For Embassy Suites By Hilton, what is the procedure for submitting advertising and promotional materials for approval?
Embassy_Suites_By_Hilton 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 By Hilton's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are responsible for local and regional advertising and promotion of their hotel. These activities must be conducted in a first-class, dignified manner, adhering to the brand's identity and graphics standards.
To ensure brand consistency and quality, Embassy Suites By Hilton requires franchisees to submit samples of all advertising and promotional materials that have not been previously approved. This includes materials in any format, whether digital, electronic, computerized, or any form of media that exists now or may be developed in the future. Franchisees cannot use these materials until they receive approval from Embassy Suites By Hilton.
Even after approval, Embassy Suites By Hilton retains the right to require franchisees to discontinue the use of any advertising or promotional material that they reasonably believe is not in the best interest of the hotel or the Embassy Suites By Hilton system. It's also important to note that any advertising or promotional materials or marketing concepts developed by a franchisee and approved by Embassy Suites By Hilton may be used by other hotels in the system without any compensation to the originating franchisee. This highlights the importance of aligning local marketing efforts with the overall brand strategy and understanding that creative contributions may benefit the entire franchise network.