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TERMS AND CONDITIONS

These Terms and Conditions govern the use of the Guesthouse Exchange platform, website, Listing Owner Hub, and all related services (collectively, the “Platform”). This platform is managed by Guesthouse Ex change (PTY Ltd). By registering on the Platform or making use of any Platform services, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.

1. DEFINITIONS

  • In these Terms and Conditions, unless the context indicates otherwise:
  • Guesthouse Ex Change (Pty) Ltd / We / Us / Our – The owners and administrators of the Guesthouse Exchange Platform.
  • Listing Owner – any natural or juristic person who has successfully registered on the Platform and listed an accommodation establishment.
  • Listing – an accommodation establishment and all related descriptions, availability, images, and content displayed on the Platform.
  • Visitor – a person occupying accommodation through a booking made on the Platform.
  • Escape Points – non-monetary, non-transferable internal loyalty credits used solely for bookings on the Platform.
  • Booking – a confirmed accommodation reservation made through the Platform using Escape Points.
  • Tier -the classification assigned to a Listing based on quality, offerings and criteria determined by Guesthouse Ex change (PTY Ltd).
  • Host Hub – the backend user face where yearly paid-up members login in order to create/update their listing, make bookings, communicate with members they are making bookings with, view their Escape Points, reviews etc.

2. USE OF WEBSITE AND PLATFORM

Use of the Platform constitutes acceptance of these Terms and Conditions, together with any additional policies, guidelines, or rules published on the Platform from time to time.

Guesthouse Exchange acts solely as a facilitator and exchange platform. We are not a party to any accommodation agreement between Listing Owners and Visitors.

If any of the Terms and Conditions are found to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining Terms and Conditions shall remain in force.

3. ELIGIBILITY AND PLATFORM ACCESS REQUIREMENTS

To qualify for participation on the Platform, applicants must:
    • Operate a legitimate, fully functional guest accommodation establishment;
    • Maintain an active presence on one or more recognised accommodation booking or review platforms with a satisfactory public rating;
    • Preferably operate a website and/or verified social media presence;
    • Pay all applicable participation fees when due;
    • Comply with all applicable laws, regulations, licensing, zoning, health, and safety requirements.

Acceptance onto the Platform is not automatic. Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd retains the unrestricted right to approve, decline, suspend, or remove any Listing Owner at its sole discretion.

4. LAUNCH SPECIAL (LIMITED OFFER)

Registered Listing Owners who apply NOW and are accepted from 1 August 2026 qualify for up to one full year of free membership, valid from 1 August 2026 to 31 July 2027 and will in addition receive 10 FREE Escape Points.

This offer is time-limited, non-transferable, and may be withdrawn at any time. Additional promotional Escape Points may be awarded as advertised.

5. QUALITY CONTROL AND CURATION

Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd curates the Platform to maintain quality standards. Upon application and periodically thereafter:

    • Each property will be assigned to a Tier at the discretion of Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd.
    • Photographs and videos submitted may be reviewed, approved, rejected, or amended.
    • Participants may be requested to improve or update content to remain listed.
    • Acceptance onto the Platform and continued listing is at the sole discretion of Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd, and our decisions are final.

If a Listing Owner is not satisfied with the tier allocation, they may elect not to continue with the Listing on Guesthouse Exchange.
Participants warrant that all information and images submitted are accurate, current, and representative of the establishment. Submission of false or misleading information may result in removal without refund.

6. REVIEWS AND RATINGS

Visitors may review and rate their stay using the Platform’s star rating system. Listing Owners may also submit reviews of Visitors. Reviews must be fair, factual, and not defamatory.

Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd reserves the right to moderate or remove reviews that breach these Terms.

Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd is not liable for damages to Listing Owners or Visitors resulting from posted reviews.

7. BOOKINGS AND ACCOMMODATION EXCHANGE

  • A Listing Owner wishing to make a booking may request accommodation using Escape Points applicable to the Listing Owner’s Tier offering the accommodation.
  • Listing Owners are under no obligation to accept a booking request;
  • Once a booking is accepted and confirmed, it constitutes a binding agreement between Listing Owner and Visitor.


Only the registered Listing Owner or a listed authorised representative may make bookings. If a booking is made for a family member, friend, or staff member, this must be disclosed at the time of booking.

8. CANCELLATIONS AND NO-SHOWS

  • Should either the Listing Owner or the Visitor need to cancel a confirmed booking for a valid and reasonable cause, such cancellation must be communicated, discussed, and agreed upon directly between the parties through the GUESTHOUSE EXCHANGE Host Hub. Any cancellation shall only be effective once recorded on the Platform.
  • Please not that a guest can action a cancellation from there bookings made in the host hub. 
  • If a host needs to cancel then they need to contact support from the booking received page in the host hub. Open the booking and click on the contact support button.
  • A Listing Owner retains the right to decline a booking request at their sole discretion.
  • Where a Listing Owner applies cancellation terms that differ from GUESTHOUSE EXCHANGE’s default five (5) day cancellation policy, such individual cancellation terms must be:

          Clearly stated on the Listing Owner’s accommodation listing; and

Expressly disclosed in the Listing Owner’s response to the booking
request the GUESTHOUSE EXCHANGE Host Hub.

Failure to disclose individual cancellation terms in either instance shall result in the booking automatically defaulting to GUESTHOUSE EXCHANGE’s standard five (5) day cancellation policy.

  • Cancellation of a confirmed booking, whether under the Listing Owner’s individual cancellation terms or under GUESTHOUSE EXCHANGE’s default five (5) day cancellation policy, prior to the scheduled arrival date, shall result in the Visitor forfeiting the applicable Escape Points used for the booking.

The Listing Owner may, at their sole discretion, elect to refund all or part of the forfeited Escape Points if the reason for cancellation is deemed acceptable.

  • Should a Listing Owner renege on, withdraw from, or otherwise fail to honour a confirmed and legally binding booking agreement, the Listing Owner shall be fully responsible for arranging and paying for suitable alternative accommodation for the Visitor, of a comparable standard, for the duration of the affected stay.
  • A Listing Owner is prohibited from cancelling a Guesthouse Exchange booking to accommodate a paying guest.
  • All parties must act in good faith when cancelling or modifying a booking.

8.1 SWOP RESTRICTIONS

  • Listing owners shall not unreasonably restrict availability for exchange bookings, except during defined peak periods such as high season of December and January, long weekends,school holidays as well as specific events like marathons ,cycle tours or festivals etc.
  • Listing owners may not charge more escape points than the tier they are allocated to.
  • Listing owners must clearly disclose any cleaning fees before the booking is confirmed.

9. DAMAGES AND MISCONDUCT

  • Listing Owners are entitled to hold Visitors liable for any damage to property or misconduct occurring during a stay. Visitors, whether registered members or sponsored participants, accept full responsibility for any damage or misconduct attributable to them.
  • If a sponsored visitor declines or fails to assume responsibility for damage or misconduct, the obligation will revert to the listing owner who facilitated or sponsored the booking.
  • Guests must follow all rules and policies set by the Listing Owner.
  • GUESTHOUSE EX CHANGE (Pty) Ltd reserves the right to revoke membership and permanently delete Escape Points where it is proven that a Visitor:
    • Did not adhere to the Listing Owner’s terms and conditions.
    • Caused intentional or malicious damage to property; and
    • Failed or refused to rectify or compensate for such damage.
  • GUESTHOUSE EX CHANGE (PTY Ltd) shall not be held liable for any loss, damage, injury, or misconduct arising between a Listing Owner and a Visitor during a stay and acts solely as a facilitating platform.

10. ESCAPE POINTS – EARNING AND USE

  • Escape Points form part of a loyalty-based booking system and are issued solely for use on the Guesthouse Exchange platform and tier allocation is the sole decision of Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd.


Escape Points:

  1. Have no cash or monetary value.
  2. Are not legal tender, a stored-value product, or a financial instrument;
  3. Are not refundable, exchangeable for cash, or redeemable for money or money’s worth.
    • A registered Listed Owner may use Escape Points only to make accommodation bookings through the platform.
    • Bookings may be made:
      1. For the registered user; or
      2. For family members, friends, or staff members, provided that:
        1. The booking is made by the Listed Owner or their authorised representative; and
        2. The Listed Owner receives no payment, reimbursement, benefit, or consideration of any kind in return.


Escape Points may not, under any circumstances, be:

  1. Sold, traded, bartered, or exchanged;
  2. Transferred in return for money, goods, services, or any form of compensation;
  3. Privately sold to another accommodation provider or third party.


Any misuse of Escape Points constitutes a material breach of these Terms and Conditions.
Where Guesthouse Exchange reasonably determines that misuse has occurred, it may:

  1. Cancel affected bookings;
  2. Suspend or terminate the Listed Owner’s account ; and
  3. Forfeit unused Escape Points, subject to applicable law.


Escape Point Allocation per Night

Tier Allocation Example

Tier 1:

  • 1–2 guests: 8 Escape Points per night
  • 3 guests: 10 Escape Points per night
  • Additional guests: +2 Escape Points each


Tier 2:

  • 1–2 guests: 5 Escape Points per night
  • 3 guests: 7 Escape Points per night
  • Additional guests: +2 Escape Points each


Tier 3:

  • 1–2 guests: 3 Escape Points per night
  • 3 guests: 4 Escape Points per night
  • Additional guests: +1 Escape Points each


Tier 4:

  • 1–2 guests: 2 Escape Points per night
  • 3 guests: 3 Escape Points per night
  • Additional guests: +1 Escape Points each

Point values may be amended at Guesthouse Exchange’s discretion.

Escape Points are calculated per accommodation unit or room, per night, based on the number of persons sharing that unit and the applicable membership tier at the time of booking.

11. REFERRALS

 A registered Listed Owner will receive 10 (ten) free Escape Points for each successful referral.

A referral is successful only once the referred person:

Completes registration; and

Pays the applicable annual membership fee in full.

To receive free Escape Points, the referring Listed Owner must have paid their annual membership fees.

Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd requires listing owners to submit referrals through the Guesthouse Exchange platform before the referred owner applies. Referrals submitted after a property requests listing do not qualify for escape points.

12. MEMBERSHIP FEES AND RENEWALS

  • A registered Listing Owner will receive 10 free escape points with successful registration up to 31 July 2027. Every year thereafter upon renewing the membership, 30 escape points will be allocated.
  • Subsequent yearly subscription is billed at R2200.
  • Membership fee does not increase on a yearly basis.
  • Annual invoices will be issued electronically via the Listing Owners Host Hub.

If payment is not made by renewal date, membership is suspended, Escape Points are frozen until payment is received. After payment, the account will be reinstated with 30 points and the renewal date matches the payment date.

All bookings that were received prior to the suspension will need to be honoured even if account is in suspension.

Escape Points may only be used exclusively when membership fees are paid in full.

Members who allow their membership to lapse may have their accounts archived. Access and Escape Points will only be reinstated once outstanding fees are settled, subject to Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd approval.

If you’re reading this, you’re officially one of the rare few who actually reads Terms & Conditions (we’re impressed ).
Email us at highfive@guesthouseexchange.com and say “I actually read the Terms & Conditions” and the first to do so gets 10 Escape Points – because legends deserve rewards.

13. CANCELLATION OR TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

All membership fees, registration fees, and related charges are non-refundable, except where required by law.

If a listing owner sells their establishment, changes ownership, permanently closes, or chooses to leave the platform, Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd must be advised of this, and their listing will be removed. Any remaining Escape Points earned during the membership period will be forfeited.

Listing Owners are required to honour all bookings received and agreed to prior to selling their establishment, transferring ownership, permanently closing, or leaving the platform. If bookings cannot be honoured for legitimate reasons, the Listing Owner is responsible for reaching a fair cancellation settlement with the affected guest.

Escape Points may be transferred to another person or listing.

Failure to advise Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd of any of the situations as mentioned above will result in Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd immediately terminating the membership and deregistering the Listing Owner on the platform. Any Escape Points earned during the membership period, including any free points allocated together with the initial free Escape Points will be forfeited.

Guesthouse Exchange may suspend or terminate a membership and remove the Listing Owner from the Platform if the Listing Owner

  1. breaches these Terms and Conditions;
  2. misuses the platform for example abuse, manipulation of trading Points occurs;
  3. fails to meet required service or conduct standards; or
  4. the administrators receives repeated, valid complaints.
  5. This includes damage to another listing owner’s property or behaviour that harms the platform or its community.

In these circumstances as stated in points 1-4 above, the Listing Owner will also forfeit all Escape Points accumulated during the membership.

Listing owners who rejoin within one year of membership expiry will not receive free Escape Points, unless the previous establishment was sold or closed and a new one has been registered.

14. USE OF SUPPLIED CONTENT

By submitting photographs, videos, or written content, Listing Owners grant Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide licence to use, reproduce, publish, and adapt such content for marketing, promotional, and operational purposes.

Consent will be obtained through explicit opt-in during registration if legally required.

15. PRIVACY AND DATA PROTECTION

 Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd handles personal information according to relevant data protection laws, such as the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”).  By using the Platform Listing Owners consent to the collection, use, and storage of their personal information for purposes necessary to operate the Platform, including facilitating bookings, communication, verification, and legal compliance. Personal information will not be shared except where required to provide services between Listing Owners with authorised service providers or where required by law. Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd implements reasonable security measures to protect personal information and will not keep such information longer than necessary. Listing Owners have the right to access, correct, or request deletion of their personal information, to object to its processing, and to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator. If personal information is sent beyond South Africa’s borders, it will comply with all relevant legal regulations.

Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd handles personal information in line with relevant data protection laws, such as the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (“POPIA”).

16. CONSUMER PROTECTION AND CPA COMPLIANCE

 Nothing in these Terms and Conditions is intended to limit or exclude any rights a Participant or Visitor may have under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 (CPA). Where any provision of these Terms conflicts with the CPA, the CPA shall prevail.

Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd neither provides accommodation nor acts as an agent, and does not guarantee its availability, quality, or suitability.  All accommodation services are supplied directly by Listing Owners to Visitors. 

17. RISK ALLOCATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

To the fullest extent allowed by law:

  • Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential loss, damage, injury, death, or expense arising from any stay, booking, cancellation, dispute, or conduct of a Listing Owner or Visitor;
  • Participants ie. Listing Owners indemnify Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd against any claims arising from their listings, guests, employees, contractors, or sponsored users;
  • Use of the Platform and participation is entirely at the Participant’s ie. Listing Owner’s own risk.
  • Failure by Guesthouse Ex change (Pty) Ltd to enforce any provision shall not constitute a waiver of its rights.

18. GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION

These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of the Republic of South Africa. The courts of South Africa shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

19. ACCEPTANCE

By registering and using the Platform, Participants confirm that they have read, understood, and agree to these Terms and Conditions.

Guesthouse Ex Change (Pty) Ltd reserves the right to amend the Terms at any time. Updated Terms will be published on the Platform and continued use constitutes acceptance of such.