What are the requirements for a management company to be approved by Best Western?
Best_Western Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Whether you are an individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity, you must at all times retain and exercise direct management control over the Property's business. If you operate a Best Western, a Best Western Plus, a Best Western Premier, an Executive Residency by Best Western, an @Home by Best Western, a Vīb, or a GLō System Hotel you are required to fulfill this responsibility only by providing qualified and experienced management, which may be (i) a management company that meets our then-current Standards and is approved by us to operate the Property, or (ii) a full-time, dedicated, on-premises general manager ("General Manager"). If you operate an Aiden System Hotel you are required to fulfill this responsibility only by hiring a management company that meets our then-current Standards and is approved by us to operate the Property. We may reject a proposed management company if we determine that it is unwilling or unable to comply with all requirements under our then-current Standards. You are required at all times to provide to us up-to-date information regarding the name and contact information of the management company (if applicable) and the General Manager. Your General Manager does not need to have an equity interest in the Property or you.
You must comply with Standards for the training of persons involved in the operation of the Property. You must at all times maintain a General Manager who has completed the initial and other training we require in the Manuals or otherwise. Before the Property becomes operational, your General Manager and other required employees are required to attend and successfully complete our required pre-opening training. If you hire a new or replacement General Manager in the future, you must pay us a fee for the new or replacement General Manager to attend the General Manager Professional Development Training and Leadership Training.
You must adopt and implement all procedures we periodically establish in our business judgment to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of our proprietary information, including restrictions on disclosure to employees and the use of non-disclosure and non-competition clauses in agreements with employees, agents and independent contractors who have access to the proprietary information.
Source: Item 15 — Obligation to Participate in the Actual Operation of the Franchise Business (FDD page 87)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, if a franchisee operates a Best Western, Best Western Plus, Best Western Premier, Executive Residency by Best Western, @Home by Best Western, Vīb, or GLō System Hotel, they must retain direct management control over the property's business. This can be achieved through either a management company that meets Best Western's standards and is approved by them, or a full-time, dedicated, on-premises general manager. For franchisees operating an Aiden System Hotel, they are required to hire a management company that meets Best Western's standards and is approved by Best Western to operate the property.
Best Western retains the right to reject a proposed management company if it believes the company is unwilling or unable to comply with the brand's standards. Franchisees must provide Best Western with up-to-date information regarding the name and contact information of the management company, if applicable, and the General Manager. The General Manager is not required to have an equity interest in the property or the franchisee's company.
All franchisees must comply with Best Western's standards for training individuals involved in the property's operation. A General Manager who has completed the initial and other required training outlined in the manuals must be maintained at all times. Before the property becomes operational, the General Manager and other required employees must attend and successfully complete the required pre-opening training. If a new or replacement General Manager is hired, the franchisee must pay a fee for them to attend the General Manager Professional Development Training and Leadership Training.
Franchisees are also obligated to implement procedures established by Best Western to prevent unauthorized use or disclosure of proprietary information. This includes restrictions on disclosure to employees and the use of non-disclosure and non-competition clauses in agreements with employees, agents, and independent contractors who have access to proprietary information. These measures are in place to protect Best Western's confidential business practices and maintain brand integrity.