What must a Crowne Plaza franchisee do before starting any upgrading or remodeling of the hotel?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If the Hotel experiences a change of ownership, the dates of these obligations may be adjusted at the time a change of ownership License is signed. You must submit your plans for such upgrading and remodeling to Holiday for its review and approval before you start upgrading or remodeling and upon completion of the upgrading or remodeling, you must provide to Holiday a written opinion from your architect, licensed professional engineer, or other third-party expert on the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA") certifying that the hotel as renovated complies with the ADA and with any other applicable laws, codes, ordinances, or regulations governing accessibility to persons with disabilities.
Source: Item 10 — Financing (FDD page 69)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, a franchisee must submit plans to Holiday for review and approval before starting any upgrades or remodeling. Upon completion of the work, the franchisee must provide Holiday with a written opinion from a qualified expert, such as an architect or engineer, certifying that the renovated hotel complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and other applicable accessibility laws and regulations. This ensures that the hotel meets the brand's standards and legal requirements.
Crowne Plaza also requires franchisees to adhere to specific brand standards and specifications when building, designing, furnishing, equipping, decorating, and supplying the hotel. These standards apply to all modernization, renovation, and upgrading projects. Holiday can modify these standards, and changes become binding on the franchisee as if they were originally part of the standards. Franchisees receive written notification of any changes at least 30 days before they take effect.
Before starting construction, franchisees must submit preliminary plans for new developments within three months of the license date. Construction cannot begin until Holiday approves the plans, ensuring they meet the requirements of the license and the brand standards. Franchisees are responsible for all construction and remodeling costs. Crowne Plaza provides prototype architectural plans that must be adapted for the specific site by an architect approved by Holiday, with the franchisee bearing the architect's costs directly. This process helps maintain brand consistency and quality across all Crowne Plaza locations.