From whom are Best Western franchisees required to license the System's PMS?
Best_Western Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are currently required to license the System's PMS (currently AutoClerk Cloud PMS) from our affiliate, AutoClerk. When you obtain the required PMS, you will also receive the GMS. The GMS provides a full-suite guest management system for System Hotels. The GMS includes preregistration, dynamic upsells, guest messaging, digital compendium and mobile check-out. The GMS enables hoteliers to increase revenue, boost staff efficiency and maximize guest satisfaction. If the Property has a waiver from the requirement to use the System's required PMS, you must still obtain the GMS and pay all associated fees.
Source: Item 8 — Restrictions on Sources of Products and Services (FDD pages 61–64)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to license the System's Property Management System (PMS), currently identified as AutoClerk Cloud PMS, from Best Western's affiliate, AutoClerk. Along with the PMS, franchisees also receive the Guest Management System (GMS), which offers a suite of features including pre-registration, dynamic upsells, guest messaging, a digital compendium, and mobile check-out. Best Western highlights that the GMS is designed to help hoteliers increase revenue, improve staff efficiency, and maximize guest satisfaction.
Even if a Best Western property has a waiver from the requirement to use the System's required PMS, they are still obligated to obtain the GMS and pay all associated fees. This indicates that while there might be some flexibility regarding the PMS itself under certain waiver conditions, the GMS is a mandatory component for all System Hotels.
AutoClerk received approximately $922,719 in revenue during 2024 from selling what were then optional items to Members. This gives a sense of the scale of AutoClerk's business with Best Western franchisees and the potential revenue streams associated with providing these technology solutions. Prospective franchisees should consider these technology requirements and associated costs as part of their overall investment and operational planning.