Terms of Service

1. Introduction

Welcome to BAP. These Terms of Service ("Terms") govern your use of our marketplace platform that connects event hosts with venues through a competitive bidding system. By accessing or using our services, you agree to be bound by these Terms.

BAP operates as a marketplace platform. We facilitate connections between hosts and venues, but we are not a party to the underlying event agreement between users, and we do not process payments between them (see Section 4).

2. Platform Description

BAP provides:

• A platform for event hosts to post event requirements and receive competitive offers from venues
• A system for venues to browse event listings and submit tailored offers
• A messaging system for hosts and venues to communicate within the platform
• Sharing of each venue's payment instructions with the host once a booking is confirmed, so the host can pay the venue directly
• Optional electronic signing of venue contracts through our e-signature provider, described in Section 5.4
• A mutual review system following completed events

3. User Accounts

3.1 Account Creation

You may create an account as either a Host or a Venue. You must provide accurate, complete information and keep your account credentials secure. Accounts are created via Google OAuth or email authentication.

3.2 Venue Setup

Before submitting offers, venues must provide their business address and payment instructions explaining how hosts pay them for a booking. Venues are responsible for the accuracy of this information. BAP does not process payments for venues and does not verify a venue's payment methods or accounts.

3.3 Account Termination

We reserve the right to suspend or terminate accounts that violate these Terms, engage in fraudulent activity, or misuse the platform. Certain violations — particularly platform circumvention — result in immediate and permanent suspension without warning or appeal.

4. Payments

4.1 Direct Payment to Venues

BAP does not process payments. When a host accepts a venue's offer, the booking is confirmed and the host is shown the venue's payment instructions on their dashboard and by email. The host pays the venue directly using those instructions. BAP does not hold, process, or control user funds at any point and is not responsible for payments made between hosts and venues.

4.2 Payment Schedule

The deposit, balance, due dates, and accepted payment methods are set by the venue — in its offer and payment instructions — and are agreed directly between the host and the venue. If the host requested a contract when posting the event, the host should review and sign the venue's contract (see Section 5.4) before paying.

4.3 Platform Service Fee

BAP does not currently charge hosts or venues a platform service fee. We will notify users before introducing any fee, as described in Section 15, and any fee will apply only to bookings accepted after it takes effect.

4.4 Sales Tax

Venues are responsible for setting their own sales tax rate accurately within their venue profile. Totals shown on the platform include sales tax at the rate the venue has configured. Venues are responsible for collecting and remitting all applicable taxes.

4.5 Cancellations, Refunds, and Disputes

Because payment is made directly between the host and the venue, any change, cancellation, or refund for a confirmed booking is handled directly between them, under the venue's own policies and any contract the parties signed. BAP does not determine refund amounts or issue refunds.

For issues with the platform itself, or to report a user who has violated these Terms, contact support@bapapp.org. BAP may review the accepted offer terms and relevant in-platform messaging, but is not obligated to resolve disagreements between hosts and venues, which remain subject to Section 14.1.

5. Offers and Bookings

5.1 How Offers Work

Hosts post event listings with their requirements and budget. Venues browse listings and submit competitive offers that may include a specific room, menu package, deposit amount, and other details. Each listing has a bidding window set by the host — once that window closes, no further offers can be submitted. Hosts review all offers and accept the one that best fits their needs.

5.2 Binding Acceptance

When a host accepts an offer, the booking is considered confirmed, and the host pays the venue directly as described in Section 4. Both parties are expected to honor the terms of the accepted offer.

5.3 Offer Integrity

Offer details — including room selection and menu packages — are captured as a snapshot at the time of submission. Subsequent changes a venue makes to their profile do not affect accepted offers.

5.4 Venue Contracts

After a host accepts an offer, the venue may choose to send the host a written contract for the booking. The host reviews and signs it electronically through our e-signature provider, DocuSign. Contracts are optional unless the host requests one when posting the event, in which case the host should sign before paying the venue (see Section 4.2). Either way, a booking is confirmed when the host accepts the offer. For any contract sent through the platform:

• Agreement between users: The contract is an agreement between the host and the venue. BAP is not a party to it, does not draft or review its terms, and is not responsible for its contents, validity, or enforcement.
• Review before signing: Hosts should review a contract carefully — with their own legal counsel where appropriate — before signing. A host may message the venue to request changes, and may decline to sign. Declining a contract does not cancel the booking.
• Relationship to these Terms: Payments, cancellations, and refunds for bookings made through BAP are handled under Section 4 of these Terms.
• Keeping your copy: Once a contract is signed, a copy of the signed contract and its Certificate of Completion is emailed to both the host and the venue and is available from each party's dashboard. Contract documents are stored by our e-signature provider, not by BAP. Each party is responsible for downloading and keeping its own copy for its records. BAP does not guarantee that contract documents will remain available through the platform and is not liable for their loss.

6. Messaging

BAP provides an in-platform messaging system for hosts and venues to communicate. Until a booking is confirmed, messages are subject to content filtering. The following are automatically detected and redacted:

• Phone numbers and email addresses
• Social media handles and external URLs
• Language suggesting off-platform arrangements

Once a booking is confirmed, filtering is lifted for that booking so the host and venue can share contact and payment details. Before then, attempting to share contact information or arrange bookings outside the platform constitutes circumvention and will result in immediate permanent account suspension. See Section 7.

7. Prohibited Conduct

7.1 Platform Circumvention

The following actions constitute platform circumvention and result in immediate, permanent account suspension with no appeal:

• Sharing personal contact information (phone, email, social media) through the messaging system before a booking is confirmed
• Arranging or completing a booking outside of BAP that originated from a BAP listing
• Soliciting off-platform bookings from other users
• Directing another user to an external website or service to complete a transaction, other than paying a venue for a confirmed booking as described in its payment instructions

7.2 General Prohibited Activity

You may not:

• Post false, misleading, or fraudulent listings or offers
• Impersonate any person or entity
• Use the platform for any unlawful purpose
• Interfere with or disrupt platform operations
• Attempt to access accounts or data that does not belong to you
• Submit fake or retaliatory reviews

8. Venue Responsibilities

Venues agree to:

• Provide accurate information in their venue profile, including room details, menu packages, and sales tax rate
• Only submit offers for events they have the genuine capacity and intention to host
• Honor the terms of any accepted offer
• Keep their payment instructions accurate and current, and honor them for every confirmed booking
• Comply with all applicable local laws and licensing requirements for hosting events

9. Reviews

Following a completed event, both hosts and venues are invited to leave a review of one another. Reviews must be honest and based on actual experience. Submitting false, retaliatory, or fraudulent reviews is prohibited and may result in account suspension.

BAP does not edit or remove reviews except in cases of clear policy violation, factual inaccuracy, or content that violates these Terms.

10. Limitation of Liability

10.1 Platform-Only Service

BAP provides a marketplace platform only. We are not responsible for:

• The quality, safety, or legality of events or venues
• The accuracy of listings or offers
• The performance of obligations between hosts and venues
• The contents, validity, enforcement, or continued availability of contracts exchanged between hosts and venues, as described in Section 5.4
• Payments, deposits, balances, refunds, or cancellations between hosts and venues, or the accuracy of a venue's payment instructions
• Disputes, damages, or injuries arising from bookings
• Actions or omissions of platform users

10.2 Maximum Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, BAP's total liability shall not exceed the platform fees paid by you in the 12 months preceding the claim.

10.3 No Warranties

The platform is provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied, including but not limited to merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement.

11. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify and hold harmless BAP, its affiliates, and their respective officers, directors, employees, and agents from any claims, damages, losses, liabilities, and expenses (including legal fees) arising from your use of the platform, your violation of these Terms, or events hosted or attended through the platform.

12. Intellectual Property

All content, features, and functionality of the BAP platform — including text, graphics, logos, and software — are the property of BAP and are protected by applicable intellectual property laws.

You retain ownership of content you upload to the platform but grant BAP a worldwide, non-exclusive license to use, display, and distribute such content for platform operation purposes.

13. Privacy

Your use of the platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which explains how we collect, use, and protect your personal information.

14. Dispute Resolution

14.1 Between Users

Payments, cancellations, refunds, and disagreements between hosts and venues — including those related to event quality or performance — must be resolved directly between the parties. BAP may review matters reported to support@bapapp.org as described in Section 4.5, but is not obligated to mediate or resolve them.

14.2 With BAP

Any disputes with BAP shall be governed by the laws of the State of Illinois and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of courts in Cook County, Illinois.

15. Changes to Terms

We may modify these Terms at any time. Material changes will be communicated via email or prominent notice on the platform. Continued use after changes constitutes acceptance of the modified Terms.

16. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms, please contact us at: