When does the Application Fee for a Crowne Plaza franchise become non-refundable?

According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza FDD, the application fee becomes non-refundable upon IHG's approval of the application. Payment of the application fee must be made when the application is submitted. This means that until IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) approves the application, the fee is potentially refundable.

For a prospective Crowne Plaza franchisee, this implies that there is a period after submitting the application and paying the fee during which the applicant might be able to get a refund if they change their mind or if the application is not approved. However, once IHG approves the application, the application fee is non-refundable, regardless of whether the franchisee proceeds with the franchise agreement.

It is important for potential franchisees to carefully consider their decision before submitting the application and paying the fee, as the refund is contingent on IHG's approval. Franchisees should also be aware of the time it typically takes for IHG to review and approve applications to understand the window of opportunity for a potential refund. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, where application fees often become non-refundable once the franchisor begins processing the application in earnest.