What fees are Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential franchisees responsible for regarding reservations?
Sonesta_Select_Sonesta_Essential Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
will provide a dedicated telephone number for your Hotel to connect to the Services. Callers to this telephone number will be able to select a number for new reservation inquires. All new reservation inquiry calls will be directed to our Call Center. We will maintain ownership of the telephone number and you must cease all use of it upon termination of this Agreement. You may not use the telephone number in any advertising or on any websites without our prior written approval. We reserve the right to cancel, amend, or replace the Services, in our sole discretion, upon thirty (30) days' written notice to you.
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- Fees. We will charge you a fee of $4.00 for each call received by the Call Center. Payments will be made when and by the same method by which your monthly fees due under the Franchise Agreement are paid. This fee is subject, no more than once per year, to a Fee Adjustment. You acknowledge and agree you are solely responsible for the costs and expenses of any additional setup or third-party fees associated with the implementation of the Services, including but not limited to configuration of your private branch exchange, and will pay such costs and expenses directly to the applicable vendors. You agree that any breach or default by you under this Agreement, including your failure to pay the monthly fees, constitutes a material default under your Franchise Agreement.
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- Your Responsibilities. In order for us to provide the Services, you will be responsible for providing us with required information about your Hotel such as Hotel description, address, inventory, amenities, and any other information required to maintain an updated and accurate profile in our central reservations system. You authorize us to access, as necessary, your room rates, inventory, and other Hotel information necessary to offer the Services. You will maintain at least one additional phone line, in addition to your main property number, that can route directly to the front desk or your Hotel's interactive voice response. You agree to complete and return to us any documentation that we may require to provide the Services, including but not limited to a letter of agency and details of your Hotel's private branch exchange support vendor. You agree to provide us with a full and complete copy of your Hotel's phone bill immediately upon our request. You agree to provide us with a primary contact person for your Hotel who must be available to assist with the setup and testing of the Services.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 84)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential franchisees are required to pay a fee of $4.00 for each call received by the central call center. This call center is managed by a third-party vendor and handles reservation-related calls on behalf of the franchisee's hotel, including answering questions and booking reservations.
The fees for these services are paid using the same method and schedule as the monthly franchise fees. This fee is also subject to a Fee Adjustment, which can occur no more than once per year.
In addition to the per-call fee, franchisees are responsible for providing the franchisor with necessary information about their hotel, such as descriptions, addresses, inventory, and amenities, to maintain an accurate profile in the central reservations system. Franchisees must also authorize the franchisor to access their room rates, inventory, and other hotel information needed to offer the services. Furthermore, franchisees must maintain at least one additional phone line that routes directly to the front desk or the hotel's interactive voice response system.
It's important to note that Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential is not responsible for any third-party guests at the hotel, regardless of whether their reservations were accepted through the call center services. Franchisees are also responsible for any costs associated with setting up or third-party fees related to implementing the services, such as configuring their private branch exchange.