Can Embassy Suites withhold consent for a franchisee to operate a Brickstones Kitchen and Bar (BKB)?
Embassy_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
If you want to operate a BKB food and beverage establishment in your Hotel, you must apply for consent to do so and we may withhold our consent for any reason or no reason. If you choose to operate a BKB at your Hotel and we permit you to do so, you will be required to follow our Manual and Standards for its operation, including offering the required menu items, layout and décor. Neither we nor our affiliates receive any fees or other revenues from the optional BKB food and beverage establishment. The estimated cost of establishing a Brickstones Kitchen and Bar is included in Item 7 above.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 45–50)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Embassy Suites's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees must apply for consent to operate a Brickstones Kitchen and Bar (BKB) within their hotel. Embassy Suites explicitly states that they may withhold this consent for any reason, or even for no reason at all. This provision gives Embassy Suites broad discretion over whether a franchisee can operate a BKB.
This requirement means that even if a franchisee meets all other qualifications and standards, Embassy Suites still has the power to deny the franchisee the opportunity to operate a BKB. This could impact the franchisee's potential revenue streams and the overall appeal of their Embassy Suites hotel to guests. The FDD specifies that neither Embassy Suites nor its affiliates receive any fees or other revenues from the optional BKB food and beverage establishment.
For a prospective franchisee, this underscores the importance of understanding the franchisor's strategic vision for food and beverage offerings within Embassy Suites hotels. It would be prudent to discuss with Embassy Suites their criteria for approving or denying a BKB, even though they reserve the right to withhold consent for any reason. Understanding their general approach could help a franchisee better assess the potential for adding a BKB to their hotel.
It is also worth noting that if Embassy Suites does permit a franchisee to operate a BKB, the franchisee will be required to follow Embassy Suites's Manual and Standards for its operation. This includes offering the required menu items, layout, and décor, ensuring a consistent brand experience across all Embassy Suites locations that feature a BKB.