For a new Crowne Plaza property, what document must be added to the Merchant Processing Application and Agreement?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
This Addendum to Merchant Processing Application and Agreement for New Properties ("Addendum") is entered into between FDS Holdings, Inc. ("First Data" or "Processor"), Bank of America, N.A. ("Bank") (collectively with First Data, "Servicers", "us", "our" or "we"), and the undersigned client ("Client", "you", or "your") as of the date signed by First Data and Client ("Addendum Effective Date"). Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Addendum are defined in the Terms and Conditions or elsewhere in the Agreement.
- 1.1 Client has been referred to First Data in connection with a Merchant Services Referral Agreement between First Data and Six Continents Hotels, Inc. ("IHG") dated October 16, 2014 (as amended from time-to-time, "IHG Agreement") pursuant to which IHG refers hotels and other establishments that are either owned, franchised, or operated by IHG or its Affiliates ("Service Recipients") to First Data for payment card processing services and other Services.
- 1.2 This Addendum, along with the Merchant Processing Application and Agreement ("Application"), Fee Schedule attached as Exhibit A ("Fee Schedule"), General Terms and Conditions attached as Exhibit B ("Terms and Conditions"), the Your Payments Acceptance Guide, and any other Schedules or other Contract Documents, as modified from time to time, collectively are the "Agreement" for Client's receipt of the Services.
MPA Addendum: The Addendum to Merchant Processing Application and Agreement for New Properties and/or Addendum to Merchant Agreement for Existing Properties entered into between you, us, and Bank. The MPA Addendum is a Contract Document and part of the Agreement.
Source: Item 23 — Receipts (FDD pages 100–424)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, a new Crowne Plaza property must include an Addendum to the Merchant Processing Application and Agreement for New Properties, referred to as the "Addendum", when applying for merchant processing services. This Addendum is an agreement entered into by FDS Holdings, Inc. ("First Data" or "Processor"), Bank of America, N.A. ("Bank") (collectively with First Data, "Servicers"), and the Crowne Plaza client.
The Addendum is triggered because IHG (Six Continents Hotels, Inc.) refers hotels franchised by IHG to First Data for payment card processing services, under a Merchant Services Referral Agreement dated October 16, 2014. This agreement facilitates the connection between Crowne Plaza franchisees and First Data for these essential services.
The Addendum, along with the Merchant Processing Application and Agreement, Fee Schedule (Exhibit A), General Terms and Conditions (Exhibit B), the Your Payments Acceptance Guide, and any other Schedules or Contract Documents, collectively form the complete "Agreement" governing the franchisee's receipt of services. The MPA Addendum is a Contract Document and part of the Agreement. It is important for prospective franchisees to carefully review all these documents to fully understand their obligations and rights related to payment processing.