What actions must a Crowne Plaza licensee take to comply with Data Privacy Laws?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
nse, as well as any other reports, data, information or material provided to IHG pursuant to or in connection with this License, shall be true and correct and not misleading and shall comply with all Standards, policies and requirements of IHG with respect to privacy and security of Operating Data and Guest Data of the Hotel. Licensee acknowledges and agrees that IHG may retrieve Operating Data, Guest Data, and Licensee Personal Data directly through the reservations system, via electronic transmission or automatic capture.
- (5) Data Privacy Laws. Licensee will: (i) comply with all applicable Data Privacy Laws; (ii) comply with all of IHG's requirements regarding data protection contained in the Standards or otherwise; (iii) refrain from any action or inaction that could cause IHG or its Affiliates to breach any of the Data Protection Laws; (iv) do and execute, or arrange to be done and executed, each act, document and thing necessary or desirable to keep IHG in compliance with any of the Data Protection Laws; (v) reimburse IHG for any and all costs incurred in connection with the breach by Licensee of such Data Privacy Laws or Brand Standards; (vi) immediately report to IHG the theft or loss of Personal Data or Guest Data; and (vii) permit IHG and its Affiliates to use any data or other information each of them gathers concerning Licensee, its Affiliates and/or the Hotel in connection with the establishment and operation of Brand System Hotels by IHG and its Affiliates. Licensee will implement commercially reasonable physical, administrative, and technical security controls for its processing of IHG Personal Data that are appropriate to the context and the risk of the Personal Data being processed.
B. Preparation and Maintenance of Records.
Licensee will, in a manner and form satisfactory to IHG and utilizing accounting and reporting standards as reasonably required by IHG, prepare on a current basis (and preserve for no less than four years or IHG's record retention requirements, whichever is longer), complete and accurate records concerning Gross Rooms Revenue and all financial, operating, marketing and other aspects of the Hotel. Licensee will maintain an accounting system which fully and accurately reflects all financial aspects of the Hotel and its business. Such records shall include but not be limited to books of account, tax returns, governmental reports, register tapes, daily reports, and complete quarterly and annual financial statements (profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flow statements). The requirement to preserve records as set forth herein shall continue beyond the expiration or sooner termination of the License Term.
C. Audit.
IHG may require Licensee to have the Hotel's Gross Rooms Revenue and/or monies due hereunder computed and certified as accurate. During the License Term and for two years afterward, IHG and its authorized agents will have the right to verify information required under this License by requesting, receiving, inspecting and auditing, at all reasonable times, any and all records referred to above wherever they may be located (or elsewhere if reasonably requested by IHG). If any such inspection or audit discloses a deficiency in any payments due hereunder, and the deficiency in any payment is not offset by overpayment, Licensee shall immediately pay to IHG the deficiency and interest thereon as provided in paragraph 3.C. along with an audit fee of $3,000, as such amount may be increased by IHG. No acceptance by IHG of any audit fee or deficiency payment shall be deemed to waive any right of IHG to pursue a default under this License by reason of such underpayment.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 100–424)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, licensees must adhere to several requirements to comply with Data Privacy Laws. These include complying with all applicable Data Privacy Laws and all of IHG's data protection requirements outlined in the Standards or elsewhere. Licensees must also avoid any actions that could cause IHG or its affiliates to breach any Data Protection Laws. They are required to execute any necessary documents or actions to ensure IHG remains compliant with these laws.
Furthermore, Crowne Plaza licensees are financially responsible for any costs IHG incurs due to the licensee's breach of Data Privacy Laws or Brand Standards. Licensees must immediately report any theft or loss of Personal Data or Guest Data to IHG. They must also allow IHG and its affiliates to use any data gathered concerning the licensee, its affiliates, and/or the hotel in connection with the operation of Brand System Hotels. Licensees are also required to implement commercially reasonable security controls for processing IHG Personal Data, appropriate to the context and risk involved.
In addition to these obligations, Crowne Plaza licensees must ensure that they, as well as their agents, comply with all applicable laws, including Data Privacy Laws, contractual obligations, and requirements of the credit card processing industry, such as PCI DSS. They must also adhere to all Standards and IHG policies related to accessing any Curated Solution, network connectivity, and data transmission to IHG and its affiliates. Licensees are responsible for maintaining adequate security and backup procedures to prevent unauthorized access, use, or loss of data, meeting at least the standard of care in the industry. Licensees must also comply with any additional security and data protection practices that IHG provides in writing, including any updates to these practices, within specified timeframes.
With respect to IHG Marketing Data, Crowne Plaza licensees are considered IHG's processors and are prohibited from selling or sharing the data, processing it for purposes not expressly permitted by IHG (including commercial purposes), or combining it with other personal data. Licensees are also restricted from engaging any subprocessors to handle IHG Marketing Data. These comprehensive requirements ensure that Crowne Plaza franchisees maintain a high standard of data protection and privacy, aligning with both legal requirements and IHG's internal standards.