What is the deadline for Crowne Plaza to commence implementing non-hosted updates after notice from FreedomPay, unless otherwise required by law?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
FreedomPay may implement a hosted update on the FreedomPay Solution at such time as it determines, and Hotel shall have the flexibility to commence implementing non-hosted updates according to the schedule of IHG, which implementation shall be commenced no later than twelve (12) months after notice from FreedomPay and completed no later than twenty-four (24) months after such notice, unless such non-hosted update is required by Law, network requirements or PCI requirements, or other applicable authority, in such case Hotel shall implement such non-hosted update in accordance with the date required in such Law or requirement.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 100–424)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee must commence implementing non-hosted updates to the FreedomPay system within twelve months of receiving notice from FreedomPay. The entire implementation must be completed within twenty-four months of the notice. This timeline is subject to change if the updates are mandated by law, network requirements, PCI requirements, or other applicable authorities. In such cases, the franchisee must implement the updates according to the date specified in the relevant law or requirement.
This requirement ensures that all Crowne Plaza locations maintain up-to-date payment systems, which is crucial for security and compliance. Failure to implement these updates as required allows FreedomPay to terminate operational support for the older software version, even if the hotel continues to use it. This could leave the franchisee vulnerable to security breaches or non-compliance issues.
For a prospective Crowne Plaza franchisee, this means staying informed about any notices from FreedomPay regarding system updates and adhering to the specified timelines. It also implies a need to budget for potential IT expenses related to these updates. Franchisees should also be aware of any legal or regulatory changes that might necessitate faster implementation of these updates. Communication with both IHG and FreedomPay will be important to ensure compliance and avoid any disruption in payment processing capabilities.