If you have any questions or complaints concerning the processing of your personal data, please contact us at hello@ora-retreats.com.

You also have the right to lodge a complaint with the Belgian Data Protection Authority:

Gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit / Autorité de protection des données
Drukpersstraat 35
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Email: contact@apd-gba.be
Website: www.gegevensbeschermingsautoriteit.be

14. Changes to this Privacy Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy where necessary, for example when our services, website or legal obligations change. The most recent version will always be available on our website. Where required by law, we will inform you of material changes or request renewed consent.

Last updated: August 2026

Cookie Policy

1. What are cookies?

This Cookie Policy explains what cookies are, how Ora Retreats uses them, the types of cookies we may use, and how you can manage your cookie preferences.

Cookies are small text files that are stored on your device when you visit a website. They help websites function properly, improve security, remember your preferences, analyse website traffic and, where applicable, provide personalised content or advertising.

2. How do we use cookies?

Like most websites, Ora Retreats uses both first-party and third-party cookies. First-party cookies are set directly by our website and are generally necessary for the website to function properly. Third-party cookies are placed by trusted external service providers. They may be used to analyse website traffic, improve website performance, integrate social media content, process online bookings or payments, and — where applicable — measure the effectiveness of marketing campaigns.

3. Types of cookies we use

Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are essential for the operation and security of our website. They enable core functionalities such as page navigation, security, cookie preference management and access to certain features. These cookies cannot be disabled through our website.

Functional Cookies
Functional cookies remember your preferences and settings, such as your language or other choices, to improve your browsing experience.

Analytics Cookies
Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors use our website. They allow us to analyse website traffic, measure performance and improve the user experience. Where required by law, these cookies are only placed with your consent. Examples may include Google Analytics or similar analytics services.

Marketing Cookies
Marketing cookies may be used to measure the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns and, where applicable, to display content that is more relevant to your interests. These cookies are only placed with your prior consent. Examples may include Meta Pixel, Google Ads or similar advertising technologies.

Third-Party Cookies
Certain pages of our website may include content or services provided by third parties, such as embedded Instagram posts, YouTube videos, maps, booking platforms or payment providers. These third parties may place their own cookies in accordance with their respective privacy and cookie policies.

4. Managing your cookie preferences

When you first visit our website, you will be presented with a cookie banner allowing you to:

  • accept all cookies;
  • reject non-essential cookies; or
  • customise your cookie preferences.

You may change or withdraw your consent at any time by clicking the "Cookie Preferences" button available on our website.

You can also configure your browser to block or delete cookies. Please note that disabling certain cookies may affect the functionality of the website. For more information, please consult your browser's support pages:

5. Changes to this Cookie Policy

We may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our website, the cookies we use or applicable legislation. The most recent version will always be available on our website.

6. Contact

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy or our use of cookies, please contact us at:

Ora Retreats
Email: hello@ora-retreats.com

Last updated: August 2026