Regarding the Crowne Plaza agreement, when do the Processor's and Bank's signatures become effective?

According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, the signatures of the Processor (FDS Holdings, Inc.) and the Bank (Bank of America, N.A.) on the Merchant Processing Application and Agreement Addendum become effective on the date the Client (the franchisee) signs the Addendum. This means that the agreement between Crowne Plaza, the payment processor, and the bank is contingent upon the franchisee's signature. Any alterations or changes to the agreement are considered null and void.

This clause ensures that the franchisee's agreement to the terms is the trigger for the processor's and bank's obligations. It protects the processor and bank from being bound by an agreement before the franchisee has committed to it. This is a fairly standard practice in franchise agreements involving third-party service providers.

Prospective Crowne Plaza franchisees should carefully review the Merchant Processing Application and Agreement Addendum before signing, as the effective date of the Processor's and Bank's signatures is tied directly to the franchisee's signature. Franchisees should also be aware that no alterations or changes to the agreement will be accepted, so it is important to understand and agree with the terms before signing.