What are the requirements for purchasing hardware for the Hawthorn Suites By Wyndham PMS?
Hawthorn_Suites_By_Wyndham Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
The hardware for your Facility's PMS can be purchased from any source so long as it meets our technology standards and minimum technical requirements. We require that you utilize tokenization technology for the transmission of credit card information to and from the PMS. We currently have one approved gateway provider to support tokenization and chip and pin technology. Accordingly, you are required to sign the Hosted Services Agreement with Elavon (Exhibit C-3), which may include additional services and fees, when you sign the MITA and the PMS Schedule. In the future, we may add or discontinue gateway providers in our sole discretion.
Source: Item 11 — FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 60–71)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Hawthorn Suites By Wyndham's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees can purchase hardware for the Property Management System (PMS) from any source, provided it meets the brand's technology standards and minimum technical requirements. The PMS itself, including databases, servers, application servers, and storage, is housed at the provider's data center, not at the franchise location.
While franchisees have flexibility in sourcing hardware, Hawthorn Suites By Wyndham mandates the use of tokenization technology for transmitting credit card information to and from the PMS. Currently, Elavon is the only approved gateway provider for tokenization and chip and pin technology, requiring franchisees to sign a Hosted Services Agreement with them, which may involve additional services and fees. However, Hawthorn Suites By Wyndham retains the discretion to add or discontinue gateway providers in the future.
It's important to note that Hawthorn Suites By Wyndham may require franchisees to purchase additional or replacement computer hardware or software, including additional random-access memory or hard disk storage, to keep pace with technological changes. There is no contractual limitation on the cost or frequency of this obligation, meaning franchisees should be prepared for potential future technology-related expenses. Franchisees are also required to subscribe to any future PMS upgrades, which may include additional services and fees, and may need to execute a new or amended PMS Schedule to the Master Information Technology Agreement (MITA).