Does the Embassy Suites Manual include personnel policies or procedures?
Embassy_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We will loan to you a copy of our Manual and/or provide you with electronic access to the Manual on the Hilton Intranet resources library. The Manual is confidential and is the
property of our affiliate, Hilton International Holding LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("HIH") (Franchise Agreement, Section 4.6). References to the Manual include the Standards, which include all standards, specifications, requirements, criteria, and policies that have been and are in the future developed and compiled by us for use by you in connection with the design, construction, renovation, refurbishment, appearance, equipping, furnishing, supplying, opening, operating, maintaining, marketing, services, service levels, quality, and quality assurance of System Hotels, including the hotel, and for hotel advertising and accounting, whether in the Manual or the Franchise Agreement or other written communication (Franchise Agreement, Sections 1.0 and 4.6). The Standards do not include any personnel policies or procedures that we may, at our option, make available to you in the Manual or other written communication. You may, in your sole judgment, determine to what extent, if any, any such personnel policies or procedures might apply to the Hotel or Hotel site.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS AND TRAINING (FDD pages 53–67)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Embassy Suites' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Standards outlined in the manual do not include mandatory personnel policies or procedures. While Embassy Suites may, at its option, make such policies available, franchisees have the discretion to determine the extent to which these policies apply to their specific hotel and site. This means that while Embassy Suites provides brand standards for operations, quality, and customer service, franchisees retain control over their own employee management.
This flexibility allows Embassy Suites franchisees to tailor their personnel policies to local labor laws, market conditions, and the specific needs of their hotel. However, it also places the responsibility on the franchisee to develop and implement comprehensive HR policies that ensure legal compliance and effective employee management. Franchisees must be prepared to handle all aspects of personnel management, including hiring, training, compensation, and termination, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.
While Embassy Suites offers training programs for specific business and operational functions, the FDD emphasizes that franchisees are independent contractors and employers. Embassy Suites will not direct or supervise the franchisee's personnel or exert control over their personnel policies or procedures. This reinforces the franchisee's autonomy in managing their workforce but also highlights the importance of having strong HR expertise or resources in place. Prospective franchisees should inquire about the types of optional personnel policy guidance Embassy Suites may offer and carefully consider the implications of managing their own HR functions.