Are Atwell Suites franchisees responsible for travel expenses related to in-person training classes for their trainees?
Atwell_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
All required core certification training is included in the annual subscription for IHG
University. For in-person classes, you must pay for your trainees' travel expenses or any training expenses incurred from any optional or supplemental courses that your trainees attend. You may be required to purchase subsequent training materials to fulfill the ongoing training of new employees.
Your General Manager and Hotel Experience Champion must each complete the Leading the Brand Training for New Hotels certification prior to the Hotel opening. The cost for the training event is included in the annual subscription for IHG University.
Your General Manager and other individuals designated as the system experts for your Hotel must attend the RAMP UP: Pricing, Activating and Fueling New Hotels training program ("RAMP UP Program"). This program provides basic instruction on the Reservation System and revenue management and the cost for this program is included in the annual subscription for IHG University. There are no additional fees for your General Manager and your Hotel's designated system experts to attend this program, however participants from all Hotels are responsible for their own expenses for travel, meals and lodging if they attend the program in person.
Source: Item 5 — INITIAL FEES (FDD pages 27–30)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Atwell Suites' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for covering the travel expenses associated with in-person training classes for their trainees. While the annual subscription to IHG University covers the cost of core certification training, any travel expenses incurred for these in-person classes are the responsibility of the franchisee. Additionally, franchisees must also cover any training expenses for optional or supplemental courses that their trainees may attend. Franchisees may also be required to purchase subsequent training materials for new employees.
Furthermore, the FDD specifies that while the cost for the General Manager and Hotel Experience Champion to attend the Leading the Brand Training for New Hotels certification is included in the IHG University subscription, franchisees are still responsible for travel expenses. Similarly, while there are no additional fees for the General Manager and designated system experts to attend the RAMP UP Program, they are responsible for their own travel, meals, and lodging expenses if they attend in person.
This means that prospective Atwell Suites franchisees should factor in these potential travel costs when budgeting for training expenses. These costs can vary depending on the location of the training, the number of employees requiring training, and the duration of the training programs. It is important for franchisees to carefully consider these expenses to ensure they can adequately train their staff and maintain brand standards.