General Terms and Conditions NZZ Connect

Version of January 2026

1. Scope and subject matter of the contract

1.1 Scope of application

The following General Terms and Conditions (GTC) apply to all events held physically, digitally or in hybrid form by Neue Zürcher Zeitung AG, Branch Office NZZ Connect (hereinafter «NZZ Connect») as well as all events for which NZZ Connect acts as organiser.

1.2 Precedence

These GTC apply exclusively. Conflicting, deviating or supplementary terms of the participant (e.g. purchasing conditions) shall not become part of the contract unless NZZ Connect has expressly agreed to their application in writing.

2. Registration and conclusion of contract

2.1 Binding nature of registration

Registrations for events are made primarily via the official online registration platforms. Sending the registration constitutes a binding offer by the participant to conclude a contract. The contract is concluded only upon receipt of an explicit written confirmation (by letter or email) from NZZ Connect (conclusion of contract).

2.2 Reservation of holding the event

The holding of events is subject to compliance with applicable official requirements and the achievement of any minimum number of participants. NZZ Connect reserves the right to make changes to the programme in terms of timing and content (e.g. adjustment of the agenda, change of format from physical to digital) as well as adjustments to the permitted number of persons, insofar as this does not materially impair the overall character of the event.

2.3 Right of withdrawal of the organiser

NZZ Connect is entitled to withdraw from the contract and refuse participation if there is an important reason. Such a reason exists in particular in the event of:

Capacity bottlenecks that jeopardise safe conduct;
Concrete indications that the guest’s participation could significantly impair the smooth running, the safety or the public reputation (reputation) of the event or of NZZ Connect;
Breaches of the payment terms.
Other important reasons

Any further claims for damages by the participant are excluded.

2.4 Compliance and private bribery

By registering, the participant confirms in a binding manner that no statutory, official or internal regulations of his/her employer (in particular compliance guidelines to avoid bribery and the granting of advantages) prevent his/her participation.

3. Conduct and conditions of participation

3.1 Scope of services and programme changes

NZZ Connect owes the conduct of the event in accordance with the service description valid at the time of confirmation. NZZ Connect expressly reserves the right, however, to replace announced speakers with other suitable persons if this becomes necessary due to cancellations, illness or other reasons. The replacement of speakers entitles neither withdrawal nor a reduction of the ticket price, as long as the overall thematic character of the event is maintained.

3.2 Right to issue instructions and house rules

By registering, the participant submits to the safety, access and house rules applicable at the venue. The instructions of NZZ Connect staff as well as commissioned security services and third parties must be complied with. In the event of serious breaches, immediate exclusion from the event may occur without entitlement to a refund of the ticket price.

3.3 Postponement of the event

If the event is postponed for organisational reasons or due to force majeure (see section 3.4), the ticket purchased remains valid for the postponed date (automatic transfer). If a hotel overnight stay has been booked, the booking may not be able to be transferred automatically to the postponed date. A change of the booked hotel or the price cannot be excluded; any additional costs shall be borne by the participant.

3.4 Interruption or cancellation (Force Majeure provision)

If an event must be cancelled or interrupted due to force majeure, official bans, pandemics, epidemics, terrorist threats, natural disasters or other circumstances for which NZZ Connect is not responsible, the following rules on risk sharing apply:

Time of cancellation | Reimbursement (as % of the ticket price)

Up to 2 months before start | 80% reimbursement
Up to 1 month before start | 50% reimbursement
Less than 1 month before start | No reimbursement (ticket price forfeited as a lump-sum reimbursement of expenses)

The amounts retained serve to cover the organisational expenses already incurred (incl. rent, personnel planning, marketing).

Cancellation or reimbursement of any hotel overnight stays booked is possible only to the extent that the hotel agrees to a cancellation or provides a reimbursement.

NZZ Connect is entitled, instead of the reimbursements mentioned above, to issue a voucher for 100% of the ticket price for a subsequent event. If the participant accepts this voucher, the claim for reimbursement is deemed to be settled.

4. Withdrawal by the participant and substitute participant

4.1 Cancellation conditions

Withdrawal by the participant must be made in writing (email or letter). The decisive factor for calculating the cancellation fee is the receipt of the declaration by NZZ Connect (for weekends, the next working day). The following lump sums apply:

Up to 3 months before the start of the event: Full reimbursement less a processing fee of CHF 100.00.
Up to 1 month before the start of the event: 50% reimbursement of the ticket price.
Less than 1 month before the start of the event: No reimbursement (100% cancellation costs).
For free events: a processing fee of CHF 150.00 will be charged for unexcused non-attendance («No-Show» fee).

For multi-day events, the first day of the event is deemed to be the start of the event.

These withdrawal and cancellation provisions also apply in the event of prevention due to illness, accident or other reasons for which the participant is not responsible. The withdrawal declaration must be made in writing by post, email or fax. The reimbursement entitlement results from the date of receipt of the written withdrawal declaration. For Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, the following working day applies. Ticket splitting as well as transfer of the ticket are generally not possible. Deviations from this are possible in exceptional cases, but are always subject to a processing fee.

4.2 Insurance

NZZ Connect strongly recommends that participants take out private cancellation costs insurance, which covers risks such as illness or accident. These risks fall within the participant’s sphere and do not entitle the participant to free withdrawal outside the deadlines of section 4.1.

5. Prices and payment terms

5.1 Due date

Invoices are due for payment, net, within 30 days of the invoice date unless stated otherwise. For short-notice registrations (less than 30 days before the event), the amount is due immediately.

5.2 Price adjustment clause

NZZ Connect reserves the right to adjust prices for events and related services. Such adjustments may be made in particular if disproportionately high cost increases arise which are caused by market fluctuations, changes in supplier costs or other circumstances not controllable by the organiser. Customers will be informed of such price adjustments within an appropriate period of time.

6. Data protection and data use

6.1 Principle

Data protection is of high importance at NZZ Connect. The responsible body for the processing of personal data is Neue Zürcher Zeitung AG, Branch Office NZZ Connect. Personal data are treated with strict confidentiality and processed exclusively for the conduct of the respective event.

Insofar as the booked services are not provided by NZZ Connect itself (e.g. hotel overnight stays, providers of platforms for digital events), NZZ Connect is entitled to pass on the personal data required for this purpose to the relevant partners. These partners process the data under their own responsibility and in accordance with their respective data protection provisions.

Further information on data processing can be found in the NZZ Connect privacy policy at Link.

6.2. List of participants and networking

The data (name, company, function) of the registered persons will be listed in the NZZ Connect app a few days before the event for networking purposes. An objection to this publication is possible at any time; however, in the event of an objection at short notice, it cannot be guaranteed that already created content can be adapted in time.

7. Image and audio recordings

7.1 Recordings by the organiser

NZZ Connect and/or third parties commissioned by it document their events with photos and videos. By participating, the guest agrees that recordings in which he/she can be seen (in particular as part of the audience or in overview shots) may be used, without time or territorial limitation and without compensation, for the public relations work and marketing of NZZ Connect and its partners (incl. website, app, social media, print, PR activities).

7.2 Recordings by participants

Private recordings for personal purposes are permitted provided they do not violate the privacy of other guests and the copyright of the speakers. NZZ Connect reserves the right to prohibit filming at certain events and lectures.

8. Disclaimer of liability

8.1 Scope of liability

Liability for slight negligence is fully excluded. Likewise, liability for the conduct of auxiliary persons (Art. 101 OR) whom NZZ Connect engages for performance (e.g. technical service providers, catering, hotel staff) is fully excluded.

8.2 Indirect damages

Liability for indirect damages, consequential damages (e.g. loss of profit, travel costs in the event of cancellation, data loss) or claims of third parties is excluded to the extent permitted by law.

8.3 Maximum liability

In all cases, the contractual and non-contractual liability of NZZ Connect is limited in amount to the level of the participation fee paid by the participant.

9. Final provisions

9.1 Severability clause

Should individual provisions of these GTC be or become wholly or partly invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions shall remain unaffected. The invalid provision is to be replaced by a legally permissible provision that comes closest to the economic purpose of the invalid provision.

9.2 Governing law and place of jurisdiction

The contractual relationship is governed exclusively by Swiss law, to the exclusion of the Vienna Convention on the International Sale of Goods (CISG) and conflict-of-law rules. The exclusive place of jurisdiction for all disputes is Bern (seat of the branch office). However, NZZ Connect is entitled to sue the participant also at his general place of jurisdiction.