If other hotels use my approved advertising materials for Embassy Suites, will I receive compensation?
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).
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, if you develop advertising or promotional materials for your hotel that Embassy Suites approves, these materials may be used by other hotels in the Embassy Suites system without any compensation to you. This policy is outlined in Section 5.1.7 of the Franchise Agreement.
This means that while you are responsible for local and regional advertising and promotion of your Embassy Suites hotel, any successful concepts or materials you create and get approved become available for the benefit of the entire franchise system. You will not receive direct financial compensation if other franchisees use your ideas.
This aspect of the franchise agreement encourages franchisees to contribute creative marketing ideas, but it's important to recognize that the benefit is shared across the system rather than rewarded individually. Prospective franchisees should consider this when budgeting for marketing and advertising efforts, understanding that their investment could potentially benefit the entire Embassy Suites network without direct reimbursement.