Regarding AT&T services for a Crowne Plaza franchise, who is responsible for travel-related expenses associated with the SOW and POC?

According to Crowne Plaza's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Eligible Participant, which in this case is the franchisee, is responsible for all travel-related expenses associated with the SOW (Scope of Work) and POC (Proof of Concept) for AT&T services. These expenses will be invoiced to the franchisee at cost and will appear as a separate line item on the invoice.

This means that as a Crowne Plaza franchisee, you will need to budget for these travel-related expenses when AT&T personnel are required to travel for the SOW and POC phases of setting up the services. It is important to note that AT&T personnel will only incur these travel expenses after receiving permission from the franchisee's authorized Project Manager, giving the franchisee some control over these costs.

This arrangement is fairly standard in the franchise industry, where franchisees often bear the costs associated with specific services or vendor relationships required for their business operations. By requiring pre-approval from the Project Manager, Crowne Plaza and AT&T aim to provide a degree of cost control and transparency to the franchisee. Franchisees should ensure clear communication and diligent oversight of these expenses to manage their overall investment effectively.