Under what conditions is a Best Western property prohibited from advertising 'free breakfast'?
Best_Western Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
G. Advertising Free Breakfast. Properties that do not meet the above minimum standard for the breakfast buffet described in Section A above, at no additional charge, may not advertise free breakfast in any publication, website, billboard, etc. Properties found to serve less than this minimum but still advertising free breakfast shall be assessed as "non-compliant" against minimum standards.
H. Advertising Free Hot Breakfast.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 108–413)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a Best Western property cannot advertise 'free breakfast' if it does not meet the minimum standards for the breakfast buffet. Specifically, if a property does not offer the breakfast buffet described in Section A of Rule 500.39, at no additional charge, it is prohibited from advertising free breakfast in any publication, website, or billboard. Properties that advertise free breakfast but do not meet the minimum standards will be considered 'non-compliant'.
Section A of Rule 500.39 outlines the requirements for the complimentary breakfast buffet that Best Western Member Properties must provide if they do not have an on-site, full-service restaurant. This buffet must include a choice of sliced bread or other bread item, a sweet bread, butter or margarine with assorted jellies and jams, a choice of two dry cereals, and a choice of oatmeal, grits, or Cream of Wheat. It also requires a guest-accessible refrigerated juice dispensing machine offering at least two juices from an approved distributor and manufacturer, with one being orange juice (this requirement does not apply to Best Western Premier properties).
For a Best Western property to advertise 'Free Hot Breakfast', it must offer the breakfast buffet described in Section A, along with one hot egg and one hot meat. This ensures that properties advertising free breakfast or free hot breakfast provide a consistent and acceptable standard of breakfast offerings to guests. This requirement helps maintain brand consistency and guest satisfaction across all Best Western locations.
Prospective franchisees should carefully review Section A of Rule 500.39 and ensure their property can consistently meet these minimum breakfast standards before advertising 'free breakfast' or 'free hot breakfast'. Failure to comply can result in a 'non-compliant' assessment, potentially leading to penalties or other consequences from Best Western.