What is the deadline for a Crowne Plaza hotel to commence implementing non-hosted updates after notice from FreedomPay?
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.
If Hotel fails to implement any nonhosted update when required as set forth herein, FreedomPay reserves the right to terminate operational support for the prior release (even if Hotel continues to rely on the prior release) and will not be deemed in breach for doing so.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 100–424)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza FDD, a franchisee must commence implementing non-hosted updates to the FreedomPay system no later than twelve months after receiving notice from FreedomPay. The implementation must be completed no later than twenty-four months after such notice.
However, there are exceptions to this timeline. If the non-hosted update is required by law, network requirements, PCI requirements, or other applicable authority, the Crowne Plaza franchisee must implement the update in accordance with the date required by that law or requirement. This means that certain updates may need to be implemented faster than the standard twelve-to-twenty-four-month window.
Failure to comply with the required update schedule gives FreedomPay the right to terminate operational support for the prior release, even if the Crowne Plaza hotel continues to use the older version. This could have significant implications for the hotel's ability to process payments and maintain system security. Therefore, it is crucial for franchisees to stay informed about update notices from FreedomPay and adhere to the specified implementation timelines to avoid potential disruptions and maintain compliance.