Booking Policies

I try to have as fair and as easygoing a little business as possible. After all, I am supposed to be Santa Claus. Unfortunately, some adults are bound and determined to end up on the Naughty List. So I have put together this little list of how to be fair when dealing with Santa (or Mrs. Claus). Please note that Santa may decide not to enforce a policy in one case but that doesn’t mean he won’t enforce it in yours.

1. PAYMENT IN ADVANCE

All services must be prepaid in advance by cash, or Interac. Cheques and credit cards are not accepted. Note that booking agents (such as Gigsalad.com) may accept alternative payments.

Dates are not guaranteed until deposit fees are received (this is called a hard booking). Final payment of the remaining amount must be received one month before the appearance date. (see also 3b below).

2. LOCKING IN DATES & DEPOSITS

A non-refundable booking fee must be paid before dates can be guaranteed. This fee may occasionally be referred to as a deposit. This fee guarantees Santa and/or Mrs. Claus will be available on the date and time requested. We call this a hard booking. This fee represents our costs for travelling to you, other costs we incur from booking, and lost revenue if you cancel. That’s why we don’t refund it.

3. SOFT or TENTATIVE BOOKINGS

3a. What is a Soft, Semi-Soft, and Hard booking

Soft bookings are requests to hold a date and time tentatively. No money is exchanged.

Semi-soft bookings are bookings where the deposit has been paid, however, the date or time is subject to revision. While the initial date is guaranteed there is no guarantee that the revised date will be available.

Hard bookings are bookings where the deposit has been paid and the date and time are fixed.

Fully paid bookings are hard bookings where both the deposit and the remaining amounts have been paid.

3b. Outside of the season

Santa will be happy to accept your tentative (soft) bookings outside of the Christmas Season. However, all soft bookings must be finalized two weeks prior to the appearance date. Any soft bookings must be formally confirmed and paid for two weeks before or they will automatically be cancelled.

3c. November to December

Santa has a very short season. Soft bookings or requests to hold a date tentatively means that Santa’s season is potentially even shorter. Soft bookings will not normally be accepted for November or December.

3d. Converting to Hard or Semi-soft bookings

Soft or tentative bookings may be converted to hard or guaranteed bookings simply by paying the appropriate fees (deposit) while the soft booking is active. (See 1 above). Soft or tentative bookings can also be converted to a semi-soft booking by paying the appropriate non-refundable fee or deposit referred to in 3 below. However, soft bookings can only be converted to semi-soft bookings with Santa Glen’s approval.

4. MAKING CHANGES

4a. Changing Dates

If another date is available, we would be happy to transfer the date and the deposit. Unless there is a very good reason, we require two weeks’ notice.

4b. Changing Services

If another date is not available, it may be possible to substitute another service/ For example, a non-contact visit such as a virtual visit, a porch visit or a walk-by visit may be substituted for a full in-person visit. These are often less expensive services. Just ask.

4c. Cancellation

In the case of cancellations deposits (booking fees) are non-refundable.

5. SAFETY

The safety of the children, Santa, and Mrs Claus is paramount. Santa and/or Mrs Claus may refuse service if, in their sole opinion, their safety or the safety of the children present for this visit or those any subsequent visits, is compromised by providing the service. In this case, no refunds shall be offered or asked.

6. SICKNESS / COVID

6a. Responsibility

For many reasons, Santa and Mrs Claus are unable to wear masks and are considered to be at high risk of infection. The host (customer) is responsible to ensure that neither Santa, Mrs Claus, nor the attendees get sick.

As a minimum, please ensure that local regional health department rules are followed.

There are three key techniques to reduce the risk of sharing infections: isolation, ventilation, and cleanliness.

If someone is ill the best solution is to have a non-contact visit. Ask Santa for alternatives. Failing that, a mask helps. Since Santa and Mrs Claus can’t wear a mask this isn’t as good as it might be but it does help. Also please ensure that your child does not directly face Santa or Mrs Claus. This is especially important when handing young children to Santa or Mrs Claus. Coughing directly into Santa or Mrs Claus’s face is unsafe and unfair to others. It is also extremely rude. And not on the child’s part. They don’t know any better.

Ventilation is critical to preventing the spread of airborne diseases. To reduce energy, we tend to under ventilate. Open a window, or door, or visit outside. Masks help too.

Not all diseases are airborne. The use of alcohol wipes and anti-bacterial wipes helps to prevent diseases that sit on surfaces. Washing hands helps too. Please help your children to ensure they wash their hands properly.

6b. Cancellation due to sickness

Cancellation due to a COVID or similar outbreak or health department rules will release both or either party from all obligations excluding any deposits or retained charges from booking agents such as Gigsalad. Return of the deposit will be at the sole discretion of Santa Glen. There are alternatives to contact type visits. Please speak to Santa Glen.