factual

Will Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential's consent to a transfer by the franchisee be unreasonably withheld or delayed?

Sonesta_Select_Sonesta_Essential Franchise · 2025 FDD

Answer from 2025 FDD Document

torneys and independent accountants and the travel expenses, room and board, and compensation of our employees. You will not be required to provide more than two (2) nights' accommodations at your Hotel, free of charge, to our representatives in connection with an audit. These remedies are in addition to our other remedies and rights under this Agreement and applicable law.

12. TRANSFER.

  • A. By Us. We have the right to transfer or assign this Agreement or any of our rights, obligations, or assets under this Agreement to any person or legal entity so long as the transferee assumes all our obligations to you under this Agreement.
  • B. By You. You acknowledge and agree that the rights and duties this Agreement creates are personal to you (or to your owners if you are an Entity) and that we have granted you the Franchise in reliance upon our perceptions of your (or your owners') individual or collective character, skill, aptitude, attitude, business ability, and financial capacity. Accordingly, neither this Agreement (or any interest in this Agreement), your Hotel or substantially all its assets, any direct or indirect ownership interest in you (regardless of its size), nor any ownership interest in any of your owners (if such owners are legal entities) may be transferred without our prior written approval, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or

delayed. You further agree that you will not enter into any proposed mortgage, pledge, hypothecation, encumbrance or giving of a security interest in or which affects your Hotel, this Agreement, or your rights under this Agreement without our prior written consent. A transfer of your Hotel ownership, possession, or control, or substantially all its assets, may be made only with a transfer of this Agreement. Any transfer, or attempt to transfer, without our approval is a breach of this Agreement and has no effect. In this Agreement, the term "transfer" includes a voluntary, involuntary, direct, or indirect assignment, sale, gift, or other disposition of any interest in:

  • (1) this Agreement;
  • (2) you;
  • (3) your Hotel or substantially all its assets; or
  • (4) your owners (if such owners are legal entities).

An assignment, sale, gift, or other disposition includes the following events:

  • (a) transfer of ownership of capital stock, a partnership or membership interest, or another form of ownership interest, including by way of a public offering or pursuant to a private placement;
  • (b) merger or consolidation or issuance of additional securities or other forms of ownership interest;
    • (c) any sale of a security convertible to an ownership interest;
  • (d) transfer of an interest in you, this Agreement, your Hotel or substantially all its assets, or your owners in a divorce, insolvency, or entity dissolution proceeding or otherwise by operation of law;
  • (e) if you, one of your owners, or an owner of one of your owners dies, a transfer of an interest in you, this Agreement, your Hotel or substantially all its assets, or your owner by will, declaration of or transfer in trust, or under the laws of intestate succession; and
  • (f) pledge of this Agreement (to someone other than us) or of an ownership interest in you or your owners as security, foreclosure upon your Hotel, or your transfer, surrender, or loss of the possession, control, or management of your Hotel.

If you intend to list your Hotel for sale with any broker or agent, you shall do so only after providing us ten days' prior written notice. You may not use, or authorize any broker or agent or other third party to use, any Mark in advertising the transfer or other disposition of your Hotel or of any ownership in you without our prior written consent. You shall not use or authorize the use of, and no third party shall on your behalf use, any written materials to advertise or promote the transfer of your Hotel or of any ownership interest in you without our prior written approval of such materials.

  • C. Conditions for Approval of Transfer. If you (and your owners) are in full compliance with this Agreement, then you may request our consent to a proposed transfer.

Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 84)

What This Means (2025 FDD)

According to Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchisor's prior written approval is required for any transfer of the franchise agreement, the hotel, or ownership interests in the franchisee. However, Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential states that this consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.

The FDD outlines specific conditions related to transfers. For instance, in the event of death or incapacity of an owner, Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential's approval of a transfer of ownership interests will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, provided the franchisor is notified within three months and an approved principal operates the hotel during the transfer period. If the transfer is proposed to the transferor's spouse and Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential does not approve, the estate has nine months to transfer the interests to another approved party.

Additionally, if the franchisee is in full compliance with the agreement, they may transfer the agreement to a wholly-owned corporation or LLC that only conducts business related to the hotel, without paying a transfer fee. However, the franchisee must reimburse Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential for direct costs associated with documenting and processing the transfer, including reasonable legal fees. The transferee may also be required to sign Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential's then-current form of franchise agreement, which may differ materially from the original agreement.

Disclaimer: This information is extracted from the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document and is provided for research purposes only. It does not constitute legal or financial advice. Consult with a franchise attorney before making any investment decisions.