What is the role of the 'Marketing Program' within the Camp Margaritaville System?
Camp_Margaritaville Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
's receipt of written notice to that effect from the Approval Agents, the Approval Agents shall have the right to withdraw
approval of the Licensed Use(s) by delivery of a further written notice if the failure identified in the initial notice has not been cured. Franchisee shall then, upon receipt of such further notice, immediately cease use of the particular Licensed Use(s) identified in the notice.
Section 5.10 Marketing Program. Franchisee's Marketing Fee shall be contributed to a marketing program for the benefit of the Camp Margaritaville System (the "Marketing Program"). Franchisor shall use the Marketing Fee in a manner that Franchisor determines, in its sole discretion, to be in the general best interests of the Camp Margaritaville System. For example, the Marketing Fee may be used in the following manners:
- (a) conducting local, regional or national advertising, promotional or brand building programs of any kind;
- (b) developing, maintaining, administering, directing, preparing, or reviewing advertising and marketing materials, promotions and programs;
- (c) public awareness of any of the Camp Margaritaville Intellectual Property and/or the Margaritaville brand;
- (d) public and consumer relations and publicity;
- (e) brand development;
- (f) research and development of technology, products and services;
- (g) website and application development and search engine optimization;
- (h) development and implementation of quality control programs;
- (i) changes and improvements to the Camp Margaritaville System;
- (j) the fees and expenses of any advertising agency engaged by Franchisor, in its discretion, to assist in producing or conducting advertising or marketing efforts;
- (k) any other programs or activities that Franchisor deems necessary or appropriate to promote or improve the Camp Margaritaville System; and
- (l) Franchisor's or its Affiliates' expenses associated with direct or indirect labor, administrative, overhead or other expenses incurred in connection with promotional, marketing or advertising efforts or any of the foregoing activities, including working with public relations firms, advertising agencies, advertising placement services, and creative talent.
Franchisor's ability to use the Marketing Fee on any of the foregoing products or services does not reduce or negate Franchisee's obligation to separately pay for those products or services as otherwise provided herein. Franchisor retains sole authority to direct the Marketing Program, with sole control over the creative concepts, materials, and media used and the placement and allocation of advertising programs. Franchisor reserves the right to use any media, create any programs, and allocate advertising and promotional expenditures to any regions or locales Franchisor deems appropriate. The Marketing Program is not a trust or escrow account, and Franchisor has no fiduciary obligation to franchisees arising from the Marketing Program.
Section 5.11 Participation in Systemwide Advertising and Marketing; Local Advertising. Franchisee acknowledges that promoting Camp Margaritaville Resorts as a single chain in the United States is important to the success of the brand. In addition to any Resort advertising efforts Franchisee undertakes, Franchisee must also participate in and use, in the manner that Franchisor specifies, all advertising, marketing, and promotional activities, materials and programs that Franchisor periodically requires for the Camp Margaritaville System.
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 72–406)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Camp Margaritaville's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Marketing Program is funded by franchisee contributions through a Marketing Fee and is designed to benefit the entire Camp Margaritaville system. Camp Margaritaville uses the Marketing Fee in a manner that it determines, in its sole discretion, to be in the general best interests of the Camp Margaritaville System.
The Marketing Program can be used for various activities, including local, regional, or national advertising, promotional or brand building programs, developing and maintaining marketing materials, enhancing public awareness of Camp Margaritaville's intellectual property, public and consumer relations, brand development, research and development of technology, website and application development, search engine optimization, quality control programs, and improvements to the Camp Margaritaville System. Camp Margaritaville also uses the fees to cover expenses related to advertising agencies and its own labor and administrative costs associated with marketing efforts.
Camp Margaritaville retains sole authority to direct the Marketing Program, including control over creative concepts, materials, media, and the allocation of advertising programs. The FDD specifies that the Marketing Program is not a trust or escrow account, and Camp Margaritaville has no fiduciary obligation to franchisees arising from the Marketing Program. Franchisees are also required to attend the Annual Margaritaville Revenue and Marketing Summit, with marketing, sales, and revenue leaders required to attend. The summit currently costs $399 per person, excluding travel and lodging, and these costs may increase over time.