For Atwell Suites hotels, what is the deadline for commencing implementation of non-hosted updates after notice from FreedomPay, and what is the final completion deadline?
Atwell_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
FreedomPay may implement a hosted update on the FreedomPay Solution at such time as it determines, and Hotel shall have the flexibility to commence implementing non-hosted updates according to the schedule of IHG, which implementation shall be commenced no later than twelve (12) months after notice from FreedomPay and completed no later than twenty-four (24) months after such notice, unless such non-hosted update is required by Law, network requirements or PCI requirements, or other applicable authority, in such case Hotel shall implement such non-hosted update in accordance with the date required in such Law or requirement.
If Hotel fails to implement any nonhosted update when required as set forth herein, FreedomPay reserves the right to terminate operational support for the prior release (even if Hotel continues to rely on the prior release) and will not be deemed in breach for doing so.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 99–486)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Atwell Suites's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees have specific timelines for implementing non-hosted updates to the FreedomPay system. Generally, an Atwell Suites franchisee must commence implementing these updates within twelve months after receiving notice from FreedomPay. The implementation must be fully completed within twenty-four months of that initial notice. This provides a two-year window for franchisees to complete the update process under normal circumstances.
However, there are exceptions to this general timeline. If a non-hosted update is mandated by law, network requirements, PCI requirements, or another applicable authority, the franchisee must implement the update according to the specific date required by that law or requirement. This means that in certain situations, the implementation timeline could be significantly shorter than the standard twelve to twenty-four month period.
Failure to comply with these update requirements can have serious consequences for an Atwell Suites franchisee. FreedomPay reserves the right to terminate operational support for the prior software release if a franchisee fails to implement a required non-hosted update within the specified timeframe. This termination can occur even if the franchisee continues to rely on the older software version, potentially disrupting payment processing and other critical hotel operations. Therefore, it is crucial for franchisees to stay informed about update notices from FreedomPay and to adhere to the specified implementation schedules to avoid any disruptions or loss of support.