What are the consequences for a Best Western property that does not comply with the Property Management System requirement?
Best_Western Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Compliance Rules:
- All Properties are required to install and maintain a Property Management System that is certified with the Best Western Two-Way Interface and endorsed by Best Western by December 31, 2009. Any Property not installing a PMS will be deemed not in compliance.
- Any non-complying Property will be restricted on the Best Western reservation system and required to comply within 90 days of restriction. Continued or reoccurring non-compliance of this requirement once the Property has been restricted for non-compliance will result in review by the Board for possible cancellation of the Best Western Membership.
- The December 31, 2009 compliance date in this Proposal applies to Members whose Best Western Membership was approved on or before May 31, 2005; unless the compliance date is changed due to their becoming a reaffiliated Member following a change of 50% or more in a Property's ownership where the Best Western Property does not qualify for an automatic transfer "reaffiliation," or due to a requirement of a conditional extension that has been granted as part of the hearing process or Board evaluation because of past due Membership conditions.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 108–413)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, all properties were required to install and maintain a Property Management System (PMS) certified with the Best Western Two-Way Interface and endorsed by Best Western by December 31, 2009. Any property that did not comply with this requirement would be deemed non-compliant. This rule applied to members whose Best Western membership was approved on or before May 31, 2005, unless the compliance date was changed due to specific circumstances such as reaffiliation after a change in ownership or a conditional extension granted during a hearing process.
If a Best Western property fails to install a PMS, it will face restrictions on the Best Western reservation system. The property will then be required to comply within 90 days of being restricted.
Continued or reoccurring non-compliance with the PMS requirement, after the initial restriction period, may lead to a review by the Board of Directors. This review could potentially result in the cancellation of the Best Western membership for the non-compliant property. This highlights the importance of adhering to Best Western's technology standards to maintain good standing within the franchise system.