Under what circumstances can the Best Western Board waive the criteria of rules 200.2 and 200.3?

According to Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Board of Directors has the authority to waive the criteria outlined in rules 200.2 and 200.3 under extenuating circumstances. These rules pertain to the qualifications required for an individual to be appointed as a Best Western Governor.

For a prospective franchisee, this means that while there are specific requirements to become a Best Western Governor, such as being a Voting Member or owner, having a minimum of three years of hotel/motel industry experience and two years of Best Western experience, being a participating member in industry-related associations, and attending Best Western meetings, the Board has some flexibility. If a potential candidate does not meet all the standard criteria, the Board can consider waiving certain requirements if there are valid reasons.

This waiver provision provides Best Western with the ability to adapt to unique situations and potentially appoint highly qualified individuals who may not strictly meet all the listed criteria. However, the FDD does not define what constitutes "extenuating circumstances," so a prospective franchisee should inquire with Best Western about specific examples or scenarios where such waivers have been granted in the past to better understand the scope of this provision.