Participant Agreement
Last updated: May 29, 2026

PARTICIPANT AGREEMENT

This agreement (“Agreement”) is between Bookmark My World LLC (“we,” “us,” or “Company”) and you, the person registering for one of our literary tourism experiences (“Experience”). By registering and paying, you agree to these terms. If you are purchasing the Experience on behalf of or as a gift for another person, you represent that you have the authority to bind that person to this Agreement, and you agree that all terms of this Agreement apply equally to that person. You are responsible for ensuring that any person for whom you purchase an Experience receives a copy of this Agreement before participating.

1. What is Included

Each Experience includes the activities, meals, tickets, and transportation listed in the Experience description on our website. That description is part of this Agreement. Anything not listed (including alcohol, lodging, travel to and from the Experience, gratuities, and personal expenses) is your responsibility.

2. Who Can Participate

You must be at least 18 years old. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a registered adult who accepts responsibility for them throughout the Experience.

3. Payment

A non-refundable deposit (“Deposit”) is due at registration to hold your spot. The Deposit amount will be stated at checkout. The Deposit is non-refundable except as expressly provided in Section 4. The remaining balance is due at least 30 days before the Experience. If you register within 30 days of the Experience, the full amount is due at registration. If we do not receive your balance on time, we may cancel your registration and keep the Deposit.

4. Cancellations and Refunds

If you cancel:

More than 30 days before the Experience, you will receive a refund of all amounts paid minus the non-refundable Deposit.
If you cancel 30 days or fewer before the Experience, no cash refund will be issued. Instead, we will issue a credit equal to the total amount paid (minus the non-refundable Deposit) toward a future Experience. The credit is valid for one year from the original Experience date and expires automatically if unused.
If we cancel: You get a full refund within 14 business days.

Transfers: You may transfer your spot to someone else at any time before the Experience by notifying us in writing. The new participant must meet all eligibility requirements and agree to this Agreement. Once we confirm the transfer, you give up any right to a refund.

5. Itinerary Changes

We may modify the itinerary, schedule, venues, speakers, or activities at any time. We will do our best to let you know about major changes in advance.

If we remove a scheduled attraction or primary activity and do not provide a comparable substitute, we will refund or credit you the portion of the fee attributable to that component.
If a guest speaker or similar supplemental element is cancelled without a comparable substitute, we will refund or credit you 10% of the Experience fee.
Minor adjustments (timing, routes, comparable substitutions) do not entitle you to any refund or credit.
We are not liable for changes caused by events outside our control, including weather, natural disasters, pandemics, government actions, transportation disruptions, venue closures, or illness (“Force Majeure”). If a Force Majeure event materially affects the Experience but does not prevent it from proceeding, the itinerary-change provisions in Section 5 will govern any refund or credit. If the Experience cannot proceed at all, Section 4 (cancellation by us) applies.

6. Transportation

You are responsible for getting to the starting location and home from the ending location. During the Experience, we coordinate transportation between stops as described in the itinerary. Some Experiences may use public transportation; we are not responsible for public transit delays or disruptions.

7. Alcohol

We do not provide alcohol. If you choose to buy and drink alcohol during meals or events, that is at your own expense and your own risk. You must follow all applicable laws. We are not responsible for monitoring your alcohol consumption. We may remove anyone whose drinking, in our judgment, creates a safety risk or disturbs other participants.

8. Conduct

We expect all participants to be respectful and courteous to each other, our staff, vendors, and the public. You may be removed immediately from the Experience if you:

Harass, threaten, or intimidate anyone
Disrupt the group experience
Engage in illegal activity
Become intoxicated to the point of creating a safety risk or disturbance
Refuse to follow reasonable instructions from our staff or venue personnel
If we remove you, you are not entitled to any refund or credit, and you are responsible for your own transportation home. If your conduct poses a safety threat, we may contact law enforcement.

9. Illness

If you are experiencing symptoms of a communicable illness (including but not limited to fever, persistent cough, vomiting, or diarrhea) on the day of or during the Experience, we ask that you not attend or continue attending. If you voluntarily withdraw or we ask you to leave due to apparent illness, we will issue a credit toward a future Experience equal to the unused portion of your fee. The credit is valid for one year from the original Experience date. We reserve the right to refuse participation to anyone exhibiting symptoms that, in our reasonable judgment, pose a health risk to other participants or staff.

10. Voluntary Participation, Assumption of Risk, and Release of Liability

Your participation in the Experience is entirely voluntary. You acknowledge that participation involves inherent risks, including but not limited to: bodily injury from slips, trips, or falls on uneven terrain, stairs, or wet surfaces; muscle strains or other physical injuries from walking or prolonged physical activity; exposure to weather conditions including heat, cold, rain, or wind; exposure to communicable illnesses, including but not limited to COVID-19, influenza, or other infectious diseases; allergic reactions or food sensitivities at included meals or events; risks associated with ground transportation, including traffic accidents and delays; theft, loss, or damage to personal property in public spaces; and other hazards generally associated with travel and group activities. You understand and voluntarily accept these risks and choose to participate with full knowledge of the dangers involved.

You certify that you are physically and mentally fit to participate in the Experience and have not been advised otherwise by a qualified medical professional. If you have a medical condition, disability, allergy, or dietary restriction that may affect your ability to safely participate, you will notify us in writing before the Experience. You agree to take all necessary precautions to protect your own health and safety, including wearing appropriate footwear and clothing, staying hydrated, taking breaks as needed, and promptly notifying our staff of any health or safety concerns during the Experience.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you, on behalf of yourself, your heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, hereby release, waive, and discharge us and our owners, members, staff, agents, contractors, speakers, and volunteers (collectively, the “Released Parties”) from any and all liability, claims, demands, actions, or causes of action for any injury, illness, death, loss, or damage to person or property arising from your participation, including claims arising from the negligence of any Released Party. This release includes, without limitation, injuries or illnesses resulting from physical exertion, exposure to communicable diseases, allergic reactions, transportation incidents, and theft or damage to personal property. This release does not apply to claims arising from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of a Released Party. The total liability of the Released Parties under any theory will not exceed the fee you paid for the Experience.

11. Medical Emergency

In the event of a medical emergency during the Experience, you authorize us to arrange for emergency medical treatment on your behalf if we reasonably determine it is necessary. You are responsible for all costs associated with any medical treatment. We do not provide health, accident, or travel insurance for participants.

12. Third-Party Providers

We arrange some services through third-party providers (transportation companies, venues, restaurants). They operate independently, may have their own agreements, and we are not responsible for their actions or negligence.

13. Photos and Testimonials

By participating, you give us permission to use photos, videos, and audio from the Experience that include you, as well as any testimonials or reviews you provide, for our marketing and promotional purposes, at no cost, with no expiration. If you do not want to be photographed, let us know in writing before the Experience.

By registering, you consent to our collection and use of your personal information (including your name, contact details, payment information, and any medical or dietary information you provide) for the purposes of administering the Experience, communicating with you about your registration, and improving our services. We may share your name and contact information with third-party vendors, speakers, or venue partners solely as necessary to deliver the Experience. We will not sell your personal information to third parties. Our use of your personal information is further described in our Privacy Policy, available on our website.

14. Insurance

We strongly recommend you purchase personal travel insurance covering trip cancellation, medical emergencies, and personal property loss. We do not provide personal insurance for participants.

15. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless the Released Parties from any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising out of or related to: (i) your participation in the Experience; (ii) your breach of this Agreement; and (iii) your violation of any law. This indemnification obligation does not apply to the extent a claim arises from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of a Released Party.

16. Disputes

This Agreement is governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflict of law provisions. Any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Experience must first be submitted to good-faith mediation administered by JAMS in Montgomery County, Maryland. The parties will share mediation fees equally. If mediation does not resolve the dispute within 60 days of the initial mediation request, either party may pursue the dispute in the state or federal courts located in Montgomery County, Maryland. Each party consents to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of such courts. The prevailing party in any litigation may recover reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs.

17. General

This Agreement, the Experience description, and any policies on our website make up the entire agreement between us.
We may update this Agreement. We will notify registered participants of material changes before their Experience. Continued participation after notice means you accept the changes.
If any part of this Agreement is found unenforceable, the rest stays in effect.
BY REGISTERING FOR THE EXPERIENCE, YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU HAVE READ THIS AGREEMENT, FULLY UNDERSTAND ITS TERMS, AND UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE GIVING UP SUBSTANTIAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE. YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU ARE AT LEAST 18 YEARS OLD AND AGREE TO THIS AGREEMENT FREELY AND VOLUNTARILY.
Clicking “I Agree” (or similar) during online registration has the same effect as a handwritten signature.