Under what circumstances will Best Western refund the entire Affiliation Fee to a prospective member?

According to Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a prospective member may receive a full refund of the Affiliation Fee under specific conditions related to the application review process. The Affiliation Fee is separate from other fees such as the $4,000 Evaluation Fee, and its amount depends on the number of rooms at the property.

Specifically, Best Western will refund the entire Affiliation Fee if the prospective member's application is presented to the Board by the Application Deadline but is not approved. This means that if the applicant meets all submission requirements on time, but the Board ultimately rejects the application, the Affiliation Fee will be returned. Additionally, the Affiliation fee will be refunded if the application is not presented to the board by the Application Deadline due to actions of the prospective member.

However, the refund is contingent upon the applicant adhering to the deadlines and processes set forth by Best Western. For example, if the application is approved, but the prospective member does not accept the conditions of approval, the $4,000 Impact Study Fee will not be refunded. The Affiliation Fee otherwise becomes non-refundable at the time of signing the Membership Agreement. This highlights the importance of carefully considering all terms and conditions before formally committing to a Best Western franchise.