In the Crowne Plaza franchise agreement, what is the meaning of "Baselining" concerning the Microsoft operating system and Internet Explorer?

According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, "Baselining" refers to bringing the Microsoft (MS) operating system and Internet Explorer of the Covered Devices to a mutually agreed upon, known, current state of patching and security policies as defined in the Proof of Concept project that preceded this scope of work.

In simpler terms, Baselining is a process of establishing a standard, secure configuration for the Microsoft operating system and Internet Explorer on specific devices used in the Crowne Plaza hotel. This involves ensuring that all necessary patches and security policies are up-to-date and agreed upon by both the franchisee and franchisor. The standard is based on a Proof of Concept project that was completed before the franchise agreement.

For a prospective Crowne Plaza franchisee, understanding Baselining is crucial for maintaining the security and operational standards of the hotel's technology infrastructure. It ensures that the hotel's systems are protected against vulnerabilities and are running on a consistent, secure platform. This also helps in maintaining compliance with any technology-related requirements set by IHG. The "Covered Devices" are defined as Eligible Participant Equipment generally consisting of one (1) server and five (5) workstations (which would constitute six Covered Devices) attached to the front-office network.