Terms of Service

Thank you for using TwinCity!

These Terms of Service (“Terms”) are a binding legal agreement between you and TwinCity that govern your use of the websites, applications, and other offerings from TwinCity (collectively, the “TwinCity Platform”). When used in these Terms, “TwinCity,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refers to the TwinCity entity with whom you are contracting.

The TwinCity Platform offers an online venue that enables users (“Members”) to publish, offer, search for, and book services. Members who publish and offer services are “Hosts” and Members who search for, book, or use services are “Guests.” Hosts offer accommodations (“Accommodations”), activities, excursions, and events (“Experiences”), and a variety of travel and other services (collectively, “Host Services,” and each Host Service offering, a “Listing”). You must register an account to access and use many features of the TwinCity Platform, and must keep your account information accurate. As the provider of the TwinCity Platform, TwinCity does not own, control, offer or manage any Listings or Host Services. TwinCity is not a party to the contracts concluded directly between Hosts and Guests, nor is TwinCity a real estate broker or insurer. TwinCity is not acting as an agent in any capacity for any Member, except as specified in the Payments Terms of Service (“Payment Terms”). To learn more about TwinCity’s role see Section 16.

We maintain other terms and policies that supplement these Terms like our Privacy Policy, which describes our collection and use of personal data, and our Payments Terms, which govern any payment services provided to Members by the TwinCity payment entities (“TwinCity Payments“).

If you Host, you are responsible for understanding and complying with all laws, rules, regulations and contracts with third parties that apply to your Host Services.

Guest Terms

1. Our Mission.

Our mission is to create a world where you can belong anywhere. From cabins to castles to cooking classes, browse through millions of Listings to find the ones that fit the way you like to travel. Learn more about a Listing by reviewing the description and photos, the Host profile, and Guest reviews. If you have questions, just message the Host.

2. Searching and Booking on TwinCity.

2.1 Searching. You can search for Host Services by using criteria like the type of Host Service, travel destination, travel dates, and number of guests. You can also use filters to refine your search results. Search results are based on their relevance to your search and other criteria. Relevance considers factors like price, availability, Reviews, customer service and cancellation history, popularity, previous trips and saved Listings, Host requirements (e.g. minimum or maximum nights), and more.

2.2 Booking. When you book a Listing, you are agreeing to pay all charges for your booking including the Listing price, applicable fees like TwinCity’s service fee, offline fees, taxes and any other items identified during checkout (collectively, “Total Price”). You are also agreeing that TwinCity Payments may charge and collect any security deposit identified during checkout. When you receive the booking confirmation, a contract for Host Services (sometimes called a reservation in these Terms) is formed directly between you and the Host. The cancellation policy and any other rules, standards, policies, or requirements identified in the Listing or during checkout form part of your contract with the Host. Be aware that some Hosts work with a co-host or as part of a team to provide their Host Services.

2.3 Accommodation Reservations. An Accommodation reservation is a limited license to enter, occupy, and use the Accommodation. The Host retains the right to re-enter the Accommodation during your stay, to the extent: (i) it is reasonably necessary, (ii) permitted by your contract with the Host, and (iii) consistent with applicable law. If you stay past checkout, the Host has the right to make you leave in a manner consistent with applicable law, including by imposing reasonable overstay penalties. You may not exceed the maximum number of allowed Guests.

2.4 Reservations for Experiences and Other Host Services. An Experience or other Host Service reservation entitles you to participate in, attend, or use that Host Service. You are responsible for confirming that you, and anyone you invite, meet minimum age, proficiency, fitness, or other requirements. You are responsible for informing the Host of any medical or physical conditions, or other circumstances that may impact your ability to participate, attend, or use the Host Service. Except where expressly authorized, you may not allow any person to join a Host Service unless they are included as an additional guest during the booking process.

3. Cancellations, Travel Issues, Refunds and Booking Modifications.

3.1 Cancellations, Travel Issues, and Refunds. In general, if as a Guest you cancel a reservation, the amount refunded to you is determined by the cancellation policy that applies to that reservation. But, in certain situations, other policies take precedence and determine what amount is refunded to you. If something outside your control forces you to cancel a reservation, you may be eligible for a partial or full refund under our Extenuating Circumstances Policy. If the Host cancels, or you experience a Travel Issue, you may be eligible for rebooking assistance or a partial or full refund under the Guest Refund Policy.

3.2 Booking Modifications. Guests and Hosts are responsible for any booking modifications they agree to make via the TwinCity Platform or direct TwinCity customer service to make on their behalf (“Booking Modifications“), and agree to pay any additional amounts, fees, or taxes associated with any Booking Modification.

4. Your Responsibilities and Assumption of Risk.

4.1 Your Responsibilities. You are responsible and liable for your own acts and omissions and are also responsible for the acts and omissions of anyone you invite to join or provide access to any Accommodation, Experience or other Host Service. For example, this means: (i) you are responsible for leaving an Accommodation (and related personal property) in the condition it was in when you arrived, and (ii) you must act with integrity, treat others with respect, and comply with applicable laws at all times. If you are booking for an additional guest who is a minor or if you bring a minor to a Host Service, you must be legally authorized to act on behalf of the minor and you are solely responsible for the supervision of that minor.

4.2 Your Assumption of Risk. You acknowledge that many activities carry inherent risks and agree that, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you assume the entire risk arising out of your access to and use of the TwinCity Platform and any Content (as defined in Section 10), including your stay at any Accommodation, participation in any Experience, use of any other Host Service, or any other interaction you have with other Members whether in person or online. This means it is your responsibility to investigate a Host Service to determine whether it is suitable for you. For example, Host Services may carry risk of illness, bodily injury, disability, or death, and you freely and willfully assume those risks by choosing to participate in those Host Services.

Host Terms

5. Hosting on TwinCity.

5.1 Host. As a Host, TwinCity offers you the opportunity to share your Accommodation, Experience, or other Host Service with our vibrant community of Guests – and earn money doing it. It’s easy to create a Listing and you are in control of how you host – set your price, availability, and rules for each Listing.

5.2 Contracting with Guests. When you accept a booking request, or receive a booking confirmation through the TwinCity Platform, you are entering into a contract directly with the Guest, and are responsible for delivering your Host Service under the terms and at the price specified in your Listing. You are also agreeing to pay applicable fees like TwinCity’s Service Fee (and applicable taxes) for each booking. TwinCity Payments will deduct amounts you owe from your payout unless we and you agree to a different method. Any terms, policies or conditions that you include in any supplemental contract with Guests must: (i) be consistent with these Terms, our Policies, and the information provided in your Listing, and (ii) be prominently disclosed in your Listing description.

5.3 Independence of Hosts. Your relationship with TwinCity is that of an independent individual or entity and not an employee, agent, joint venturer, or partner of TwinCity, except that TwinCity Payments acts as a payment collection agent as described in the Payments Terms. TwinCity does not direct or control your Host Service, and you agree that you have complete discretion whether and when to provide Host Services, and at what price and on what terms to offer them.

6. Managing Your Listing.

6.1 Creating and Managing Your Listing. The TwinCity Platform provides tools that make it easy for you to set up and manage a Listing. Your Listing must include complete and accurate information about your Host Service, your price, other charges like cleaning fees, resort fees, security deposits, offline fees, and any rules or requirements that apply to your Guests or Listing. You are responsible for keeping your Listing information (including calendar availability) and content (like photos) up-to-date and accurate at all times. We recommend that you obtain appropriate insurance for your Host Services and suggest you carefully review policy terms and conditions including coverage details and exclusions. You may only maintain one Listing per Accommodation, but may have multiple Listings for a single property if it has multiple places to stay.

6.2 Know Your Legal Obligations. You are responsible for understanding and complying with any laws, rules, regulations, and contracts with third parties that apply to your Listing or Host Services. For example: Some landlords and leases, or homeowner and condominium association rules, restrict or prohibit subletting, short-term rentals and/or longer-term stays. Some cities have zoning or other laws that restrict the short-term rental of residential properties. Some jurisdictions require Hosts to register, get a permit, or obtain a license before providing certain Host Services (such as short-term rentals, longer-term stays, preparing food, serving alcohol for sale, guiding tours, or operating a vehicle). In some places, the Host Services you want to offer may be prohibited altogether. Some jurisdictions require that you register Guests who stay at your Accommodation. Some jurisdictions have laws that create tenancy rights for Guests and additional obligations for Hosts. For example, some places have landlord-tenant, rent control, and eviction laws that may apply to longer stays. Check your local rules to learn what rules apply to the Host Services you plan to offer. Information we provide regarding legal requirements is for informational purposes only and you should independently confirm your obligations. You are responsible for handling and using personal data of Guests and others in compliance with applicable privacy laws and these Terms.  If you have questions about how local laws apply you should always seek legal advice.

6.3 Search Ranking. The ranking of Listings in search results on the TwinCity Platform depends on a variety of factors, including these main parameters:

• Guest search parameters (e.g. number of Guests, time and duration of the trip, price range),
• Listing characteristics (e.g. price, calendar availability, number and quality of images, Reviews, type of Host Service, Host status, age of the Listing, average Guest popularity),
• Guest booking experience (e.g. customer service and cancellation history of the Host, ease of booking),
• Host requirements (e.g. minimum or maximum nights, booking cut-off time), and
• Guest preferences (e.g. previous trips, saved Listings, location from where the Guest is searching).

Search results may appear different on our mobile application than they appear on our website. TwinCity may allow Hosts to promote their Listings in search or elsewhere on the TwinCity Platform by paying an additional fee. More information about the factors that determine how your Listing appears in search results, and our current promotional programs (if any).

6.4 Your Responsibilities. You are responsible and liable for your own acts and omissions and are also responsible for the acts and omissions of anyone you allow to participate in providing your Host Services. You are responsible for setting your price and establishing rules and requirements for your Listing. You must describe any and all fees and charges in your Listing description and may not collect any additional fees or charges outside the TwinCity Platform except those expressly authorized.  Do not encourage Guests to create third-party accounts, submit reviews, provide their contact information, or take other actions outside the TwinCity Platform in violation of our Off-Platform Policy.

6.5 Hosting as a Team or Organization. If you work with a co-host or host as part of a team, business, or other organization, the entity and each individual who participates in providing Host Services is responsible and liable as a Host under these Terms. If you accept terms or enter into contracts, you represent and warrant that you are authorized to enter into contracts for and bind your team, business or other organization, and that each entity you use is in good standing under the laws of the place where it is established. If you perform other functions, you represent and warrant that you are authorized to perform those functions. If you instruct TwinCity to transfer a portion of your payout to a co-host or other Hosts, or to send payments to someone else, you must be authorized to do so, and are responsible and liable for the payment amounts and accuracy of any payout information you provide.

6.6 Your Assumption of Risk. You acknowledge that hosting carries inherent risks and agree that you assume the entire risk arising out of your access to and use of the TwinCity Platform, offering Host Services, or any interaction you have with other Members whether in person or online. You agree that you have had the opportunity to investigate the TwinCity Platform and any laws, rules, regulations, or obligations that may be applicable to your Listings or Host Services and that you are not relying upon any statement of law made by TwinCity.

7. Cancellations, Travel Issues, and Booking Modifications.

7.1 Cancellations and Travel Issues. In general, if a Guest cancels a reservation, the amount paid to you is determined by the cancellation policy that applies to that reservation. As a host, you should not cancel on a Guest without a valid reason under our Extenuating Circumstances Policy or applicable law. If you cancel on a Guest without such a valid reason, we may impose a cancellation fee and other consequences. If: (i) a Guest experiences a Travel Issue, (ii) an Extenuating Circumstance arises, or (iii) a reservation is cancelled under Section 13 of these Terms, the amount you are paid will be reduced by the amount we refund or otherwise provide to the Guest, and by any other reasonable costs we incur as a result of the cancellation. If a Guest receives a refund after you have already been paid, or the amount of the refund and other costs incurred by TwinCity exceeds your payout, TwinCity (via TwinCity Payments) may recover that amount from you, including by offsetting the refund against your future payouts. You agree that TwinCity’s Guest Refund Policy, Extenuating Circumstance Policy, and these Terms preempt the cancellation policy you set in situations where they allow for the cancellation of a reservation and/or the issuance of refunds to Guests. If we reasonably expect to provide a refund to a Guest under one of these policies, we may delay release of any payout for that reservation until a refund decision is made.

7.2 Booking Modifications. Hosts and Guests are responsible for any Booking Modifications they agree to make via the TwinCity Platform or direct TwinCity customer service to make on their behalf, and agree to pay any additional amounts, fees or taxes associated with a Booking Modification.

8. Taxes.

8.1 Host Taxes. As a host, you are responsible for determining and fulfilling your obligations under applicable laws to report, collect, remit, or include in your price any applicable VAT or other indirect taxes, occupancy taxes, tourist, income, or other taxes (“Taxes“).

8.2 Collection and Remittance by TwinCity. In jurisdictions where TwinCity facilitates the collection and/or remittance of Taxes on behalf of Hosts, you instruct and authorize TwinCity to collect Taxes on your behalf, and/or to remit such Taxes to the relevant Tax authority. Any Taxes that are collected and/or remitted by TwinCity are identified to Members on their transaction records, as applicable. TwinCity may seek additional amounts from Members (including by deducting such amounts from future payouts) in the event that the Taxes collected and/or remitted are insufficient to fully discharge that Members’ tax obligations, and you agree that your sole remedy for Taxes collected by TwinCity is a refund from the applicable Tax authority. You acknowledge and agree that we retain the right, with prior notice to affected Members, to cease the collection and remittance of Taxes in any jurisdiction for any reason.

8.3 Tax Information. In certain jurisdictions, Tax regulations may require that we collect and/or report Tax information about you, or withhold Taxes from payouts to you, or both. If you fail to provide us with documentation that we determine to be sufficient to support any such obligation to withhold Taxes from payouts to you, we may withhold payouts up to the amount as required by law, until sufficient documentation is provided. You agree that TwinCity may issue on your behalf invoices or similar documentation for VAT, GST, consumption or other Taxes for your Host Services to facilitate accurate tax reporting by you, our Guests, and/or their organizations.

General Terms

9. Reviews.

After each Host Service, Guests and Hosts will have an opportunity to review each other. Your Review must be accurate and may not contain any discriminatory, offensive, defamatory, or other language that violates our Content Policy or Review Policy. Reviews are not verified by TwinCity for accuracy and may be incorrect or misleading.

10. Content.

Parts of the TwinCity Platform enable you to provide feedback, text, photos, audio, video, information, and other content (collectively, “Content”). By providing Content, in whatever form and through whatever means, you grant TwinCity a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free, irrevocable, perpetual, sub-licensable and transferable license to copy, modify, prepare derivative works of, distribute, publish and otherwise exploit, that Content, without limitation. If Content includes personal information, our Privacy Policy describes how we use that personal information. Where TwinCity pays for the creation of Content or facilitates its creation, TwinCity may own that Content, in which case supplemental terms or disclosures will say that. You are solely responsible for all Content that you provide and warrant that you either own it or are authorized to grant TwinCity the rights described in these Terms. You are responsible and liable if any of your Content violates or infringes the intellectual property or privacy rights of any third party. Content must comply with our Content Policy and Nondiscrimination Policy, which prohibit, among other things, discriminatory, obscene, harassing, deceptive, violent, and illegal content. You agree that TwinCity may make available services or automated tools to translate Content and that your Content may be translated using such services or tools. TwinCity does not guarantee the accuracy or quality of translations and Members are responsible for confirming the accuracy of such translations.

11. Fees.

TwinCity may charge fees (and applicable Taxes) to Hosts and Guests for use of the TwinCity Platform. Except as otherwise provided on the TwinCity Platform, service fees are non-refundable. TwinCity reserves the right to change the service fees at any time, and will provide Members notice of any fee changes before they become effective. Fee changes will not affect bookings made prior to the effective date of the fee change. If you disagree with a fee change you may terminate this agreement at any time pursuant to Section 13.2.

12. TwinCity Platform Rules.

12.1 Rules. You must follow these rules and must not help or induce others to break or circumvent these rules.

• Act with integrity and treat others with respect
  • Do not lie, misrepresent something or someone, or pretend to be someone else.
  • Be polite and respectful when you communicate or interact with others.
  • Follow our Nondiscrimination Policy and do not discriminate against or harass others.
• Do not scrape, hack, reverse engineer, compromise or impair the TwinCity Platform
  • Do not use bots, crawlers, scrapers, or other automated means to access or collect data or other content from or otherwise interact with the TwinCity Platform.
  • Do not hack, avoid, remove, impair, or otherwise attempt to circumvent any security or technological measure used to protect the TwinCity Platform or Content.
  • Do not decipher, decompile, disassemble, or reverse engineer any of the software or hardware used to provide the TwinCity Platform.
  • Do not take any action that could damage or adversely affect the performance or proper functioning of the TwinCity Platform.
• Only use the TwinCity Platform as authorized by these Terms or another agreement with us
  • You may only use another Member’s personal information as necessary to facilitate a transaction using the TwinCity Platform as authorized by these Terms.
  • Do not use the TwinCity Platform, our messaging tools, or Members’ personal information to send commercial messages without the recipient’s express consent.
  • You may use Content made available through the TwinCity Platform solely as necessary to enable your use of the TwinCity Platform as a Guest or Host.
  • Do not use Content unless you have permission from the Content owner or the use is authorized by us in these Terms or another agreement you have with us.
  • Do not request, make, or accept a booking or any payment outside of the TwinCity Platform to avoid paying fees, taxes or for any other reason.
  • Do not require or encourage Guests to open an account, leave a review, complete a survey, or otherwise interact, with a third party website, application or service before, during or after a reservation, unless authorized by TwinCity.
  • Do not engage in any practices that are intended to manipulate our search algorithm.
  • Do not book Host Services unless you are actually using the Host Services.
  • Do not use, copy, display, mirror or frame the TwinCity Platform, any Content, any TwinCity branding, or any page layout or design without our consent.
• Honor your legal obligations
  • Understand and follow the laws that apply to you, including privacy, data protection, and export laws.
  • If you provide us with someone else’s personal information, you: (i) must do so in compliance with applicable law, (ii) must be authorized to do so, and (iii) authorize us to process that information under our Privacy Policy.
  • Read and follow our Terms, Policies, and Standards.
  • Do not organize or facilitate unauthorized parties or events. You are responsible and liable for any party or event during your reservation that violates this.
  • Do not use the name, logo, branding, or trademarks of TwinCity or others without permission.
  • Do not use or register any domain name, social media handle, trade name, trademark, branding, logo, or other source identifier that may be confused with TwinCity branding.
  • Do not offer Host Services that violate the laws or agreements that apply to you.
  • Do not offer or solicit prostitution or participate in or facilitate human trafficking.

12.2 Reporting Violations. If you believe that a Member, Listing or Content poses an imminent risk of harm to a person or property, you should immediately contact local authorities before contacting TwinCity. In addition, if you believe that a Member, Listing or Content has violated our Standards, you should report your concerns to TwinCity. If you reported an issue to local authorities, TwinCity may request a copy of that report. Except as required by law, you agree that we are not obligated to take action in response to any report.

12.3 Copyright Notifications. If you believe that Content on the TwinCity Platform infringes copyrights, please notify us.

13. Termination, Suspension and other Measures.

13.1 Term. The agreement between you and TwinCity reflected by these Terms is effective when you access the TwinCity Platform (for example to create an account) and remains in effect until either you or we terminate the agreement in accordance with these Terms.

13.2 Termination. You may terminate this agreement at any time by sending us an email or by deleting your account. TwinCity may terminate this agreement and your account for any reason by giving you 30 days’ notice via email or using any other contact information you have provided for your account. TwinCity may also terminate this agreement immediately and without notice and stop providing access to the TwinCity Platform if you breach these Terms, you violate our Policies, you violate applicable laws, or we reasonably believe termination is necessary to protect TwinCity, its Members, or third parties. If your account has been inactive for more than two years, we may terminate your account without prior notice.

13.3 Member Violations. If (i) you breach these Terms, our Policies, or our Standards, (ii) you violate applicable laws, regulations, or third-party rights, or (iii) TwinCity believes it is reasonably necessary to protect TwinCity, its Members, or third parties; TwinCity may, with or without prior notice:

• suspend or limit your access to or use of the TwinCity Platform and/or your account;
• suspend or remove Listings, Reviews, or other Content;
• cancel pending or confirmed bookings; or
• suspend or revoke any special status associated with your account.

For minor violations or where otherwise appropriate as TwinCity determines in its sole discretion, you will be given notice of any intended measure by TwinCity and an opportunity to resolve the issue. You may appeal actions taken by us under this Section by contacting customer service. If a reservation is cancelled under this Section, the amount paid to the Host will be reduced by the amount we refund or otherwise provide to the Guest, and by any other costs we incur as a result of the cancellation.

13.4 Legal Mandates. TwinCity may take any action it determines is reasonably necessary to comply with applicable law, or the order or request of a court, law enforcement, or other administrative agency or governmental body, including the measures described above in Section 13.3.

13.5 Effect of Termination. If you are a Host and terminate your TwinCity account, any confirmed booking(s) will be automatically cancelled and your Guests will receive a full refund. If you terminate your account as a Guest, any confirmed booking(s) will be automatically cancelled and any refund will depend upon the terms of the reservation’s cancellation policy. When this agreement has been terminated, you are not entitled to a restoration of your account or any of your Content. If your access to or use of the TwinCity Platform has been limited, or your TwinCity account has been suspended, or this agreement has been terminated by us, you may not register a new account or access or use the TwinCity Platform through an account of another Member.

13.6 Survival. Parts of these Terms that by their nature survive termination, will survive termination of this agreement, including Sections 2 through 26.

14. Modification.

TwinCity may modify these Terms at any time. When we make material changes to these Terms, we will post the revised Terms on the TwinCity Platform and update the “Last Updated” date at the top of these Terms. We will also provide you with notice of any material changes by email at least 30 days before the date they become effective. If you disagree with the revised Terms, you may terminate this agreement immediately as provided in these Terms. If you do not terminate your agreement before the date the revised Terms become effective, your continued access to or use of the TwinCity Platform will constitute acceptance of the revised Terms.

15. Resolving Complaints and Damage Claims.

If a Member provides evidence that another Member damaged their real or personal property (“Damage Claim“), the complaining Member can seek compensation through the Resolution Center. If the complaining Member escalates a Damage Claim to TwinCity, the other Member will be given an opportunity to respond. If the responding Member agrees to pay, or TwinCity determines in its sole discretion that they are responsible for the Damage Claim, TwinCity via TwinCity Payments can collect any sums required to cover the Damage Claim from the responding Member and/or against any security deposit. You agree that TwinCity may seek to recover from you under any insurance policies you maintain and that TwinCity may also pursue against you any remedies it may have available under applicable law. You agree to cooperate in good faith, provide any information TwinCity requests, execute documents, and take further reasonable action, in connection with Damage Claims, Member complaints, claims under insurance policies, or other claims related to your provision or use of Host Services.

16. TwinCity’s Role.

We offer a platform that enables Members to publish, offer, search for, and book Host Services. While we work hard to ensure our Members have great experiences using TwinCity, we do not and cannot control the conduct of Guests and Hosts. You acknowledge that TwinCity has the right, but does not have any obligation, to monitor the use of the TwinCity Platform and verify information provided by our Members. For example, we may review, disable access to, remove, or edit Content to: (i) operate, secure and improve the TwinCity Platform (including for fraud prevention, risk assessment, investigation and customer support purposes); (ii) ensure Members’ compliance with these Terms; (iii) comply with applicable law or the order or requirement of a court, law enforcement or other administrative agency or governmental body; (iv) address Content that we determine is harmful or objectionable; (v) take actions set out in these Terms; and (vi) maintain and enforce any quality or eligibility criteria, including by removing Listings that don’t meet quality and eligibility criteria. Members acknowledge and agree that TwinCity administers its Policies (such as our Extenuating Circumstances Policy) and Standards, including decisions about whether and how to apply them to a particular situation, at its sole discretion. Members agree to cooperate with and assist TwinCity in good faith, and to provide TwinCity with such information and take such actions as may be reasonably requested by TwinCity with respect to any investigation undertaken by TwinCity regarding the use or abuse of the TwinCity Platform. TwinCity is not acting as an agent for any Member except for where TwinCity Payments acts as a collection agent as provided in the Payments Terms.

17. Member Accounts.

You must register an account to access and use many features of the TwinCity Platform. Registration is only permitted for legal entities, partnerships and natural persons who are 18 years or older. You represent and warrant that you are not a person or entity barred from using the TwinCity Platform under the laws of the United States, your place of residence, or any other applicable jurisdiction. You must provide accurate, current, and complete information during registration and keep your account information up-to-date. You may not register more than one account or transfer your account to someone else. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality and security of your account credentials and may not disclose your credentials to any third party. You are responsible and liable for activities conducted through your account and must immediately notify TwinCity if you suspect that your credentials have been lost, stolen, or your account is otherwise compromised. If and as permitted by applicable law, we may, but have no obligation to (i) ask you to provide identification or other information, (ii) undertake checks designed to help verify your identity or background, (iii) screen you against third-party databases or other sources and request reports from service providers, and (iv) obtain reports from public records of criminal convictions or sex offender registrations or their local equivalents.

18. Disclaimer of Warranties.

We provide the TwinCity Platform and all Content “as is” without warranty of any kind and we disclaim all warranties, whether express or implied. For example: (i) we do not endorse or warrant the existence, conduct, performance, safety, quality, legality or suitability of any Guest, Host, Host Service, Listing or third party; (ii) we do not warrant the performance or non-interruption of the TwinCity Platform; and (iii) we do not warrant that verification, identity or background checks conducted on Listings or Members (if any) will identify past misconduct or prevent future misconduct. Any references to a Member or Listing being “verified” (or similar language) indicate only that the Member or Listing or TwinCity has completed a relevant verification or identification process and nothing else. The disclaimers in these Terms apply to the maximum extent permitted by law. If you have statutory rights or warranties we cannot disclaim, the duration of any such statutorily required rights or warranties, will be limited to the maximum extent permitted by law.

19. Limitations on Liability.

Neither TwinCity (including its affiliates and personnel) nor any other party involved in creating, producing, or delivering the TwinCity Platform or any Content will be liable for any incidental, special, exemplary or consequential damages, including lost profits, loss of data or loss of goodwill, service interruption, computer damage or system failure or the cost of substitute products or services, or for any damages for personal or bodily injury or emotional distress arising out of or in connection with (i) these Terms, (ii) the use of or inability to use the TwinCity Platform or any Content, (iii) any communications, interactions or meetings you may have with someone you interact or meet with through, or as a result of, your use of the TwinCity Platform, or (iv) publishing or booking of a Listing, including the provision or use of Host Services, whether based on warranty, contract, tort (including negligence), product liability or any other legal theory, and whether or not TwinCity has been informed of the possibility of such damage, even if a limited remedy set out in these Terms is found to have failed of its essential purpose.

Except for our obligation to transmit payments to Hosts under these Terms, or make payments under the TwinCity Host Guarantee or Japan Host Insurance, in no event will TwinCity’s aggregate liability for any claim or dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms, your interaction with any Members, or your use of or inability to use the TwinCity Platform, any Content, or any Host Service, exceed: (A) to Guests, the amount you paid as a Guest during the 12-month period prior to the event giving rise to the liability, (B) to Hosts, the amount paid to you as a Host in the 12-month period prior to the event giving rise to the liability, or (C) to anyone else, one hundred U.S. dollars (US$100).

These limitations of liability and damages are fundamental elements of the agreement between you and TwinCity. If applicable law does not allow the limitations of liability set out in these Terms, the above limitations may not apply to you.

20. Indemnification.

To the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, you agree to release, defend (at TwinCity’s option), indemnify, and hold TwinCity (including TwinCity Payments, other affiliates, and their personnel) harmless from and against any claims, liabilities, damages, losses, and expenses, including, without limitation, reasonable legal and accounting fees, arising out of or in any way connected with: (i) your breach of these Terms (including any supplemental or additional terms that apply to a product or feature) or our Policies or Standards, (ii) your improper use of the TwinCity Platform, (iii) your interaction with any Member, stay at an Accommodation, participation in an Experience or other Host Service, including without limitation any injuries, losses or damages (whether compensatory, direct, incidental, consequential or otherwise) of any kind arising in connection with or as a result of such interaction, stay, participation or use, (iv) your failure, or our failure at your direction, to accurately report, collect or remit Taxes, or (v) your breach of any laws, regulations or third party rights such as intellectual property or privacy rights.

21. Contracting Entities.

Based on your country of residence or establishment and what you are doing on the TwinCity Platform, Schedule 1 below sets out the TwinCity entity with whom you are contracting. If we identify through the TwinCity Platform, a TwinCity entity other than the one set out on Schedule 1 as being responsible for a product, feature or transaction, the TwinCity entity so identified is your contracting entity with respect to that product, feature or transaction. If you change your country of residence or establishment, the TwinCity company you contract with (as set out on Schedule 1) and the applicable version of the Terms of Service will be determined by your new country of residence or establishment, from the date on which your country of residence or establishment changes.

22. United States Governing Law and Venue.

If you reside or have your place of establishment in the United States, these Terms will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of California and the United States of America, without regard to conflict-of-law provisions. Judicial proceedings (other than small claims actions) that are excluded from the arbitration agreement in Section 23 must be brought in state or federal court in San Francisco, California, unless we both agree to some other location. You and we both consent to venue and personal jurisdiction in San Francisco, California.

23. United States Dispute Resolution and Arbitration Agreement.

23.1 Application. This Arbitration Agreement only applies to you if your country of residence or establishment is the United States. If your country of residence or establishment is not the United States, and you nevertheless attempt to bring any legal claim against TwinCity in the United States, this Arbitration Agreement will apply for determination of the threshold issue of whether this Section 23 applies to you, and all other threshold determinations, including residency, arbitrability, venue, and applicable law.

23.2 Overview of Dispute Resolution Process. TwinCity is committed to participating in a consumer-friendly dispute resolution process. To that end, these Terms provide for a two-part process for individuals to whom this Section 23 applies: (1) an informal negotiation directly with TwinCity’s customer service team (described in paragraph 23.3, below), and if necessary (2) a binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). You and TwinCity each retain the right to seek relief in small claims court as an alternative to arbitration.

23.3 Mandatory Pre-Arbitration Dispute Resolution and Notification. At least 30 days prior to initiating an arbitration, you and TwinCity each agree to notify the other party of the dispute in writing and attempt in good faith to negotiate an informal resolution. You must send your notice of dispute to TwinCity by mailing it to TwinCity’s agent for service: James J Grogan, 8 Country Club Lane Florham Park, NJ 07932. TwinCity will send its notice of dispute to the email address associated with your TwinCity account. A notice of dispute must include: the party’s name and preferred contact information, a brief description of the dispute, and the relief sought. If the parties are unable to resolve the dispute within the 30-day period, only then may either party commence arbitration by filing a written Demand for Arbitration (available at www.adr.org) with the AAA and providing a copy to the other party as specified in the AAA Rules (available at www.adr.org).

23.4 Agreement to Arbitrate. You and TwinCity mutually agree that any dispute, claim or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms or the applicability, breach, termination, validity, enforcement or interpretation thereof, or any use of the TwinCity Platform, Host Services, or any Content (collectively, “Disputes”) will be settled by binding individual arbitration (the “Arbitration Agreement”). If there is a dispute about whether this Arbitration Agreement can be enforced or applies to our Dispute, you and TwinCity agree that the arbitrator will decide that issue.

23.5 Exceptions to Arbitration Agreement. You and TwinCity each agree that the following causes of action and/or claims for relief are exceptions to the Arbitration Agreement and will be brought in a judicial proceeding in a court of competent jurisdiction (as defined by Section 22): (i) any claim or cause of action alleging actual or threatened infringement, misappropriation or violation of a party’s copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, or other intellectual property rights; (ii) any claim or cause of action seeking emergency injunctive relief based on exigent circumstances (e.g., imminent danger or commission of a crime, hacking, cyber-attack); or (iii) a request for the remedy of public injunctive relief. You and TwinCity agree that the remedy of public injunctive relief will proceed after the arbitration of all arbitrable claims, remedies, or causes of action, and will be stayed pending the outcome of the arbitration pursuant to section 3 of the Federal Arbitration Act.

23.6 Arbitration Rules and Governing Law. This Arbitration Agreement evidences a transaction in interstate commerce and the Federal Arbitration Act governs all substantive and procedural interpretation and enforcement of this provision. The arbitration will be administered by AAA in accordance with the Consumer Arbitration Rules and/or other AAA arbitration rules determined to be applicable by the AAA (the “AAA Rules“) then in effect, except as modified here. The AAA Rules are available at www.adr.org. In order to initiate arbitration, a completed written demand (available at www.adr.org) must be filed with the AAA and provided to the other party, as specified in the AAA rules.

23.7 Modification to AAA Rules – Arbitration Hearing/Location. In order to make the arbitration most convenient to you, TwinCity agrees that any required arbitration hearing may be conducted, at your option: (a) in the U.S. county where you reside; (b) in San Francisco County; (c) via phone or video conference; or (d) if all parties agree, by solely the submission of documents to the arbitrator.

23.8 Modification of AAA Rules – Attorney’s Fees and Costs. Your arbitration fees and your share of arbitrator compensation shall be governed by the AAA Rules and, where appropriate, limited by the AAA Consumer Rules. If such costs are determined by the arbitrator to be excessive, TwinCity will pay all arbitration fees and expenses. Either party may make a request that the arbitrator award attorneys’ fees and costs upon proving that the other party has asserted a claim, cross-claim or defense that is groundless in fact or law, brought in bad faith or for the purpose of harassment, or is otherwise frivolous, as allowed by applicable law and the AAA Rules.

23.9 Arbitrator’s Decision. The arbitrator’s decision will include the essential findings and conclusions upon which the arbitrator based the award. Judgment on the arbitration award may be entered in any court with proper jurisdiction. The arbitrator may award any relief allowed by law or the AAA Rules, but declaratory or injunctive relief may be awarded only on an individual basis and only to the extent necessary to provide relief warranted by the claimant’s individual claim.

23.10 Jury Trial Waiver. You and TwinCity acknowledge and agree that we are each waiving the right to a trial by jury as to all arbitrable Disputes.

23.11 No Class Actions or Representative Proceedings. You and TwinCity acknowledge and agree that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we are each waiving the right to participate as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class action lawsuit, class-wide arbitration, private attorney general action, or any other representative or consolidated proceeding. Unless we agree in writing, the arbitrator may not consolidate more than one party’s claims and may not otherwise preside over any form of any class or representative proceeding. If there is a final judicial determination that applicable law precludes enforcement of the waiver contained in this paragraph as to any claim, cause of action or requested remedy, then that claim, cause of action or requested remedy, and only that claim, cause of action or requested remedy, will be severed from this agreement to arbitrate and will be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction. In the event that a claim, cause of action or requested remedy is severed pursuant to this paragraph, then you and we agree that the claims, causes of action or requested remedies that are not subject to arbitration will be stayed until all arbitrable claims, causes of action and requested remedies are resolved by the arbitrator.

23.12 Severability. Except as provided in Section 23.11, in the event that any portion of this Arbitration Agreement is deemed illegal or unenforceable, such provision will be severed and the remainder of the Arbitration Agreement will be given full force and effect.

23.13 Changes to Agreement to Arbitrate. If TwinCity changes this Section 23 after the date you last accepted these Terms (or accepted any subsequent changes to these Terms), you may reject that change by sending us written notice (including by email) within 30 days of the date the change is effective. Rejecting a new change, however, does not revoke or alter your prior consent to any earlier agreements to arbitrate any Dispute between you and TwinCity (or your prior consent to any subsequent changes thereto), which will remain in effect and enforceable as to any Dispute between you and TwinCity.

23.14 Survival. Except as provided in Section 23.12 and subject to Section 13.6, this Section 23 will survive any termination of these Terms and will continue to apply even if you stop using the TwinCity Platform or terminate your TwinCity account.

24. China Governing Law and Dispute Resolution.

24.1 China Domestic Transactions. If you reside or have your place of establishment in China, and are contracting with TwinCity China, these Terms and this Section 24.1 are governed by the laws of the People’s Republic of China. In this situation, any dispute arising from or in connection with these Terms or use of the TwinCity Platform shall be submitted to the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (“CIETAC”) for arbitration which shall be conducted in accordance with the Commission’s arbitration rules in effect at the time of applying for arbitration. The arbitral award is final and binding upon both parties. The tribunal shall consist of three (3) arbitrators. The seat of the arbitration shall be Beijing. The language of the arbitration shall be English.

24.2 Cross-border Transactions. If you reside or have your place of establishment in China, and are contracting with TwinCity, Inc., TwinCity Travel, LLC, TwinCity Ireland UC, or any other non-China entity, these Terms and this Section 24.2 are governed by the laws of Singapore. In this situation, any dispute arising out of or in connection with these Terms or use of the TwinCity Platform, including any question regarding the existence, validity or termination of these Terms, shall be referred to and finally resolved by arbitration administered by the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (“SIAC”) in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (“SIAC Rules”) for the time being in force, which rules are deemed to be incorporated by reference in this clause. The seat of the arbitration shall be Singapore. The Tribunal shall consist of three (3) arbitrators. The language of the arbitration shall be English.

24.3 Without Limitation Provisions. The above Sections 24.1 and 24.2 are expressed to be without regard to conflict of laws provisions and shall not be construed to limit any rights which TwinCity may have to apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for any order requiring you to perform or be prohibited from performing certain acts and other provisional relief permitted under the laws of Singapore, the People’s Republic of China, or any other laws that may apply to you.

25. Rest of World Dispute Resolution, Venue and Forum, and Governing Law. If you reside or have your place of establishment outside of the United States and China, this Section applies to you and these Terms will be interpreted in accordance with Irish law. The application of the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG) is excluded. The choice of law does not impact your rights as a consumer according to the consumer protection regulations of your country of residence. If you are acting as a consumer, you agree to submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts. Legal proceedings that you are able to bring against us arising from or in connection with these Terms may only be brought in a court located in Ireland or a court with jurisdiction in your place of residence. If TwinCity wishes to enforce any of its rights against you as a consumer, we may do so only in the courts of the jurisdiction in which you are a resident. If you are acting as a business, you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Irish courts.
26. Miscellaneous.

26.2 Interpreting these Terms. Except as they may be supplemented by additional terms, conditions, policies, guidelines, standards, and in-product disclosures, these Terms (including those items incorporated by reference) constitute the entire agreement between TwinCity and you pertaining to your access to or use of the TwinCity Platform and supersede any and all prior oral or written understandings or agreements between TwinCity and you. These Terms do not and are not intended to confer any rights or remedies upon anyone other than you and TwinCity. If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, except as otherwise indicated in Section 23.11 above, such provision will be struck and will not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions. Where the word “will” is used in these Terms it connotes an obligation with the same meaning as “shall.”

26.3 No Waiver. TwinCity’s failure to enforce any right or provision in these Terms will not constitute a waiver of such right or provision unless acknowledged and agreed to by us in writing. Except as expressly set forth in these Terms, the exercise by either party of any of its remedies under these Terms will be without prejudice to its other remedies under these Terms or otherwise permitted under law.

26.4 Assignment. You may not assign, transfer or delegate this agreement or your rights and obligations hereunder without TwinCity’s prior written consent. TwinCity may without restriction assign, transfer or delegate this agreement and any rights and obligations hereunder, at its sole discretion, with 30 days’ prior notice.

26.5 Notice. Unless specified otherwise, any notices or other communications to Members permitted or required under this agreement, will be provided electronically and given by TwinCity via email, TwinCity Platform notification, messaging service (including SMS and WeChat), or any other contact method we enable and you provide. If a notification relates to a booking or Listing in Japan, you agree and acknowledge that such notifications via electronic means in lieu of a written statement, satisfies TwinCity’s obligations under Article 59 (1) of the Japanese Housing Accommodation Business Act.

26.6 Third-Party Services. The TwinCity Platform may contain links to third-party websites, applications, services or resources (“Third-Party Services”) that are subject to different terms and privacy practices. TwinCity is not responsible or liable for any aspect of such Third-Party Services and links to such Third-Party Services are not an endorsement.

26.7 Google Terms. Some translations on the TwinCity Platform are powered by Google. Google disclaims all warranties related to the translations, express or implied, including any warranties of accuracy, reliability, and any implied warranties for merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. Some areas of the TwinCity Platform implement Google Maps/Earth mapping services, including Google Maps API(s). Your use of Google Maps/Earth is subject to the Google Maps/Google Earth Additional Terms of Service.

26.8 Apple Terms. If you access or download our application from the Apple App Store, you agree to Apple’s Licensed Application End User License Agreement.

26.9 TwinCity Platform Content. Content made available through the TwinCity Platform may be protected by copyright, trademark, and/or other laws of the United States and other countries. You acknowledge that all intellectual property rights for that Content are the exclusive property of TwinCity and/or its licensors and agree that you will not remove, alter or obscure any copyright, trademark, service mark or other proprietary rights notices. You may not use, copy, adapt, modify, prepare derivative works of, distribute, license, sell, transfer, publicly display, publicly perform, transmit, broadcast or otherwise exploit any Content accessed through the TwinCity Platform except to the extent you are the legal owner of that Content or as expressly permitted in these Terms. Subject to your compliance with these Terms, TwinCity grants you a limited, non-exclusive, non-sublicensable, revocable, non-transferable license to (i) download and use the Application on your personal device(s); and (ii) access and view the Content made available on or through the TwinCity Platform and accessible to you, solely for your personal and non-commercial use.

26.10 TwinCity.org. TwinCity.org is a nonprofit corporation exempt from income taxation under U.S. Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3), operating as a public charity. TwinCity.org is not owned or controlled by TwinCity. TwinCity.org administers a number of charitable programs that benefit our Host and Guest communities and the public.

26.11 Force Majeure. TwinCity shall not be liable for any delay or failure to perform resulting from causes outside its reasonable control, including, but not limited to, acts of God, natural disasters, war, terrorism, riots, embargoes, acts of civil or military authorities, fire, floods, accidents, pandemics, epidemics or disease, strikes or shortages of transportation facilities, fuel, energy, labor or materials.

26.12 Emails and SMS. You will receive administrative communications from us using the email address or other contact information you provide for your TwinCity account. Enrollment in additional email subscription programs will not affect the frequency of these administrative emails, though you should expect to receive additional emails specific to the program(s) to which you have subscribed. You may also receive promotional emails from us. No fee is charged for these promotional emails, but third-party data rates could apply. You can control whether you receive promotional emails using the notification preferences in your account settings. Please note that you will not be able to take advantage of certain promotions if you disable certain communication settings or do not have an TwinCity account.

26.13 Contact Us. If you have any questions about these Terms please email us.