When must Best Western franchisees replace televisions that do not meet the Television Guidelines?
Best_Western Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
r before December 31, 2012, all cathode ray tube ("CRT") televisions shall be replaced with televisions that comply with the following Television Guidelines. Flat panel televisions purchased prior to July 1, 2011 that do not meet the following Television Guidelines will be deemed acceptable for Best Western and Best Western Plus hotels until seven (7) years after the original date of manufacture by which time they must be replaced with a television that meets the following Television Guidelines.
Television Guidelines
Any televisions purchased for use in guest rooms must meet the following guidelines with respect to minimum sizes and HD programming in accordance with this Rule 900.17. All televisions shall be commercial grade LCD, LED or plasma flat panel televisions with HDMI, Proidium chip and VGA ports.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 108–413)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Best Western franchisees must ensure that all televisions comply with the brand's Television Guidelines. Specifically, all Best Western branded hotels must replace all televisions with ones that meet these guidelines by December 31, 2024. These guidelines mandate commercial-grade LCD, LED, or plasma flat-panel televisions equipped with HDMI, Proidium chip, and VGA ports. The minimum size requirement for televisions in the lobby, breakfast area, fitness area, and guestrooms is 50 inches. Guestroom televisions must also support streaming and popular applications via a guest's personal device.
However, there is an exception to the December 31, 2024, implementation date. Televisions are considered compliant until seven years after their original date of manufacture. If a television does not meet the Television Guidelines but was purchased before July 1, 2011, it is acceptable for Best Western and Best Western Plus hotels until seven years after its manufacture date, after which it must be replaced with a compliant television.
For a prospective franchisee, this means budgeting for television replacements to meet these standards. If a franchisee has existing televisions, they need to check the manufacture dates to determine when they must be replaced, keeping in mind the ultimate deadline of December 31, 2024, for full compliance across all Best Western branded hotels. This ensures that all Best Western properties maintain a consistent and modern guest experience, aligning with brand standards.