How is the Affiliation Fee calculated for a Best Western System Hotel with more than 50 guest rooms?
Best_Western Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
redited toward any other payment you must make and is non-refundable.
All new prospective Members must pay the Affiliation Fee before the Board's consideration of the Application for Membership. The Affiliation Fee for a System Hotel is $45,000, plus an additional $200 per guest room over 50 guest rooms up to a maximum of 1,000 rooms. Therefore, the Affiliation Fee for a 75- room Best Western System Hotel is $50,000, of a 90-room Best Western Plus System Hotel is $53,000, of a 120-room Best Western Premier System Hotel is $59,000, of a 100-room @Home by Best Western System Hotel is $55,000, of a 100-room Executive Residency by Best Western is $55,000, of a 100-room Vīb System Hotel is $55,000, of an 80-room GLō System Hotel is $51,000, and of a 90-room Aiden System Hotel is $53,000.
If a new prospective Member's Application for Membership is either (i) presented to the Board by the Application Deadline and the Application for Membership is not approved or (ii) not presented to the Board by the Applica
Source: Item 5 — Initial Fees (FDD pages 21–24)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Affiliation Fee for a Best Western System Hotel is initially $45,000. For hotels with more than 50 guest rooms, an additional fee of $200 per room is added for each room exceeding 50, up to a maximum of 1,000 rooms.
For example, a 75-room Best Western System Hotel would have an Affiliation Fee of $50,000, while a 90-room Best Western Plus System Hotel would be $53,000. Similarly, a 120-room Best Western Premier System Hotel would have an Affiliation Fee of $59,000. Other examples provided include a 100-room @Home by Best Western, Executive Residency by Best Western, or Vīb System Hotel, each with an Affiliation Fee of $55,000, an 80-room GLō System Hotel at $51,000, and a 90-room Aiden System Hotel at $53,000.
It is important to note that the Affiliation Fee is generally refundable if the Membership Application is not approved by the Board, or if it is not presented to the Board by the Application Deadline due to the prospective member's actions. However, once the Membership Agreement is signed, the Affiliation Fee becomes non-refundable. Prospective franchisees should carefully consider these conditions before signing the agreement.