Must a Best Western franchisee participate in and use the required reservation service?
Best_Western Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must participate in and use the required reservation service, including any additions, enhancements, supplements or variants we develop or adopt, and honor and give first priority on available rooms to all confirmed reservations referred to the Property through the required reservation service. The only reservation service or system you may use for outgoing reservations referred by or from the Property to other properties owned, licensed or franchised by us or one of our affiliates will be the reservation service we designate and require.
Source: Item 16 — Restrictions on What the Franchisee May Sell (FDD pages 87–88)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Best Western Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must participate in and use the brand's required reservation service. This includes any additions, enhancements, supplements, or variants that Best Western develops or adopts. Franchisees are also obligated to prioritize confirmed reservations referred through this service, giving them precedence over other bookings when rooms are available.
This requirement ensures brand consistency and helps maintain a unified booking experience for customers. By centralizing reservations through a designated system, Best Western aims to optimize occupancy rates and streamline operations across all properties. The FDD also specifies that franchisees can only use the Best Western designated reservation service for outgoing reservations to other Best Western properties.
For a prospective franchisee, this means they cannot use alternative reservation systems or third-party booking platforms for reservations involving other Best Western locations. While franchisees can solicit reservations from customers outside their market area, they must do so through the approved Best Western reservation service. This restriction is in place to maintain control over the brand's distribution channels and ensure consistent service standards across the network.