Last updated: September 8, 2026
Who we are
Chicago Awaits is an independent travel information website operated by The Travel Spark Company LLC. This Privacy Policy explains how we handle information when you browse chicagoawaits.com, contact us, subscribe to our newsletter, or use our travel search and recommendation features. For questions or privacy requests, use our contact form.
Information you give us
When you contact us, we receive your name, email address, subject, and message. We use these details to answer your enquiry, investigate corrections or technical problems, and maintain relevant correspondence. Contacting us does not subscribe you to marketing.
When you subscribe to our newsletter, we collect your email address and record your subscription choice. We use Brevo to manage our mailing list and deliver newsletters. You can unsubscribe through the link in a newsletter or ask us through the contact form. We retain information needed to respect an unsubscribe request and avoid adding you back to marketing without permission.
If you choose to use the Trip Helper, your questions and the page context may be processed to generate travel suggestions. The feature may use service providers that process text on our behalf. Do not submit financial details, identification documents, health information, passwords, or other sensitive personal information to the helper. Recommendations are for planning; confirm important details with the relevant provider.
Information collected during browsing
Our hosting, delivery, and security services process information such as IP address, browser and device details, requested pages, request times, and security events. This helps us deliver pages, detect abuse, troubleshoot errors, and protect the website. Travel features may record searches, displayed recommendations, link clicks, page context, currency preferences, and referral information to provide results and understand the use of those features.
Cookies and local browser storage
The site and its services may use cookies or browser storage for security, sessions, preferences, and travel features. For example, a booking bar may remember that you closed it, and a tour search may retain recently viewed items or comparison choices. The information stored and its duration depend on the feature. You can manage or remove cookies and site data through your browser. Blocking storage may affect preferences or functionality.
Embedded travel services and linked booking websites can apply their own cookie and privacy practices. Where optional services require consent under applicable law, that consent is required before those services are used. A link to another website does not give that website access to the content of a message you send us.
Travel partners and affiliate links
We display travel information and links supplied by partners including Viator and GetYourGuide. Hotel results may be supplied through Nuitee when available. Opening an affiliate link may send the partner the requested destination, referral or campaign information, and ordinary browser request data. The partner may use this to recognize a referral and attribute a booking. We may receive commission and referral reports.
Bookings and payments take place with the relevant booking provider. Its privacy policy and booking terms govern information you provide there. We do not ask for or collect payment-card details through our contact or newsletter forms. You can read the policies of Viator, GetYourGuide, and Brevo on their websites.
How information is shared
We use service providers for hosting, website delivery, security, email, travel search, and related operations. They receive information needed to perform those functions. We may also disclose information when reasonably necessary to comply with legal obligations, protect rights or safety, investigate misuse, or support a business transfer subject to appropriate safeguards. We do not publish contact messages or newsletter addresses as part of our guides.
Retention and security
We keep information for as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected, including handling enquiries, maintaining subscriptions, honoring opt-outs, resolving disputes, and meeting legal or security obligations. Retention varies by information type and service. We use technical and organizational measures designed to protect information, but no internet service can guarantee absolute security.
Your choices and rights
You can browse without subscribing, leave optional travel features unused, unsubscribe from marketing, and manage browser storage. Depending on where you live and which laws apply, you may also have rights to request access, correction, deletion, restriction, portability, or to object to certain processing. Where processing relies on consent, you may withdraw it without affecting earlier lawful processing. Contact us to make a request; we may need enough information to verify and fulfill it. You may also have the right to complain to your local data-protection authority.
International services and children
Our service providers may process information in countries other than your own, where privacy laws can differ. Safeguards depend on the provider, the information, and applicable law. This website is intended for a general travel audience and is not directed to children under 13. If you believe a child has submitted personal information to us, contact us so we can review and address it.
Policy updates
We may update this policy when the website or our practices change. The date above identifies the latest revision. We will provide additional notice when required by applicable law.