What certifications regarding construction must a licensee provide to IHG before opening an Atwell Suites hotel?
Atwell_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
staffing and training of such staff necessary to operate the Hotel in accordance with IHG's requirements;
- (b) no accounts of Licensee are past due to IHG or any of its Affiliates;
- (c) Licensee is in full compliance with all of the terms of this License;
- (d) Licensee has submitted to IHG all certificates of insurance (and copies of insurance policies if requested by IHG) as required under the License;
- (e) Licensee has obtained all necessary governmental approvals, licenses and permits to possess, occupy and operate all areas of the Hotel, according to IHG's requirements, including specifically without limitation, a permanent certificate of occupancy; and
- (f) Licensee has submitted to IHG a post–construction disability compliance certification signed by Licensee and an architect with professional experience applying the requirements of the ADA and the ADA Standards, in the form of Attachment "C" – ADA Certificate. Such certification must confirm the qualifications of the architect, the architect has inspected the as-built conditions of the Hotel and building site and that the Hotel and building site have been built in compliance with Title III of the ADA and any other applicable accessibility laws, ordinances or requirements;
- (g) Licensee has either (i) delivered a certification that verifies the Hotel complies with IHG's fire protection and life safety Standards and the fire protection and life safety systems of the Hotel are operational, or (ii) retained IHG and paid IHG the then-current testing and inspection fee to test and inspect the fire protection and life safety systems of the Hotel, and such testing and inspection verifies the Hotel complies with IHG's fire protection and life safety Standards and the fire protection and life safety systems of the Hotel are operational. Any such certification in (i) above must be issued by a third party licensed fire protection engineer, engineer, or recognized expert consultant on fire and life safety requirements that has been approved by IHG. IHG may require that such
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certification be issued by a party that has not participated in the design of the fire protection and life safety systems of the Hotel;
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 99–486)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Atwell Suites's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, before opening an Atwell Suites hotel, a licensee must provide several certifications to IHG related to construction and compliance. These include a pre-construction ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Certificate, a post-construction disability compliance certification, and a certification verifying compliance with IHG's fire protection and life safety standards.
The post-construction disability compliance certification must be signed by both the licensee and an architect who has professional experience applying the requirements of the ADA and the ADA Standards. This certification confirms the architect's qualifications and verifies that the hotel and building site have been built in compliance with Title III of the ADA and other applicable accessibility laws.
For fire protection and life safety, the licensee must either deliver a certification verifying the hotel complies with IHG's standards and that the fire protection and life safety systems are operational, or they can retain IHG to conduct the testing and inspection themselves, for which the licensee will pay a fee. If the licensee chooses to provide their own certification, it must be issued by a third-party licensed fire protection engineer, engineer, or recognized expert consultant on fire and life safety requirements approved by IHG. IHG may also require that this certification be issued by a party that did not participate in the design of the hotel's fire protection and life safety systems.
Additionally, the licensee must notify IHG in writing that all requirements for construction, furnishing, and opening the hotel have been completed and that the hotel is ready to open as an Atwell Suites Brand System Hotel. IHG also requires an architect's certification that the hotel has been completed in accordance with the Final Plans and a copy of the certificate of occupancy for the Hotel.