Can Crowne Plaza disclose a franchisee's Confidential Information in connection with customer service and support?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
In addition, we may disclose your Confidential Information: (x) as permitted under Section 2.6, Section 10.6, or elsewhere in the Agreement; (y) in connection with any customer service and support, whether provided by us or Third Parties, related to your Merchant Account; and (z) to any Card Organizations, which may use and share such information in any lawful manner and for any lawful purpose.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 100–424)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza FDD, Holiday Hospitality Franchising, LLC may disclose a franchisee's Confidential Information in connection with customer service and support. This disclosure can occur whether the customer service and support is provided by Crowne Plaza itself or by third parties related to the franchisee's Merchant Account.
This means that as a Crowne Plaza franchisee, your confidential business data could be shared with external entities if it's deemed necessary for assisting customers or maintaining the Merchant Account linked to your franchise. This is a fairly standard practice in franchising, as franchisors often need to access franchisee data to ensure consistent service and support across the brand.
However, franchisees should be aware of the extent and nature of the information being shared, as well as the security measures in place to protect this data. It would be prudent for a prospective franchisee to inquire about the specific types of Confidential Information that may be disclosed, the third parties involved, and the safeguards implemented to prevent misuse or unauthorized access to this information. Understanding these details will help a franchisee assess the potential risks and ensure compliance with data protection regulations.