Under what conditions may Holiday make exceptions to modernization, renovation, and upgrading requirements for a Crowne Plaza Hotel?

According to the 2025 Crowne Plaza FDD, Holiday, the franchisor, generally requires substantial modernization, renovation, and upgrading of a Crowne Plaza Hotel at any time, using requirements applicable to hotels in the same category within the brand system. However, Holiday may make limited exceptions to these requirements.

The FDD specifies that these exceptions are based on two primary factors: local conditions and special circumstances. This suggests that if a franchisee can demonstrate that local market conditions or unique circumstances related to their specific hotel warrant a deviation from the standard modernization, renovation, and upgrading requirements, Holiday may consider granting an exception.

For a prospective Crowne Plaza franchisee, this clause offers a degree of flexibility. It implies that the franchisor is willing to consider the specific context of each hotel and is not necessarily bound to a rigid, one-size-fits-all approach. However, it's important to note that these exceptions are "limited," meaning they are not granted liberally. A franchisee would need to present a strong case based on verifiable local conditions or special circumstances to justify a deviation from the standard requirements.