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. SOFT or TENTATIVE BOOKINGS

1a. Outside of the season

Soft bookings are requests to hold a date tentatively. 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 date. Any soft bookings must be formally confirmed and paid for two weeks before or they will automatically be cancelled.

1b. November to December

Soft bookings are requests to hold a date tentatively. Santa will be happy to accept your tentative (soft) bookings for the Christmas Season. However, all soft bookings must be finalized prior to December 1 or two weeks prior to the requested date (whichever is earliest). Any soft bookings must be formally confirmed and paid for before December 1 or they will automatically be cancelled.

1b. Converting to Hard or Semi-soft bookings

Soft or tentative bookings may be converted to hard or guaranteed bookings by paying the appropriate fees while the soft booking is active. (See 2 below). However, the soft or tentative booking can also be extended beyond the limits mentioned in 1a & 1 b above by paying an appropriate non-refundable fee similar to the booking fee or deposit referred to in 2 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.

2a. 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.

2b. 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.

2c. Cancellation

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

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. SICKNESS / COVID

5a. 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.

5b. Cancellation due to sickness

Due to the current situation, cancellation due to a COVID 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 to explore them.