Who is responsible for travel expenses related to the SOW and POC for a Crowne Plaza, and how are these expenses invoiced?

According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee, referred to as the Licensee, is responsible for covering the travel and related expenses, including lodging and meals (or a reasonable per diem meal allowance), for IHG's and/or the Service Provider's personnel. This obligation extends to activities related to the Statement of Work (SOW) and Proof of Concept (POC), as these would fall under operational requirements necessitating on-site support or training.

In addition to travel expenses, the Licensee is also responsible for the costs of any site preparation work performed by IHG or Service Providers, as well as the costs associated with the installation of any Hardware or Software not part of the Minimum Configuration. This means that any additional services or equipment beyond the standard setup will be at the franchisee's expense.

The FDD excerpt does not explicitly detail how these travel expenses are invoiced. It is common practice for franchisors to either bill these expenses directly after they are incurred or to require advance payment or reimbursement based on estimated costs. A prospective Crowne Plaza franchisee should clarify the specific invoicing procedures and payment terms for these expenses with the franchisor to budget accordingly.