A well-crafted waiver does more than protect your business. It lays the groundwork for long-term success.
For tourism operators, risk management and guest acknowledgement are essential. But putting together a waiver can feel overwhelming. What exactly should it include to be effective and legally sound?
Here’s our comprehensive guide to the must-haves for a professional digital waiver, along with a few extras that are often overlooked.
Guest Name and Personal Details
A waiver is only valid if the person signing it can be clearly identified. Collecting accurate guest information such as full name, date of birth, contact details, medical conditions, and address is essential.
A secure digital waiver form is the most efficient way to gather these details while avoiding messy handwriting or misplaced paperwork. With Wherewolf, you can send waiver links to guests ahead of time, provide QR codes at check-in, or collect details on-site through your branded app. Connecting Wherewolf to your reservation system also allows you to prefill forms and automatically send waivers for each new booking. This saves time and reduces manual errors.
Business-Specific Terms, Conditions, and Clauses
This section forms the legal foundation of your waiver. While every business is different, most waivers should include an assumption of risk, a release of liability, and indemnity clauses.
It is important to work with a trusted legal advisor to ensure your waiver reflects the specific risks and requirements of your activity. Before drafting your waiver, create a list of potential risks involved so nothing important is missed. Keeping a version history of your documents is also a smart way to track changes and protect your business in the event of a future dispute.
Tour Suitability and Guest Information
Depending on the type of experience you offer, there may be health considerations or equipment needs to prepare for. Your waiver is a great place to collect relevant information such as allergies, physical ability levels, dietary requirements, or shoe sizes. This helps you assess whether a guest is a good fit for the activity and allows your team to be fully prepared.
Digital forms can be set up with conditional logic so that certain fields only appear when relevant. This keeps the form short, user-friendly, and efficient.
Photo and ID Capture
For some activities, especially those with higher security or regulatory demands, capturing a guest’s photo or ID can be an important part of your check-in and waiver process. This helps verify identity, prevents fraud, and can streamline entry or equipment fitting.
Wherewolf supports secure photo and ID capture within the digital waiver workflow, making the process smooth for both guests and staff while maintaining privacy and compliance.
Digital Signature and Consent Confirmation
To be legally valid, a waiver must include active consent. Make sure your digital form includes checkboxes and a time-stamped signature so that guests clearly acknowledge the terms and conditions.
Guardian Consent for Minors
If your experience is available to children or teenagers, you will need to capture the details and signature of a parent or guardian. Wherewolf allows you to set this up easily by prompting for guardian information when a minor’s date of birth is entered.
Emergency Contact Information
For outdoor or high-risk activities, collecting emergency contact information is a key part of your safety protocol. This information should be securely stored and easily accessible to staff if needed.
Demographic Insights for Smarter Marketing
Your waiver can also serve as a valuable source of marketing data. Consider asking a couple of simple questions, such as how guests heard about you or where they are visiting from. These small details can offer powerful insights into your audience and guide your future marketing efforts.
Let Wherewolf Handle the Hard Work
Wherewolf makes it easy to create, manage, and store professional digital waivers while capturing the guest data that powers your marketing and improves the overall guest experience.
Start a free trial or book a demo with one of our product specialists