How is ongoing equipment maintenance for the PMS hardware arranged for a Crowne Plaza?
Crowne_Plaza Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must also obtain ongoing equipment maintenance for the PMS hardware, as arranged through either SCH or an approved vendor. The costs will vary according to your technology needs, and the costs listed on the table are estimates.
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 31–51)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza FDD, franchisees must secure ongoing maintenance for the Property Management System (PMS) hardware through either SCH (presumably, Six Continents Hotels, Inc.) or an approved vendor. The costs associated with this maintenance will vary based on the specific technology needs of the hotel, and the costs listed in the FDD are estimates.
Crowne Plaza hotels are required to use the Opera PMS software. Franchisees are responsible for obtaining ongoing maintenance and support for this software, including upgrades and new versions, as well as other software like operating system upgrades and endpoint protection software. The endpoint protection software is part of the Total Protection for Network (ToPS), managed by AT&T through the FastConnect SD-WAN solution. The PMS provider will directly bill the franchisee for the required PMS software support and will also provide the support.
In addition to PMS software support, franchisees must also pay support fees for other property-level systems that interface with the Opera PMS system. These systems include telecommunications, electronic door locking and keycard systems, and specialized sales software. The FDD notes that hardware and software maintenance fees may vary depending on the number of rooms at the hotel. Fees for local and long-distance telephone service and line charges are not included in the estimated fees provided in the FDD.