After the Embassy Suites franchise agreement expires or terminates, what is the franchisee required to do with any websites they own, maintain, or operate that contain references to the Embassy Suites Marks, System, Network, or Brand?
Embassy_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- 13.6.6 cancel all assumed name or equivalent registrations relating to your use of any Mark, notify the telephone company and all listing agencies and directory publishers including Internet domain name granting authorities, Internet service providers, global distribution systems, and web search engines of the termination or expiration of your right to use the Marks, the Trade Name, and any telephone number, any classified or other telephone directory listings, Internet domain names, uniform resource locators, website names, electronic mail addresses and search engine metatags and keywords associated with the Hotel, and authorize their transfer to us; and
- 13.6.7 irrevocably assign and transfer to us (or to our designee) all of your right, title and interest in any domain name listings and registrations that contain any reference to our Marks, System, Network or Brand; notify the applicable domain name registrars of the termination of your right to use any domain name or Sites associated with the Marks or the Brand; and authorize and instruct the cancellation of the domain name, or transfer of the domain name to us (or our designee), as we specify. You will also delete all references to our Marks, System, Network or Brand from any Sites you own, maintain or operate beyond the expiration or termination of this Agreement.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 97)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Embassy Suites Franchise Disclosure Document, upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement, franchisees have specific obligations regarding websites they own, maintain, or operate. Embassy Suites requires franchisees to delete all references to their Marks, System, Network, or Brand from any sites they own, maintain, or operate.
In addition to removing references from websites, franchisees must also cancel all assumed name or equivalent registrations relating to the use of any Mark. They are required to notify the telephone company, all listing agencies, directory publishers, Internet domain name granting authorities, Internet service providers, global distribution systems, and web search engines about the termination or expiration of their right to use the Marks and Trade Name. This notification extends to any telephone number, classified or other telephone directory listings, Internet domain names, uniform resource locators, website names, electronic mail addresses, and search engine metatags and keywords associated with the hotel. Franchisees must also authorize the transfer of these assets to Embassy Suites.
Furthermore, franchisees must irrevocably assign and transfer to Embassy Suites (or its designee) all rights, titles, and interests in any domain name listings and registrations that contain any reference to Embassy Suites' Marks, System, Network, or Brand. They must notify the applicable domain name registrars of the termination of their right to use any domain name or Sites associated with the Marks or the Brand. Franchisees are also required to authorize and instruct the cancellation of the domain name or the transfer of the domain name to Embassy Suites (or its designee), as specified by Embassy Suites. These measures ensure that all digital assets and online presence associated with the Embassy Suites brand are fully transferred back to the franchisor upon termination or expiration of the franchise agreement.