Is Embassy Suites required to engage in any particular advertising program?
Embassy_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We are not required to engage in or maintain any particular advertising program apart from our general obligations to periodically publish and make available to the traveling public a directory of all System Hotels (including your Hotel), to include your Hotel in national or regional group advertising of System Hotels, and to include your Hotel in international, national and regional market programs. (Franchise Agreement, Section 4.4). Most advertising is placed on the internet, as well as in traditional media (such as TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, and direct email),
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, Embassy Suites is not required to engage in any particular advertising program. However, Embassy Suites has general obligations to periodically publish and make available a directory of all System Hotels, include the franchisee's Hotel in national or regional group advertising of System Hotels, and include the Hotel in international, national, and regional market programs. Most advertising is placed on the internet, as well as in traditional media (such as TV, radio, newspaper, magazine, and direct email).
Embassy Suites may occasionally create marketing programs for specific promotional purposes that include only certain hotels, focusing on a geographic location, particular types of hotels, or other criteria. If a franchisee's Hotel is selected for such a program, their participation may be required, but there would be no fee for participating. Embassy Suites may also occasionally develop promotional programs with other companies that feature those companies' branded products or services used or offered by System Hotels, and may require or permit a franchisee's Hotel to participate in those promotional programs.
Embassy Suites may also occasionally provide marketing programs in which participation is voluntary, with participating hotels normally bearing their proportionate costs of participation. Embassy Suites has periodically matched or supplemented the amounts paid by participating franchisees when the marketing effort supports broader (national or global) marketing objectives for the System or Network. Franchisees are not required to participate in any marketing cooperative, but Embassy Suites may occasionally develop local marketing programs that operate like cooperatives where franchisees pool their resources and actively work together on local marketing efforts. Participation in these cooperatives is voluntary, and contributions vary depending on the voluntary contributions of members.