Cookie Policy

This Cookie Policy describes how Houfy uses cookies and similar technologies to provide, improve, promote and protect the Houfy Services.

We and our affiliates, third parties, and other partners use cookies and other identification technologies on our websites, email communications, advertisements, and other online services (collectively, the "Services") for a number of purposes, including: authenticating users, remembering user preferences and settings, determining the popularity of content, delivering and measuring the effectiveness of advertising campaigns, analyzing site traffic and trends, and generally understanding the online behaviors and interests of people who interact with our Services. You can read more here about the types of cookies we use, why we use them, and how you can exercise your choices.

01. What are cookies, pixels, and local storage?

A cookie is a small amount of data that's placed in the browser of your computer or on your mobile device. Like many websites, Houfy and our other services use cookies to discover how people are using our services and to make them work better.

A pixel is a small amount of code on a web page or in an email notification. We use pixels to learn whether you’ve interacted with certain web or email content. This helps us measure and improve our services and personalize your experience.

Local storage is an industry-standard technology that allows a website or application to store information locally on your computer or mobile device. We use local storage to customize what we show you based on your past interactions with our services.

First-party cookies are cookies served by the entity operating the domain through which the cookie is served. Houfy.com’s own cookies are therefore “first-party cookies." In case we allow others to service cookies through the Houfy.com websites and apps, these cookies are so-called “third-party cookies." We may use third party cookies, such as Google Analytics, to assist with analyzing performance. Any third party cookie usage is governed by the privacy policy of the third party placing the cookie.

In addition, there's a difference between session cookies and permanent cookies. Session cookies only exist until you close your browser. Permanent cookies have a longer lifespan and aren't automatically deleted when you close your browser.

All these technologies together are referred to in this Cookie Statement as “cookies."

02. Why do our services use these technologies?

Cookies allow you to be recognized as the same user across the different pages of a website, between websites, or when you use an app. The types of info that we collect through cookies include IP address; device ID; viewed pages; browser type; browsing info; operating system; internet service provider; timestamp; whether you have responded to an advertisement; the referring URL; and features used or activities engaged in within the website/apps.

Our services use these technologies to deliver, measure, and improve our services in various ways. These uses generally fall into one of the following categories:

Technical Cookies: We try to give our visitors an advanced, user-friendly website and apps that adapt automatically to their needs and wishes. To achieve this we use technical cookies to show you our website, to make them function correctly, to create your user account, to sign you in, and for example to manage your bookings. These technical cookies are absolutely necessary for our website to function properly.

  • Authentication and security:
    • To log you into Houfy.
    • To protect your security.
    • To let you to view content with limited distribution.
    • To help us detect and fight spam, abuse, and other activities that violate the Houfy Rules.
    • For example, these technologies help authenticate your access to Houfy and prevent unauthorized parties from accessing your account. They also let us show you appropriate content through our services.

Functional Cookies: We also use functional cookies to remember your preferences and help you use our website and apps efficiently and effectively. If you're using the Houfy.com websites or apps to search for a property, for example, these cookies remember your preferred currency, language, your searches, and your previously viewed searches. We might also use cookies to remember your registration info so that you don’t have to retype your login credentials each time you visit our site. Passwords will, however, always be encrypted. These functional cookies aren't strictly necessary for the functioning of our website or apps, but they add functionality and enhance your Houfy.com experience.

  • Preferences:
    • To remember information about your browser and your preferences.
    • For example, cookies help us remember your preferred language or the country that you are in. We can then provide you with Houfy content in your preferred language without having to ask you each time you visit Houfy. On Houfy, we can also customize content based on your country, such as showing you what topics are trending near you, or to withhold certain content based on applicable local laws.
  • Analytics and research:
    • To gain insight into how our visitors use Houfy.com.
    • To help us analyze how the Houfy Services are being accessed and used, and enable us to track performance of the Houfy Services, including Houfy buttons and widgets, and Houfy Ads.
    • For example, cookies determine if you viewed a page or opened an email. This helps us provide you with information that you find interesting. We use cookies to provide insights regarding your End Users and Your Listing(s) or social Posts performance, such as page views, conversion rates, device information, visitor IP addresses and referral sites.
    • For example, cookies help us test different versions of our services to see which particular features or content users prefer. We might also optimize and improve your experience on Houfy by using cookies to see how you interact with our services, such as when and how often you use them and what links you click on. We may use Google Analytics to assist us with this. Learn more about the cookies you may encounter through our use of Google Analytics.
  • Personalized content:
    • To customize our services with more relevant content, like tailored trends, stories, ads, and suggestions for people to follow.
    • For example, local storage tells us which parts of your Houfeed you have viewed already so that we can show you the appropriate new content. Cookies can help us make smarter and more relevant suggestions about who you might enjoy following based on your visits to websites that have integrated Houfy embeds, including embedded timelines.
  • Personalization across devices:
    • By better understanding how devices are related, we can use information from one device to help personalize the Houfy experience on another device.
    • When you log in to Houfy on a device, we associate that device with your Houfy account. Whether or not you are logged in to Houfy, we may also receive information about your devices when, for example, that information is shared by a partner; you visit Houfy.com; you visit third-party websites that integrate Houfy content; or you visit a Houfy advertiser’s website or mobile application. We may use this information, most commonly IP addresses and the time at which the information was received, to infer that certain devices are associated with one another, including the devices on which you log in to Houfy. To learn more about the devices associated with your account, check out
      Your Houfy Data while logged in. To learn more about the other devices associated with the device or browser you are currently using, visit Your Houfy Data while logged out.

Marketing cookies: Houfy.com and our trusted partners use third-party cookies. These cookies are used to display personalized ads both on Houfy.com and other sites. These ads are based on your browsing, such as the accommodations and prices you view. These cookies are also used to integrate social media into our site, allowing you to like or share pages or products on social media.

  • Advertising:
    • To help us deliver ads, measure their performance, and make them more relevant to you based on criteria like your activity on Houfy and visits to our ad partners' websites.
    • For example, we use cookies and pixels to personalize ads and measure their performance. Using these technologies, we can show you ads and evaluate their effectiveness based on your visits to our ad partners' websites.
    • We also work with third-party advertising partners, including Google, to market our services and serve ads on behalf of our advertisers, including through the delivery of interest-based ads. For example, if you visit Houfy and also use a social media platform, you may see a Houfy ad in your social media newsfeed or timeline.

03. Where are these technologies used?

We (along with third parties) use these technologies on our websites, applications, and services and on other websites, applications, and services that have integrated our services, including third-party properties that incorporate our advertising technology. This includes our ad partners’ websites and sites that use our embeds, including embedded timelines. Third parties may also use these technologies, for example, when you click on links from our websites or applications, view or interact with third-party content from within our services, or visit third-party websites that incorporate our advertising technology.

04. What are your Privacy choices?

To learn more about cookies and how to manage or delete them, just visit allaboutcookies.org and the help section of your browser. In the settings for browsers like Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox or Chrome, you can set which cookies to accept and which to reject. Where you find these settings depends on your browser – use the "Help" function in your browser to locate the settings you need.

If you decide not to accept certain technical and/or functional cookies, you might not be able to use some functions on our website. We currently don't support “Do Not Track” browser settings. In case a common standard has been developed that defines what exactly will be meant by “Do Not Track” browser signals, we'll review Cookie Statement again.

Advertising: When it comes to online advertising and marketing companies, we strive to work with companies that are members of the Network Advertising Initiative (NAI) and/or the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB). Members of NAI and IAB adhere to industry standards and codes of conduct. NAI and IAB members allow you to opt out of behavioral advertising. Visit www.networkadvertising.org to identify the NAI members that may have placed an advertising cookie file on your computer.

To opt out of an NAI member's behavioral advertising program, just check the box that corresponds to the company you want to opt out from. You can also visit www.youronlinechoices.com or www.youradchoices.com to learn how to opt out of customized advertisements. Your mobile device may allow you to limit the sharing of information for retargeting purposes through its settings. Be aware that opting out of an online advertising network doesn't mean that you will no longer receive or be subject to online advertising or marketing analysis. It just means the network you opted out of won't deliver ads customized to your web preferences and browsing patterns anymore.

Analytics: In order to control the collection of data for analytical purposes through Google Analytics from certain browser types, visit the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on (for desktop only).

We may modify this Cookie Policy from time to time, and will post the most current version on our site. If a modification meaningfully reduces your rights, we'll notify you in accordance with the procedures set forth in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, suggestions, or comments about this Cookie Policy, feel free to contact us at info@houfy.com

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