What laws must a Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential franchisee comply with regarding the operation of their Hotel?
Sonesta_Select_Sonesta_Essential Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are solely responsible for ensuring your Hotel and Construction Work comply in all respects with all public laws, bylaws, statutes, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations, permits, licenses, authorizations, directions and requirements of all governments and governmental authorities, which, now or hereafter, may apply to the construction, completion, equipping and opening of your Hotel and the operation of your Hotel, including environmental, zoning, building, and life safety.
Your Hotel must in all dealings with its customers, suppliers, us, and the public adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity, fair dealing, and ethical conduct. You must promptly pay all taxes and fees levied and asserted on the Premises and your Hotel's assets and promptly satisfy any other indebtedness or liability to third party vendors that you incur in operating your Hotel. You agree to refrain from any business or advertising practice which might injure our business, or the goodwill associated with the Marks or other Brand Hotels. You agree to comply with our Franchise System Website (as defined in Section 9.B below) privacy policy, as it may be amended periodically; you further agree to comply with any requests to return or delete customer personal information, whether requested by us or directly by the customer, as required by applicable data sharing and privacy laws.
You must ensure that all applicable Food and Beverage Operations, and any other approved ancillary products and services, as provided in the Brand Manual, operate in full compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations and all applicable Brand Standards.
You must notify us in writing within three business days of: (1) the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding relating to your Hotel, or any audit, investigation, or similar proceeding with respect to pending or threatened actions, suits or proceedings relating to your Hotel; (2) the issuance of any order, writ, injunction, award or decree of any court, agency or other governmental instrumentality relating to your Hotel; (3) any notice that you or your Hotel may have violated any law, ordinance or regulation relating to your Hotel; (4) receipt of any notice of complaint from the Better Business Bureau, any local, state or federal consumer affairs department or division, or any other government or independent third party involving a complaint from a client or potential client relating to your Hotel; (5) any notice of default, termination, or other exercise of any default rights or remedies from your landlord, lender or any third party supplier; and (6) written complaints from any customer or potential customer. You must immediately provide to us copies of any documentation you receive of events in (1) through (6) above, together with any additional information that we reasonably request relating to such notice or underlying matter, and resolve the matter in a prompt and reasonable manner in accordance with good business practices.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 84)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 FDD, Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential franchisees must ensure their hotel operations comply with various laws and regulations. Franchisees are responsible for adhering to all public laws, bylaws, statutes, ordinances, orders, rules, regulations, permits, licenses, authorizations, directions, and requirements from governmental authorities that apply to the construction, equipping, opening, and operation of their hotel. This includes compliance with environmental, zoning, building, and life safety regulations.
Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential requires franchisees to maintain high standards of honesty, integrity, fair dealing, and ethical conduct in all dealings with customers, suppliers, and the public. Franchisees must promptly pay all taxes and fees levied on the premises and the hotel's assets, and satisfy any indebtedness to third-party vendors. They must also refrain from any business or advertising practice that might harm Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential's business or goodwill.
Furthermore, Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential franchisees must ensure that any Food and Beverage Operations or other approved ancillary products and services comply with all applicable laws, rules, regulations, and Brand Standards. Failure to comply with these standards may result in the revocation of approval for these operations. Franchisees are also required to comply with the Franchise System Website privacy policy, including requests to return or delete customer personal information as required by applicable data sharing and privacy laws.
Additionally, franchisees must notify Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential in writing within three business days of any legal or regulatory issues, such as the commencement of any action, suit, or proceeding relating to their hotel, the issuance of any order or decree, any notice of violation of laws, or any complaints from the Better Business Bureau or other consumer affairs departments. Franchisees must also provide copies of any documentation related to these events and resolve the matters promptly and reasonably.