Are all Crowne Plaza brand group Hotels required to participate in the CP-HMA?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
All Crowne Plaza brand group Hotels must participate in the CP-HMA. Payments under the CP-HMA contract must begin within 60 days of the opening of the Hotel (see Note 9 in Item 6). The CP-HMA is an association of Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts in the Americas, and exists to develop, fund and implement programs for the direct benefit of Crowne Plaza brand group hotels, suites and resorts. An advisory board elected by the association membership governs the CP-HMA. There are no written documents which govern the CP-HMA other than the CP-HMA contract, Paragraph 3.B(1)(f) of the License and the Standards (which require participation in the CP-HMA). The CP-HMA prepares annual financial statements and makes them available for review by participating licensees. Holiday, the CP-HMA advisory board, and the IHG Owners Association, acting jointly, have the power to make changes, dissolve, merge or form additional CP-HMA programs.
Source: Item 11 — Franchisor's Assistance, Advertising, Computer Systems, and Training (FDD pages 69–81)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, all Crowne Plaza brand group Hotels are required to participate in the CP-HMA (Crowne Plaza-Hotel Marketing Association). This participation is not optional. Payments to the CP-HMA must commence within 60 days of the hotel's opening.
The CP-HMA is an association specifically for Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts located in the Americas. Its primary function is to create, fund, and execute programs that directly benefit Crowne Plaza brand group hotels, suites, and resorts. An advisory board, elected by the association's members, governs the CP-HMA.
The FDD specifies that the governing documents for the CP-HMA are the CP-HMA contract, Paragraph 3.B(1)(f) of the License, and the Standards, all of which mandate participation. The CP-HMA prepares annual financial statements that are available for review by participating licensees. Changes to the CP-HMA programs can be made jointly by Holiday (the franchisor), the CP-HMA advisory board, and the IHG Owners Association. This mandatory participation ensures that each Crowne Plaza hotel contributes to and benefits from collective marketing and brand-enhancing initiatives.