What are the brand standards for management of a Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential hotel?

You acknowledge and agree that operating and maintaining your Hotel according to Brand Standards are essential to preserve the goodwill of the Marks and the goodwill of all Brand Hotels. Therefore, compliance with all Brand Standards is mandatory, and you agree at all times to operate and maintain your Hotel according to each Brand Standard, as we periodically modify and supplement them. Though we retain the right to establish and periodically modify Brand Standards which you have agreed to maintain in the operation of your Hotel, you retain the right and sole responsibility for the day-to-day management and operation of your Hotel and the implementation and maintenance of Brand Standards at your Hotel. Brand Standards may regulate any aspect of the development, operation, and maintenance of your Hotel, including but not limited to any one or more of the following:

• (1) the appearance and condition of your Hotel;
• (2) operating procedures and platforms (including with respect to OTAs we may approve from time to time);
• (3) sales, marketing, advertising, and promotional programs (including coupons and other price-related promotions) and materials and media used in these programs;
• (4) staffing levels for your Hotel and employee qualifications, training, and uniforms (although you have sole responsibility and authority concerning employment decisions, including selection and promotion, discipline, discharge, hours worked, rates of pay and other benefits, work assigned and working conditions);
• (5) the requirement to participate in our revenue management for hire program and pay us our then current fees for such program for the first year following the Opening Date, and thereafter to either continue such participation or employ a full-time certified revenue manager (who meets the minimum qualifications we specify periodically, including completing training in the revenue management system);
  • (6) use and display of the Marks;
• (7) policies for the registration, use, content, or management of Online Presences, or other technology systems, solutions, or products;
  • (8) methods of payment and currencies that your Hotel may accept from customers;
• (9) participation in market research and testing and product and service development programs;
  • (10) participation in gift card and loyalty card programs;
  • (11) pricing;
• (12) bookkeeping, accounting, data processing and record keeping systems and forms; formats, content, and frequency of reports to us of sales, revenue, and financial performance and condition; and giving us copies of tax returns and other operating and financial information concerning your Hotel (we will use reasonable efforts to keep such records confidential);
  • (13) participation in quality assurance and customer satisfaction programs;
• (14) ensuring, on an ongoing basis, that the description of your Hotel and its amenities, features and rooms, including those you believe make your Hotel and its premises accessible to persons with disabilities, is current and accurate in the Central Reservation System, on any Online Presence, and in any third-party distribution channels;
• (15) types, amounts, terms, and conditions of insurance coverage required for your Hotel, including criteria for your insurance carriers; and
• (16) any other aspects of operating and maintaining your Hotel that we determine to be useful to preserve or enhance the efficient operation, image or goodwill of the Marks and Brand Hotels.

Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 84)