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Policies & Terms
These terms apply to every registration for the November 2026 ABA Sin Fronteras retreat in Mérida, Yucatán, México (the "Retreat"), hosted by Escalera Serna Behavior Services, LLC ("ESBS"). Registration constitutes acceptance of these terms. Please read them before registering.
1. What your registration includes
All tiers include 15 BCBA-approved CEUs (5 ethics, 5 supervision, 5 general); lunches and dinners on session days (Thursday, Friday, Saturday); all scheduled excursions; ground transportation to and from session venues and excursions; and your BACB-compliant CEU certificate issued within 60 days of the Retreat's conclusion. Tiers that include hotel accommodation also include four nights of lodging at Hotel Zamná Boutique (Wednesday through Saturday) and daily breakfast at the hotel.
Your registration does not include air travel; passport or visa fees; travel insurance; spa services or optional excursions outside the official program; bar tabs, room service, or hotel incidentals; or gratuities beyond what ESBS arranges with retreat vendors.
2. Cancellation by you
We hold seats with hotel deposits, instructor commitments, and venue bookings months in advance. Cancellations create real costs that can't always be recovered. Our refund schedule is structured to be fair to you while protecting the retreat's viability for the rest of the cohort.
Within 14 days of registering: Full refund. No questions, no fees. This is your grace period.
Through August 31, 2026: 50% refund. The other 50% covers non-recoverable hotel deposits, instructor commitments, and ACE compliance costs already incurred.
September 1 – October 1, 2026: Transfer only. No cash refund, but you may transfer your registration to another BCBA in good standing for a $50 administrative fee.
After October 1, 2026: No refund or transfer. Hotel rooms and instructor compensation are committed at this point and cannot be unwound.
All refund requests must be sent in writing to retreat@escalera-serna.com. Refunds are processed within 14 business days of acceptance and returned to the original payment method.
If you arrive late, leave early, or miss sessions during the Retreat for any reason, no partial refund is available. CEUs are issued only for sessions you attended in full and verified per the attendance policy.
3. Cancellation by ESBS
If ESBS cancels the Retreat for any reason other than force majeure, you will receive a full refund of all registration fees paid, returned to your original payment method within 30 days of the cancellation announcement. ESBS is not responsible for any other costs you incur in connection with the Retreat, including airfare, travel insurance premiums, lost wages, or any other expense that flows from your decision to attend. We strongly recommend purchasing trip cancellation insurance that protects you against these costs.
ESBS reserves the right to cancel the Retreat if registration fails to reach a minimum viable cohort size by October 1, 2026, or if circumstances render the retreat unworkable. We will notify all registrants in writing as soon as a cancellation decision is made.
4. Force majeure events
"Force majeure" means events beyond ESBS's reasonable control that make the Retreat impossible or unsafe to hold. This includes but is not limited to: pandemic or public health emergency; U.S. State Department travel advisories at Level 3 or 4 for Yucatán state; hurricanes, earthquakes, or natural disasters affecting Mérida or air travel to it; acts of terrorism or civil unrest; unanticipated venue closure, hotel insolvency, or instructor incapacitation that cannot be remedied within the retreat timeframe; or any government action that prohibits the Retreat from being held.
If a force majeure event causes ESBS to cancel or substantially modify the Retreat, ESBS will work in good faith to either (a) reschedule the Retreat within 12 months and transfer your registration to the new dates at no additional cost, or (b) offer a partial refund calculated as the total amount paid minus any non-recoverable expenses ESBS has already incurred. You may decline either option and pursue your own losses through your travel insurance carrier. ESBS's liability under force majeure is limited to the amount of your registration fee actually paid. We will not be liable for airfare, hotel cancellation fees outside our block, or any consequential damages.
5. Travel insurance is your responsibility
You are responsible for purchasing travel insurance. ESBS does not provide trip insurance, medical coverage, or any other protection against unexpected events. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that covers, at minimum: trip cancellation for covered reasons, trip interruption, medical coverage abroad (your U.S. health insurance likely will not cover treatment in México), emergency medical evacuation, and lost or delayed baggage.
For maximum flexibility, consider a "Cancel For Any Reason" (CFAR) policy, which typically refunds 50–75% of trip costs if you cancel for reasons not covered by standard policies. CFAR coverage must be purchased within 14–21 days of your initial trip deposit, depending on the carrier.
Comparison sites like InsureMyTrip.com, Squaremouth.com, and TravelInsurance.com let you compare policies from multiple carriers. ESBS will not refund registration fees because you failed to purchase insurance and then experienced a covered event.
6. Health, medical, and dietary needs
By registering, you acknowledge that you are physically and mentally able to participate in the Retreat program, which includes walking 1–2 miles per day in tropical heat, navigating uneven colonial sidewalks, climbing stairs at Hacienda Xtepén, and standing for periods at the Lucas de Gálvez market.
If you have a medical condition, mobility limitation, dietary restriction, or mental health concern that may affect your participation, please notify us at retreat@escalera-serna.com at least 60 days before the Retreat so we can discuss reasonable accommodations. We cannot guarantee accommodations requested less than 30 days before the Retreat.
ESBS, its instructors, and its vendors are not medical providers. We are not responsible for diagnosing, treating, or managing any medical condition that arises before, during, or after the Retreat. In the event of a medical emergency during the Retreat, we will assist with calling local emergency services and transport to a Mérida hospital, but you remain financially responsible for all medical costs.
7. Liability and assumption of risk
The Retreat involves activities including international travel, ground transportation, excursions to historical sites and public markets, and unstructured time in a foreign city. By registering, you acknowledge that travel and these activities involve inherent risks, and you voluntarily assume those risks.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release Escalera Serna Behavior Services, LLC, its owners, employees, instructors, contractors, and vendors from any liability for injury, illness, loss, theft, damage to property, or any other harm that may occur in connection with the Retreat, except to the extent caused by ESBS's gross negligence or willful misconduct. This release does not waive any rights you have under applicable consumer protection laws.
8. CEU attendance and certification
CEUs are awarded only for sessions you attend in full. Attendance is verified by sign-in and sign-out at each session, and by completion of any knowledge check questions associated with the session. If you arrive late, leave early, or miss any portion of a session, the CEU for that session may be reduced or forfeited at the discretion of the ACE Coordinator.
Your CEU certificate will be issued within 60 days of the Retreat's conclusion and emailed to the address you provide at registration. ESBS will report your CEUs to the BACB in accordance with ACE Provider requirements. You are responsible for ensuring your contact information with the BACB is current.
9. Photography, recording, and confidentiality
The Retreat is a confidential professional learning environment. To protect the privacy of attendees and the integrity of clinical case discussions, recording (audio or video) of any session is prohibited without written consent of all parties present. Photography during sessions is also prohibited; photography during meals, excursions, and unstructured time is permitted with the consent of any people in the photo.
ESBS may take photographs and short video clips during the Retreat for marketing purposes. By registering, you grant ESBS permission to use your image in retreat marketing materials. If you prefer not to be photographed, please notify the ESBS team at check-in and we will accommodate this.
What is shared by attendees during sessions stays within the cohort. Attendees agree not to disclose the personal disclosures, clinical scenarios, or vulnerable conversations of other attendees outside the Retreat.
10. Payment terms
Registration is confirmed only upon receipt of payment (or your first installment, for payment plans). Payment plans require all installments to be completed by October 1, 2026. Failure to complete payment by this date forfeits your registration with no refund. ESBS accepts payment by credit card, debit card, and ACH bank transfer. A 3% processing fee may apply to credit card payments.
11. Code of conduct
The Retreat is a professional learning environment. We expect attendees to treat fellow BCBAs, instructors, hotel staff, retreat vendors, and the Mérida community with respect. Behavior that is harassing, discriminatory, threatening, or that materially disrupts the experience of other attendees may result in removal from the Retreat without refund and reporting to the BACB Ethics Department where applicable.
12. Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to its conflict of laws principles. Any dispute arising under these terms will be resolved by mediation in Orange County, California, before resorting to litigation.
13. Contact
Questions about these terms, refund requests, or accommodations: admin@escalerasernabehaviorservices.com
Last updated: May 2026