How must I, as an Embassy Suites franchisee, advertise and promote the hotel?
Embassy_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You must advertise and promote the hotel and related facilities and services on a local and regional basis as we specify in the Manual, in a first-class, dignified manner, using our identity and graphics standards for all System Hotels, at your cost and expense. You must submit to us samples of all advertising and promotional materials that we have not previously approved (including any materials in digital, electronic, or computerized form, or in any form of media that exists now or is developed in the future) before you produce or distribute them. You may not begin using the materials until we approve them. You must immediately discontinue your use of any advertising or promotional material that we reasonably believe is not in the best interest of your Hotel or the System, even if we previously approved the materials. Any advertising or promotional materials, or sales or marketing concepts, you develop for your Hotel that we approve may be used by other hotels in the System without any compensation to you. (Franchise Agreement, Section 5.1.7).
You may not engage, directly or indirectly, in any cross-marketing or cross-promotion of your Hotel with any other hotel, motel or related business without our prior written consent, except for System Hotels and Network Hotels. You also may not utilize a list of customers (whether acquired before or during the term of your franchise) without our prior approval. The term "System Hotels" means hotels operating under the System using the Brand name and the Standards. The term "Network" means the elements, including know-how, that we or our Affiliates designate to distinguish the hotels, inns, conference centers, timeshare or residential properties and other hospitality-related businesses that Hilton Worldwide and its subsidiaries own, control, license, lease, operate or manage now or in the future. The term "Network Hotel" means any hotel, inn, conference center, timeshare or residential property or other hospitality-related business within the Network.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 53–67)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Embassy Suites's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are required to advertise and promote their hotel on a local and regional basis, adhering to the brand's standards and using approved materials. Specifically, franchisees must use Embassy Suites's identity and graphics standards for all advertising and promotional materials. Before producing or distributing any advertising or promotional materials that have not been previously approved, franchisees must submit samples to Embassy Suites for approval. This includes materials in digital, electronic, or computerized form, or in any form of media that exists now or is developed in the future.
Embassy Suites retains the right to mandate the discontinuation of any advertising or promotional material that it reasonably believes is not in the best interest of the hotel or the system, even if previously approved. Any advertising or promotional materials or sales or marketing concepts developed by a franchisee and approved by Embassy Suites may be used by other hotels in the system without any compensation to the originating franchisee. Franchisees are restricted from engaging in cross-marketing or cross-promotion with any other hotel, motel, or related business without prior written consent from Embassy Suites, except for System Hotels and Network Hotels. Furthermore, franchisees may not utilize a list of customers without prior approval from Embassy Suites.
These regulations ensure brand consistency and quality across all Embassy Suites locations. By requiring approval of advertising materials and restricting cross-promotions, Embassy Suites aims to maintain a unified brand image and prevent any potentially damaging marketing efforts by individual franchisees. The ability for Embassy Suites to use franchisee-developed materials system-wide without compensation highlights the importance of contributing innovative ideas while understanding that these ideas may benefit the entire franchise network, not just the individual franchisee. Prospective franchisees should carefully consider these requirements and restrictions as they plan their local and regional marketing strategies.