Does Holiday's (Even Hotels) advance approval need to be obtained before hiring a General Manager?
Even_Hotels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You may hire a General Manager and all staff members and/or employees of your own choice without Holiday's advance approval; provided, however that your License may require a specified level of experience for such individuals. The General Manager and other department heads and staff, including Directors of Sales, must attend Holiday's training programs (see Item 11).
Holiday may include conditions in your License requiring you to hire a duly qualified and experienced (i) management company acceptable to Holiday or (ii) a General Manager or Director of Sales with at least two years prior experience in such position at a hotel operated under any of Holiday's upscale brands or at a hotel in a similar brand segment as the Hotel, as defined by Smith Travel Research, Inc. You must obtain Holiday's written consent before entering into any lease, management agreement or other similar arrangement for the operation of the hotel or any part of the hotel with any entity. Holiday may require that any management company you hire have experience in managing hotels similar to EVEN® Hotels.
Even though any management company must be acceptable to Holiday, you remain solely responsible for the selection, conduct and performance of any required management company, general manager and all staff members and employees and Holiday has no responsibilities or liability in connection with your selection and its, his or her conduct or performance.
These conditions would be determined by Holiday and contained in your License.
Source: Item 15 — Obligation to Participate in the Actual Operation of the Franchise Business (FDD pages 85–87)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Even Hotels' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees generally do not need advance approval from Holiday to hire a General Manager. However, the franchise agreement (License) may stipulate a required level of experience for the General Manager. The General Manager must also attend Holiday's training programs.
Even Hotels maintains the right to mandate that franchisees hire a management company acceptable to them or a General Manager with a minimum of two years of prior experience in a similar role within Holiday's upscale brands or a comparable brand segment as defined by Smith Travel Research, Inc. Franchisees must obtain written consent from Holiday before entering into any lease, management agreement, or similar arrangement for the hotel's operation. Holiday may also require that any management company hired has experience managing hotels similar to Even Hotels.
While Even Hotels does not require an on-premises management company or General Manager to have an equity interest in the licensed business, the franchisee remains solely responsible for the selection, conduct, and performance of any required management company, general manager, and all staff members. Holiday has no responsibilities or liability in connection with the franchisee's selection and its, his, or her conduct or performance. These conditions would be determined by Holiday and contained in the License.
In summary, while franchisees can generally choose their General Manager without prior approval, Even Hotels retains significant control over the qualifications and experience of the General Manager, and can mandate the hiring of a management company under certain circumstances. Franchisees should carefully review their License agreement for specific requirements related to General Manager qualifications and management company selection.