By what date must all televisions in Best Western branded hotels be replaced to comply with the Television Guidelines?
Best_Western Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
By December 31, 2024, all televisions, for all Best Western branded hotels, shall be replaced with televisions that comply with the following Television Guidelines:
Television Size – Minimum (Measured Diagonally)
- Lobby and Breakfast Area: 50" Television
- Fitness Area: 50" Television
- Guestrooms: 50" Television(s) with Streaming/Casting Capability
Television Grade
- All televisions shall be commercial grade.
- Televisions in guest rooms shall support streaming and popular applications (e.g., Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, Apple, and Disney) via a guest personal device (e.g., iPad) and the television.
Implementation
As an exception to the December 31, 2024 date of implementation, televisions will be considered compliant until seven (7) years after the original date of manufacture by which time they must be replaced with a television that meets these Television Guidelines.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 108–413)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, all televisions in Best Western branded hotels must be replaced to comply with the Television Guidelines by December 31, 2024. These guidelines mandate that any televisions purchased for use in guest rooms must meet specific minimum sizes and HD programming standards. All televisions must be commercial grade LCD, LED, or plasma flat panel televisions equipped with HDMI, Proidium chip, and VGA ports. The minimum size for televisions in the lobby, breakfast area, and fitness area is 50 inches. Guestroom televisions must also be at least 50 inches and have streaming/casting capabilities.
As an exception to the December 31, 2024, implementation date, televisions will be considered compliant until seven years after their original date of manufacture. After this seven-year period, they must be replaced with televisions that meet the current Television Guidelines. This exception provides some flexibility for franchisees who have recently purchased televisions, allowing them to depreciate their existing assets before upgrading.
For Best Western Plus properties, the brand standards also specify that guestrooms must have 50" televisions with streaming/casting capabilities by December 31, 2024. Additionally, all televisions must be commercial grade and support streaming and popular applications via a guest's personal device. These requirements ensure that Best Western hotels offer modern amenities that meet guest expectations for entertainment and connectivity.
Prospective franchisees should carefully review these requirements and factor in the cost of television upgrades when evaluating the financial feasibility of a Best Western franchise. It is also important to stay informed about any future changes to the Design Guidelines and Brand Standards, as these are subject to member approval through ballots.