Thank you for your interest in participating in the GREAT Awards (the “Awards”), powered by The Restaurant Times. These Awards are designed to recognize outstanding restaurants, culinary excellence, and innovation in the food service industry.

The following Terms and Conditions constitute a legal agreement between you and/or the entity you are authorized to represent (“you” or “your” or “Participant”) and The Restaurant Times, owned and operated by Restroworks (Legal entity: Posist Technologies Private Limited) (“TRT”, “we”, “us”, or “our”).

These Terms govern your participation in the Awards program, including the submission of your restaurant’s information, supporting materials, and related data for evaluation or your role as a juror.

By submitting your nomination or application, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms. All information submitted under these Terms will be collected, used, stored, and processed in accordance with our Privacy Policy, which forms an integral part of these Terms.

For more information on the Awards, you may visit the official Awards page and read the FAQs here. If you have any questions regarding these Terms, you may contact us at editor@restauranttimes.com.

1. Award Participation Eligibility

A. Eligible Participants

I. Participation is open to restaurant operators, owners, managers, or any authorized representative of the restaurant.
II. Third-party nominators may submit nominations on behalf of a restaurant.
III. All participants must be at least 18 years of age at the time of application
IV. The restaurant must be operating in the country or jurisdiction for which the Awards nominations are open.

B. Restaurant Eligibility

I. The restaurant must be a currently operating food service establishment (including dine-in, delivery, takeaway, or cloud kitchen formats).
II. The restaurant must have been in operation for at least the minimum period specified for the relevant award category (details provided in category-specific guidelines).
III. The restaurant must comply with all applicable local, state, and national laws, including but not limited to health, safety, licensing, labor, and tax regulations.

2. Data Collection and Submission

A. Required Information: By participating in the Awards, you agree to provide complete and accurate information, including but not limited to:

I. Operational data: revenue figures, number of locations, number of employees, seating capacity, etc.
II. Business documentation: trade licenses, GST registration certificates, FSSAI licenses, or other verification documents.
III. Marketing materials: photographs of the restaurant, promotional videos, branding collateral, and other content.
IV. Financial performance metrics (if applicable): sales growth percentages, average order values, and profitability metrics.
V. Customer feedback includes testimonials, review excerpts, and ratings from online platforms.
VI. Contact details: a primary contact person’s name, phone number, and email address for verification purposes.

B. Data Accuracy:

I. You represent and warrant that all submitted information is true, accurate, and complete to the best of your knowledge.
II. You agree to notify us immediately and update the submitted information if any material changes occur during the evaluation period.
II. Submitting false, inaccurate, or misleading information may result in immediate disqualification.

C. Submissions Made on Behalf of Another: If you are submitting an application, nomination, or any related information on behalf of another individual, restaurant, or entity, you represent and warrant that:

I. You are duly authorized to make such submission;
II. You have obtained all necessary permissions and consents to share the information; and
III. All information submitted is complete, accurate, and up to date to the best of your knowledge.

D. Duty to Update:

The Participant shall promptly update TRT in writing if any material changes occur to the submitted information during the evaluation process.

E. Verification Rights

I. We reserve the right to independently verify any information submitted by you.
II. Verification methods may include contacting third parties, customers, or relevant industry sources.
III. We may request additional documentation, photographs, or clarification at any time during the evaluation process, and you agree to cooperate in providing such information promptly.

3. Use of Submitted Data

A. Evaluation Purposes:

The data and materials you submit will be used for purposes including, but not limited to:

I. Assessing your eligibility and performance against the award category criteria.
II. Comparative analysis between participating restaurants.
III. Compiling industry research and benchmarking insights.
IV. Verifying your claims and ensuring compliance with the Awards’ standards.

B. Publication Rights:

By submitting your application, you grant us a worldwide, perpetual, royalty-free license to:

I. Publish your restaurant’s name, images, and award-related information in official announcements and publications.
II. Use your materials in promotional campaigns, marketing activities, and public relations initiatives.
III. Publish award results, including details of winners, finalists, and runners-up.
IV. Share success stories, case studies, and industry reports featuring your restaurant.

C. Data Retention –

I. We will retain your submitted data for the full duration of the current award cycle and for archival purposes.
II. Historical data may be reused for future award cycles, comparative studies, or industry reports.
III. You may request deletion of your data after the award cycle ends; however, deletion may be subject to our legitimate business needs, legal obligations, and archival requirements.

4. Intellectual Property and Content Rights

A. Your Content

I. You retain ownership of all original content and intellectual property that you submit.
II. You confirm that you have the necessary rights and permissions to provide all submitted materials.
III. You warrant that your submissions do not infringe on any third party’s intellectual property or other legal rights.

B. Licensed Content

I. For any third-party content (e.g., licensed images, stock footage, or music) included in your submission, you must have valid permission or licenses to use such content.
II. You are solely responsible for obtaining and paying for any such licenses.
III. You agree to indemnify us against any claims or liabilities arising from unauthorized use of third-party content.

C. Award Program Materials

I. All GREAT Awards materials, including logos, category descriptions, evaluation methodology, and branding, are and will remain our exclusive property.
II. Award winners may use official recognition materials strictly in accordance with our provided guidelines.
III. Any unauthorized use, reproduction, or modification of Awards branding, trademarks, or logos is prohibited.

5. Judging and Evaluation Process

A. Judging Methodology

I. Awards will be evaluated based on category-specific criteria published on our official channels.
II. The judging panel will consist of industry experts, editorial staff, and, where applicable, public voting inputs.
III. Our evaluation methodology, including scoring mechanisms and weightage, is proprietary and confidential.

B. Decisions

I. All judging decisions are final, binding, and not subject to appeal.
II. We reserve the right to add, remove, or modify award categories, criteria, or eligibility requirements if necessary.
III. We will not provide individual participants with specific scores, rankings, or detailed feedback.

C. Disqualification

Grounds for disqualification include, but are not limited to:

I. Providing false, inaccurate, or misleading information.
II. Violation of these Terms or applicable laws.
III. Failure to respond to verification requests within a reasonable time.
IV. Any fraudulent, unethical, or inappropriate conduct.
V. Any conduct which, in TRT’s sole discretion, may damage the reputation or integrity of the Awards.

6. Fees and Refunds (if applicable)

A. Participation Fees

I. Any applicable submission or participation fees will be clearly disclosed during the application process.
II. All fees are non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the Awards.

7. Prohibited Conduct

You must not:

A. Submit information that is false, misleading, fraudulent, or defamatory.
B. Attempt to improperly influence judges or the evaluation process.
C. Use bots, scripts, or automated tools to manipulate public voting (where applicable).
D. Violate any applicable law, regulation, or third-party rights.
E. Engage in conduct that damages or undermines the reputation of the Awards or its organizers.

8. Liability and Disclaimers

A. Limitation of Liability

I. To the fullest extent permitted by law, our liability to you is limited to the total amount of participation fees paid by you, if any.
II. We will not be liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, or punitive damages, including loss of business, revenue, or goodwill.

B. Disclaimers

I. Participation in the Awards does not guarantee any specific business outcomes, increased sales, or public recognition beyond the scope of the Awards program.
II. We do not endorse or validate any business practices outside the evaluation criteria.
III. Results are based on the information submitted and the judgment of the evaluation panel, which may involve subjective elements.

9. Juror Terms and Obligations: If you are participating in the Award as a Juror

A. Role of Jurors: Jurors are appointed by TRT at its sole discretion to evaluate submissions in accordance with the Awards criteria. Appointment as a juror does not create any employment, partnership, or agency relationship with TRT.

B. Confidentiality: Jurors agree to treat all submissions, participant data, evaluation notes, and deliberations as strictly confidential, and shall not disclose such information to any third party without TRT’s prior written consent, except as required by law.

C. Conflict of Interest: Jurors must disclose to TRT, prior to the start of evaluations, any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest, including personal, professional, or financial relationships with any participant or nominee. If TRT determines a conflict exists, it may reassign evaluations or take other steps to preserve impartiality.

D. Impartiality and Conduct: Jurors shall:

I. Evaluate all submissions fairly, objectively, and solely based on the published criteria;
II. Not solicit or accept any gifts, favors, or benefits from participants;
III. Abstain from any conduct that may compromise the integrity or reputation of the Awards.

E. Non-Interference: Jurors shall not communicate with participants about their evaluation outside of official TRT channels, nor attempt to influence outcomes in any unauthorized manner.

F. Intellectual Property and Materials: All evaluation forms, scoring sheets, and related materials created by jurors in connection with the Awards are the property of TRT. Jurors shall promptly return or destroy such materials upon request.

G. Removal of Jurors: TRT reserves the right to remove or replace any juror at its sole discretion, including for breach of these Terms, misconduct, or conflict of interest.

10. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless The Restaurant Times, GREAT Awards, and Posist Technologies Private Limited, as well as their directors, officers, employees, and agents, from and against any claims, damages, liabilities, losses, or expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from:.

A. Your breach of these Terms.
B. Any infringement of third-party intellectual property rights in your submissions.
C. Any false, misleading, or inaccurate information provided by you.
D. Your misuse of award recognition, logos, or materials.

11. Termination and Cancellation Rights

A. Termination of Awards: We reserve the right, at its sole discretion and without liability, to:

I. Suspend, postpone, or cancel the Awards program, in whole or in part, at any time for any reason, including but not limited to operational, technical, regulatory, or commercial considerations;

II. Remove or disqualify any Participant from the Awards at any stage, if TRT determines (in its sole discretion) that:

• 1. The Participant has breached these Terms;
• 2. The Participant or its representatives have engaged in fraudulent, unethical, or unlawful conduct;
• 3. The Participant’s continued involvement may cause reputational harm or damage to the Awards, RT, or its affiliates;
• 4. Any information submitted is false, misleading, or materially incomplete; or
• 5. The Participant has failed to cooperate with verification or evaluation processes.

B. Termination for Force Majeure

TRT shall not be liable for any delay, suspension, or cancellation of the Awards arising from events beyond its reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, pandemics, governmental restrictions, labor disputes, civil unrest, war, terrorism, system failures, or disruptions to supply or communications infrastructure (“Force Majeure Event”). In the event of a Force Majeure Event, TRT may, at its sole discretion:

I. Terminate the Awards program;
II. Postpone or reschedule the Awards; or
III. Modify the Awards format, criteria, or timeline.

B. Effect of Termination

Upon termination of a Participant’s involvement or cancellation of the Awards:

I. TRT shall have no obligation to refund any participation or related fees;
II. TRT shall have no obligation to provide any alternative benefits or compensation; and
III. Any rights granted to the Participant to use Awards branding, logos, or promotional materials shall immediately terminate, and the Participant shall promptly cease all such use.

12. General Provisions

A. Modifications We may revise or update these Terms at any time, with reasonable notice to participants. Continued participation after such updates constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

B. Governing Law These Terms are governed by the laws of India. Any disputes arising under these Terms will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts located in New Delhi.

C. Severability If any provision of these Terms is held to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will remain in full force and effect.

D. Entire Agreement These Terms, together with our Privacy Policy and any category-specific guidelines, represent the entire agreement between you and us with respect to participation in the Awards.