What specific events related to Even Hotels could lead to indemnification of the franchisee due to breach of representations, warranties, or obligations?
Even_Hotels Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ee.
D. Annual Financial Statements.
If requested by IHG, Licensee will submit to IHG as soon as available but not later than 90 days after such request, and in a format as reasonably required by IHG, complete financial statements for the prior year. Licensee will certify them to be true and correct and to have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and the Uniform System, consistently applied, and any false certification will be a breach of this License.
8. Indemnity and Insurance:
A. Indemnity.
Licensee will indemnify IHG, its Affiliates and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, successors and assigns (collectively, the "Indemnitees") against, hold them harmless from, and promptly reimburse them for all payments of money (fines, damages, legal fees, expenses, settlement amounts, judgments, etc.) by reason of any claim, demand, tax, penalty, or judicial or administrative investigation, arbitration action or proceeding whenever asserted or filed (even where negligence of any of the Indemnitees is alleged), regardless of whether any of the foregoing is reduced to judgment, arising from any claimed occurrence at or related to the Hotel or any act, error, neglect, omission or obligation of Licensee or anyone associated or affiliated with Licensee or the Hotel. Licensee agrees to give IHG written notice of any such judicial or administrative investigation or proceeding or any other event that could be the basis for a claim for indemnification by any Indemnitee within three days of Licensee's knowledge of it. At the election of IHG, Licensee will also defend IHG and/or the other Indemnitees against the indemnified matters. In any event, IHG will have the right, through counsel of its choice, to control any matter to the extent it could directly or indirectly affect IHG and/or any of the other Indemnitees. IHG will have the right, at any time it considers appropriate, to offer, order, consent or agree to settlements or take any other remedial or corrective actions it considers expedient with respect to any action, suit, proceeding, claim, demand, inquiry or investigation if, in IHG's sole judgment, there are reasonable grounds to do so. Under no circumstance will IHG or any of the other Indemnitees be required to seek recovery from third parties or otherwise mitigate its or their losses to maintain a claim against Licensee. Licensee agrees that any failure to pursue recovery from third parties or mitigate loss will in no way reduce the amounts recoverable by IHG or any of the other Indemnitees from Licensee. Licensee agrees to pay IHG all expenses, including attorneys' fees and court costs, incurred by IHG or any of the other Indemnitees, and their successors and assigns, to remedy any defaults of or enforce or defend itself or any rights under this License (including without limitation any claim, cross-claim or counter-claim brought by Licensee), to effect termination of this License or collect any amounts due under this License.
B. Insurance.
During the License Term, Licensee will comply with all insurance requirements of any lease or mortgage covering the Hotel, and IHG's specifications for insurance as to the amount and type of coverage as may be reasonably specified by IHG from time to time in writing, and will in any event maintain on the Hotel as a minimum, the following insurance underwritten by a reputable insurer approved by IHG:
- (1) employer's liability with minimum limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence;
- (2) worker's compensation insurance;
Source: Item 23 — RECEIPTS (FDD pages 99–438)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Even Hotels' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees may be required to indemnify IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and its affiliates under certain circumstances. Specifically, the franchisee (referred to as "Licensee" or "Hotel") must indemnify IHG and related parties from claims, demands, taxes, penalties, or legal proceedings arising from any claimed occurrence at or related to the Hotel, or any act, error, neglect, omission, or obligation of the franchisee or anyone associated with the franchisee or the Hotel. This indemnification extends to covering payments of money, including fines, damages, legal fees, settlement amounts, and judgments. This obligation exists even if negligence is alleged against IHG or its affiliates. The franchisee must notify IHG of any such event within three days of becoming aware of it. IHG has the right to control any matter that could affect it or its affiliates.
Additionally, the franchisee's obligation to indemnify IHG extends to liabilities arising from the franchisee's offer and sale of securities, including any statements, representations, or warranties made to purchasers of such securities, or any claims of fraud, deceit, or violation of securities laws. This indemnification obligation survives the termination or expiration of the license. The franchisee will also defend, indemnify, and hold harmless IHG and its affiliates against any claims, losses, liabilities, and damages arising out of a breach of the agreement by the franchisee, including the Third Party Terms.
Furthermore, the franchisee agrees to indemnify FDSH Indemnitees (as defined in the Agreement) against third-party claims and related losses resulting from the franchisee's breach of representations, warranties, or obligations in the agreement, claims initiated by the franchisee's affiliates or agents asserting rights under the agreement, or gross negligence or willful misconduct of the franchisee or its agents. The franchisee also agrees to defend and hold FDSH Indemnitees harmless from third-party claims covering Excluded Claims and all related losses. These extensive indemnification clauses mean that franchisees bear significant financial responsibility for various operational and legal risks associated with the Even Hotels franchise.