Does the Crowne Plaza License limit the channels through which a franchisee may solicit customers for their Hotel?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
arks or other intellectual property rights related to the Brand System or to any of the other brands licensed by Holiday in connection with any web site, without Holiday's advance written approval. You must comply with all of Holiday's web site requirements in connection with any web sites you develop and maintain relating to your Hotel. The License does not otherwise limit the channels through which you may solicit customers for your Hotel.
The License does not limit Holiday's right or the rights of its parent, or any subsidiary or affiliate of Holiday, to use or license the Brand System or any part of the Brand System, or to engage in or license any business activity (including business activities referenced in Item 1, which sell similar products and services) or any other hotels (or any other ho
Source: Item 12 — Territory (FDD pages 81–82)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, the license agreement does not generally limit the channels a franchisee can use to solicit customers for their hotel. However, franchisees must obtain advance written approval from Holiday for any website related to their hotel. Additionally, franchisees cannot register any of Crowne Plaza's marks as part of a domain name or URL, or display/use any of the marks or intellectual property rights related to the Brand System or other brands licensed by Holiday in connection with any website, without Holiday's advance written approval. Franchisees must also comply with all of Holiday's website requirements for any hotel-related websites they develop and maintain.
This means that while Crowne Plaza franchisees have flexibility in how they market their hotel, Crowne Plaza maintains control over the brand's online presence. This is a common practice in franchising, as franchisors want to ensure brand consistency and quality across all locations.
For a prospective franchisee, this implies that you will need to get approval for your website and adhere to Holiday's standards. While you can use various channels to attract customers, your online marketing efforts must align with the franchisor's guidelines. This could involve restrictions on website design, content, and the use of Crowne Plaza's trademarks online. It is important to understand these requirements and factor them into your marketing strategy and budget.