Is a Crowne Plaza franchisee required to enter into a merchant processing application and agreement with the IHG-approved merchant service provider for NextGen Payments?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
Hotel Opening Consultation Services.** (required only for Hotels new to an IHG Portfolio Brand). Guidance and consulting on technology-related requirements for opening and operating an IHG Portfolio Brand Hotel, including use of property management system.
Schedule 3 to Attachment "D" Additional Required Services
Property Management System. The property management system ("PMS") is a comprehensive Software application used to coordinate the Hotel operational functions, e.g., front office, sales and planning, accounting, and reporting. The PMS may be integrated or interface with the Co
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 100–424)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to participate in the NextGen Payments (NGP) program. NGP is a computerized payment card processing program that uses PCI-certified payment terminals to encrypt credit card data. As part of this program, franchisees must enter into a merchant processing application and agreement with the IHG-approved merchant service provider.
This requirement ensures that all Crowne Plaza hotels use a standardized and secure payment processing system. This standardization helps to protect customer data and reduce the risk of fraud. It also allows IHG to maintain consistent standards across all of its properties.
For a prospective franchisee, this means they will not have the freedom to choose their own merchant service provider. They must use the provider approved by IHG and adhere to the terms of the merchant processing agreement. This may have implications for the fees and services offered, so it is important for franchisees to carefully review the agreement and understand their obligations. Franchisees are also required to execute participation agreements for tokenization and installation services related to NextGen Payments.