Who is responsible for commissioning and paying the designers for furniture, fixtures, and equipment specifications for a new Even Hotels location?

According to Even Hotels' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisee is responsible for commissioning and paying the designers for furniture, fixtures, and equipment (FF&E) specifications for a new location. Specifically, Even Hotels requires that qualified design professionals prepare specifications and décor schemes for all furniture, fixtures, and equipment for the franchisee's specific site. The franchisee must directly commission and pay these designers. This requirement ensures that the design aligns with Even Hotels' standards and is tailored to the specific location.

This means that as a prospective Even Hotels franchisee, you will need to budget for and manage the costs associated with hiring and paying these design professionals. These costs are in addition to the expenses for the FF&E itself. Note 3 in Item 7 also states that all architects and designers must be approved by Holiday (likely referring to IHG, the parent company) and must prepare plans for a specific site and construction type. You must commission and pay your architect and designers directly. Before commencing your architectural plans and specifications, you must attend a kick-off meeting for consultation and coordination with Holiday. Your plans and specifications must conform to the Standards and must be approved by Holiday before you begin construction. You must provide Holiday with periodic milestone updates of your development progress as required by Holiday.

The FDD also notes in Note 13 that you are required to hire a professional interior designer, and your selection must be approved by Holiday before construction begins. The actual amount you pay will depend on arrangements you make, including whether your hotel is newly constructed or being converted. This highlights the importance of selecting approved designers and adhering to Even Hotels' standards throughout the design and construction process. This also means that the franchisee has control over the selection of the designer, but Even Hotels has the final say in approving the selection.

Prospective franchisees should carefully consider these design-related costs and approval processes when evaluating the overall investment required to open an Even Hotels franchise. It would be prudent to discuss designer selection criteria and typical design costs with Even Hotels during the due diligence process to better understand these financial obligations.