Are Embassy Suites hotels required to participate in certain sales and distribution programs?
Embassy_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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- We may add, remove, or modify our sales and distribution programs at any time. These programs may have individual criteria for participation, as well as policies, terms, or rules that must be met for continued participation. We may require your Hotel to participate in certain programs or combinations of programs. We may also offer optional programs at an additional cost. Some programs may utilize automatic enrollment and if your Hotel does not wish to participate it may be required to opt-out as provided in programs' policies, terms, or rules. Failure to pay fees or commissions when due, or failure to comply with the applicable program policies, terms, and rules may result in the loss of access to certain programs or individual sales and distribution channels.
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- You must participate in, and pay all charges related to, our marketing programs not covered by Monthly Program Fees, and all guest frequency programs we require, including the Hilton Honors Worldwide guest reward programs or any successor programs. You must also honor the terms of any discount or promotional programs (including any frequent guest program) that we or Hilton offer to the public on your behalf, any room rate quoted to any guest when the guest makes an advance reservation, and any award guest certificates issued to hotel guests participating in these programs. We and our affiliates' other hotel brands may also participate in these programs. These programs are subject to change. You pay your share of the costs of the programs.
Currently, these programs include the Hilton Honors™ guest reward program operated by Hilton Honors Worldwide, and airline and rental car company frequent user programs in which Hilton participates.
Hilton Honors members may accumulate Hilton Honors points with most stays for all eligible dollars spent at participating Hilton Honors hotels. Hilton Honors members may also earn points in connection with our special promotions, marketing partnerships, and other activities, programs, and initiatives, including for example arrangements we have in place with certain travel programs, credit card companies, dining organizations, ride-share companies, and others. The only room rates that are not eligible for Hilton Honors points are wholesale/tour operator packages, contracted airline crew rates, complimentary or barter rooms, stays on NET Group/Series Group/IT Group rates, contracted Entertainment or Encore rates, stays using airline percent-off award certificates, stays that are booked via third-party websites other than the websites of Hilton Honors airline partners. Hilton Honors members may redeem their accumulated points for discounted and free hotel room nights and other rewards. Terms of the Hilton Honors program are subject to change. Pricing is subject to change and is reviewed annually.
These basic program fees are assessed on any stay for which a guest earns Hilton Honors points. Additional Hilton Honors bonus points that members earn as a result of promotional activities, programs, and initiatives that your Hotel participates in will result in an additional fee payable by your Hotel based on a set cost per point or a percentage of the eligible guest folio, depending on the type of promotional activity, program, or initiative. All program costs are subject to change.
In addition to the basic program fees outlined above, hotels are also responsible for the cost of certain guest amenities provided to Hilton Honors members. Hotels must allocate a certain percentage of rooms inventory for free night reward redemption by Hilton Honors members as specified by the Hilton Honors program. Hotels will be reimbursed for these reward redemptions on the same basis as other similarly situated participating hotels as specified by the Hilton Honors program. If your Hotel is re-licensed and had paid a lower fee in the past, it will be assessed the then-current standard fee when your new franchise term begins.
Source: Item 6 — OTHER FEES (FDD pages 27–41)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Embassy Suites's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, participation in sales and distribution programs is a requirement. Embassy Suites may modify or eliminate programs at any time and can mandate participation in specific programs or combinations of programs. Some programs have individual criteria for participation, along with specific policies, terms, or rules. Failure to comply with these may result in the loss of access to certain programs or individual sales and distribution channels.
Embassy Suites franchisees must participate in and pay for marketing programs not covered by Monthly Program Fees, as well as all guest frequency programs, including the Hilton Honors Worldwide guest reward programs or any successor programs. Franchisees must also honor the terms of any discount or promotional programs, including frequent guest programs, offered to the public, any room rate quoted to any guest making an advance reservation, and any award guest certificates issued to hotel guests participating in these programs. These programs are subject to change, and franchisees are responsible for their share of the costs.
Currently, required programs include the Hilton Honors guest reward program operated by Hilton Honors Worldwide, and airline and rental car company frequent user programs in which Hilton participates. Hilton Honors members accumulate points with stays and through special promotions, marketing partnerships, and other activities. Hotels must allocate a percentage of rooms for free night reward redemption by Hilton Honors members and will be reimbursed for these redemptions.