What is the deadline for a Crowne Plaza licensee to provide IHG with evidence of compliance regarding the cancellation of any fictitious, trade, or assumed name registrations containing Crowne Plaza marks after termination or expiration of the license?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Upon expiration or other termination of this License, all rights granted under this License will immediately terminate and Licensee will take whatever action is necessary to assure that no use is made of any part of the Brand System at or in connection with the Hotel after the License Term ends. This will involve, among other things, returning to IHG the Standards and all other materials proprietary to IHG, ceasing the use of the Marks and any other of IHG's trademarks or service marks, physical changes of distinctive Brand System features of the Hotel, including, but not limited to, removal of the primary freestanding sign down to the structural steel, as well as removal of any brand-mandated artwork, signage, graphics, and paint schemes (whether on walls, ceilings or floors) and all other actions required to preclude any possibility of confusion on the part of the public and to ensure that the Hotel is no longer using all or any part of the Brand System or otherwise holding itself out to the public as a Brand System hotel. In addition, Licensee must cancel any fictitious, trade, or assumed name or equivalent registration that contains any Marks or any variations thereof, and Licensee must furnish IHG with evidence satisfactory to IHG of compliance with this obligation within thirty (30) days after termination or expiration of this License. Anything in this paragraph which is not done by Licensee within 30 days after expiration or termination of this License may be done at Licensee's expense by IHG or its agents who may enter upon the premises of the Hotel for that purpose.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 100–424)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Crowne Plaza's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a licensee must provide IHG with evidence of compliance regarding the cancellation of any fictitious, trade, or assumed name registrations containing Crowne Plaza marks within thirty (30) days after the termination or expiration of the license. This obligation is part of the de-identification process required to ensure the hotel no longer presents itself as a Crowne Plaza branded property after the license term ends.
This requirement is crucial for maintaining the integrity of the Crowne Plaza brand. Failure to comply within the specified timeframe allows IHG or its agents to enter the premises and complete the de-identification process at the licensee's expense. This provision protects IHG from potential misuse of its trademarks and ensures a clean break between the franchisee and the brand, preventing public confusion.
For a prospective Crowne Plaza franchisee, this means understanding and planning for the de-identification process well in advance of the license's expiration or any potential termination. Budgeting for these costs and adhering to the 30-day deadline is essential to avoid additional expenses and potential disputes with IHG. The franchisee should maintain meticulous records of all actions taken to comply with this requirement and promptly provide the necessary evidence to IHG.