Where does Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential conduct the Loyalty training?
Sonesta_Select_Sonesta_Essential Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We do not assist in the hiring of your employees, but we will provide initial brand training to one of your Hotel Representative(s) virtually, at your Hotel, or at another location we designate, at our election. The initial brand training program covers the areas of brand programs, marketing, sales, loyalty, and brand culture. We offer the training program on an as-needed basis throughout the year depending on our trainers' and attendees' availability.
Source: Item 11 — **FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 52–64)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential provides initial brand training to one Hotel Representative. This training covers areas such as brand programs, marketing, sales, loyalty, and brand culture. The training can be conducted virtually, at the franchisee's hotel, or at another location designated by Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential, at their election.
This initial brand training must be completed prior to opening the hotel or within 90 days of activating the hotel in Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential's system. If the trained Hotel Representative leaves the franchisee's employment, a new representative must attend and complete the training program. The franchisee is responsible for training their own employees after the initial brand training provided to the Hotel Representative.
The FDD specifies that the franchisee will pay a fee of $1,500 for the initial brand training. If the training is conducted in-person rather than virtually, the franchisee must also reimburse Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential for their personnel's travel, meals, and lodging expenses, which are estimated to be up to $2,500. Additional training may be requested at the end of the initial training program at Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential's then-current fees if the Hotel Representative does not feel sufficiently trained.
Training materials include the Brand Manual, and certain other training modules and courses designed to assist in understanding programs related to Brand Hotels and best practices in the hospitality industry will be made readily available in Sonesta's learning management system. The training is conducted under the supervision of Derek Fournier, Vice President, Training and Engagement, who has over 27 years of hospitality experience.