If a Best Western property falls below a AAA/CAA 2-Diamond rating, what action is required?
Best_Western Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ferenced in Exhibit B (the "Brand Standards").
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- Best Western Properties are required to meet the Descriptor Program's Design Guidelines by February 1, 2014, or earlier if required by a Property Improvement Plan ("PIP") deadline.
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- Best Western Plus Properties are required to meet the Descriptor Program's Design Guidelines within three years of activation on the reservation system as Best Western
Plus (e.g., if activated on February 1, 2011, the deadline is February 1, 2014), or earlier if required by a PIP deadline.
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- Best Western Premier properties shall comply with the Design Guidelines at all times.
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- AAA/CAA ratings no longer
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 108–413)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, every Best Western property must maintain at least a AAA/CAA 2-Diamond rating. If a property falls below this rating or fails a AAA/CAA assessment, the property must request a design review and complete any resulting Property Improvement Plan (PIP) within six months.
Following a drop in rating, the Best Western property owner must request a design review, which incurs a cost-recovery fee, currently estimated at $1,900. This fee may increase in the future as costs rise. The property will then be assessed using the Design Guidelines for the descriptor being requested.
If the Best Western property complies with the applicable Design Guidelines after the review, it will be assigned the appropriate descriptor. This process ensures that all Best Western properties maintain a certain standard, and those that fall below the standard take corrective action within a specified timeframe.