Can the Board waive any of the criteria for Best Western Governor appointments, and under what circumstances?

According to Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Board of Directors has the authority to waive specific criteria outlined in rules 200.2 and 200.3 for Best Western Governor appointments. This flexibility is applicable when there are extenuating circumstances that justify a deviation from the standard requirements. These rules outline specific requirements for someone to be appointed as a Best Western Governor, such as being a voting member or owner, having a minimum of three years of hotel/motel industry experience and two years of Best Western experience, being a participating member in industry-related associations, and having attended Best Western meetings for the past two years.

The provision for waiving criteria provides Best Western with the ability to adapt to unique situations or candidate profiles that may not perfectly align with the standard requirements but still offer valuable expertise or perspective. This could include instances where a candidate possesses extensive industry experience but lacks the specific duration of Best Western experience or has demonstrated exceptional performance in other areas that compensate for a shortfall in one particular criterion.

For a prospective franchisee, this waiver provision suggests that the criteria for becoming a Best Western Governor are not necessarily rigid and may be subject to consideration based on individual circumstances. If a franchisee is interested in serving as a Governor but does not meet all the listed criteria, it may be worthwhile to inquire about the possibility of a waiver, particularly if there are compelling reasons or extenuating circumstances that could support such a request. However, the FDD does not define what constitutes "extenuating circumstances," so prospective franchisees should seek clarification from Best Western on what specific situations might qualify for a waiver.