Responsibilities of HPTAA Members:
1. Accuracy. HPTAA members should be factual and accurate when providing information about their services and the services of any firm they represent. They shall not indulge in any deceptive practices.
2. Disclosure. HPTAA members will provide in writing, upon written logical request, complete details about the cost, restrictions, and other terms and conditions, of any travel service sold, including cancellation and service fee policies. Full details of the time, place, duration, and nature of any sales or promotional presentation the customer will be required to attend in connection with his/her travel arrangements and shall be disclosed in writing before any payment is accepted.
3. Responsiveness. HPTAA members will promptly respond substantively to their clients' and suppliers queries and complaints.
4. Refunds. HPTAA members will remit any undisputed funds under their control within the specified time limit. Reasons for delay in providing funds will be given to the claimant promptly.
5. Cooperation. HPTAA members will cooperate with any inquiry conducted by HPTAA to resolve any dispute involving consumers.
6. Confidentiality. HPTAA members will treat every client transaction confidentially and not disclose any information without permission of the client, unless required by law.
7. Affiliation. HPTAA members will not falsely represent a person's affiliation with their firm.
8. Conflict of Interest. HPTAA members will not allow any preferred relationship with a supplier to interfere with the interests of their clients.
9. Compliance. HPTAA members shall not have been convicted of a violation ofany central, state and local laws and regulations affecting consumers. Pleas of nolo contend ere, consent judgments, judicial or administrative decrees, or orders, and assurances of voluntary compliance and similar agreements with central or state authorities shall be deemed convictions for purposes of these provisions.
10. Relationship amongst Members
(a) An HPTAA member shall use the HPTAA logos as an emblem of the highest standards of professional conduct and service.
(b) No member shall solicit a proposal or seek terms, conditions, format or ideas from another with the intent of taking unfair advantage of the information which may be obtained as a result of the solicitation or with deliberate intent of using that information to manage his/her own program without the services of that company.
(c) Member shall use a supplier's complimentary services to visit a destination for an inspection with specific present or future interest to place business at that destination and with that supplier.
(d) No member shall take confidential information or creative ideas of his/her competition and/or current or former employer(s) and present them to customers as his/her own exclusive creation.
(e) No member shall take confidential information or creative ideas and send them to competitors of the supplier for any reason.
(f) No member shall knowingly make false or misleading statements:
1. About competitors.
2. To secure otherwise confidential information.
3. About the member's expertise or ability successfully and professionally to meet a potential client's needs.
4. About rates, costs, accommodations, transportation, capacities or any other factors regarding a proposed program.
(f) Member shall solicit a proposal from a supplier with fair intent to consider the proposal.
(g) No member shall intentionally or negligently misinform or mislead, by act or omission, his/her clients about actual conditions or existing services and his/her ability to deliver a program.
(h) Members must protect the confidentiality of all business arrangements and not knowingly reveal details of such agreements.
(I) A member shall honor signed contracts in spirit as well as in intent and will make every effort to honor all commitments, both written and verbal, as may be legally required.
(j) A member shall deal honestly and fairly with all members and business associates.
(k) An HPTAA member shall assist in maintaining the integrity of HPTAA's Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility, should report promptly to HPTAA any information concerning a violation of HPTAA Code of Ethics and Professional Responsibility and, upon request, shall disclose any information concerning any alleged violation thereof to HPTAA to facilitate an investigation of any such alleged violation.
(L) An HPTAA member should maintain and raise professional standards in the inbound tourism industry and support the development, improvement and enforcement of such regulations and codes, thereby fostering competence and ethical conduct on the part of all HPTAA members and thereby benefiting the public.
11. Employment.
(a) HPTAA believe that the best interests of all are served when we pay fair wages and provide steady employment, education, and career opportunities for our employees.
(b) HPTAA members ensure that applicants for employment shall not misrepresent their qualifications and experience in the tourism industry, shall not claim to be in a discipline in which they do not belong at the time of application, and shall not seek unjustified references or otherwise mislead their employer or potential employer.
(c) HPTAA member before recruiting an employee, issue the Letter of Intent and at the time of the joining of the employee seek the Clearance Certificate / leaving Certificate from previous employer.
(d) In turn, an HPTAA members will engage in fair play when relieving an employee and give all appropriate clearances and not unfairly put the employee at risk by not issuing a "Clearance Certificate" when due.
(e) While appointing employees, HPTAA member must ensure that they allow the new hire adequate time to do their proper handover at their previous employer and allow them to fulfill their mandated notice periods.
(f) No member shall solicit / demand / take from a new employee any confidential information or creative ideas of his/her previous employer.
(g) A employee intending to leave his/her employer and work for another firm or to establish his/her own company shall abstain from soliciting future business for himself/herself or another company, and shall not displace any confirmed business or take advantage of confidential information as long as he/she is under contract to the last employer, current or former employer(s) and present them to customers as his/her own exclusive creation.
(h) Any misrepresentation of fact by employees should be reported by HPTAA members to HPTAA Secretariat. So that, all the other members are alerted and cautioned.
12. Compliance and Conclusion
It implies that, HPTAA members have read the Code of Conduct, have acceptance and recognition thereof, would follow Code of Conduct in its letter and spirit, and conduct business accordingly. Breach of any of the above articles, may result in a disciplinary action including expulsion from HPTAA, as wellas reporting to the concerned authorities.
Members shall co-operate in any investigation undertaken by HPTAA into an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct and shall comply with the procedures of investigation and enforcement.
'Code of Conduct’
1. I will always strive to meet the highest evolving standards of Competence in the profession and add value to organizational success.
2. I will deal with all tourism stakeholders with utmost Integrity and create an environment of trust leading to Ethical success of my organization.
3. I will ensure that I am always reliable and consistent in all my actions by accepting responsibility for my decisions and actions thereby creating Credibility for my profession and myself.
4. I will be objective in all my actions and decisions and foster Fairness with firmness.
5. I will conduct myself in a way that Facilitates Growth and Development of all those I am responsible for.
6. I will strive to be a Role Model for all others and Champion exemplary practice of the tourism profession.
7. I will respect the rights of privacy, will not use my position for personal gains and ensure that there is no Conflict of Interest in what I do with any of tourism stakeholders.