Does IHG have access to the transaction data processed on behalf of a Crowne Plaza hotel by FreedomPay?

According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) does have full access to the transaction data processed on behalf of a Crowne Plaza hotel by FreedomPay. This includes data and information such as names, services purchased, usage, billings, payment status, and payment card data. This access is related to IHG's management of its service relationship with FreedomPay.

This means that as a Crowne Plaza franchisee, you must acknowledge and agree that IHG will be able to view and utilize the transaction data generated by your hotel's operations through the FreedomPay system. This data access enables IHG to oversee and manage the payment processing services provided by FreedomPay, ensuring compliance and facilitating support.

While IHG has access to this data, the FDD also states that the Hotel Data remains the property of the hotel as between FreedomPay and the hotel, subject to the rights granted to IHG in the IHG-FreedomPay SPS Agreement. FreedomPay is granted a license to use the Hotel Data to perform its obligations under the Participation Agreement, comply with applicable law, and use and disclose Hotel Aggregated Data for its business purposes. This arrangement ensures that while IHG can access the data for management purposes, the hotel retains ownership of its specific data.

Prospective franchisees should consider the implications of IHG's data access and ensure they understand how this data will be used and protected. It is also important to understand the terms of the IHG-FreedomPay SPS Agreement and how it affects the hotel's data ownership and usage rights. Franchisees should also be aware of FreedomPay's data handling practices, including data storage, usage, and security measures, as outlined in the Participation Agreement and related attachments.