What are 'Plans' and 'Designs' in the context of the Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential New Construction Rider?
Sonesta_Select_Sonesta_Essential Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
-
- Plans and Designs. You must submit to us your plans, layouts, specifications, and drawings for your Hotel (collectively, the "Plans"), and your plans, layouts, specifications, and drawings for the proposed furnishings, fixtures, equipment and décor of your Hotel (collectively, the "Designs") with respect to the Construction Work. We may supply you with representative prototype guest room and public area plans and schematic building plans as a guide for preparation of the Plans and Designs. Our approval of such Plans and Designs does not warrant the depth of our analysis or assume any responsibility for the efficacy of the Plans and Designs, or the resulting Construction Work. You acknowledge and agree that you will not rely upon any approval we may provide you for the Plans or Designs for any purpose whatsoever except compliance with our then prevailing Brand Standards.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD page 84)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, when constructing a new hotel, franchisees must submit 'Plans' and 'Designs' to the company for approval. 'Plans' are defined as the plans, layouts, specifications, and drawings for the hotel itself. 'Designs' are defined as the plans, layouts, specifications, and drawings for the proposed furnishings, fixtures, equipment, and décor of the hotel. These submissions are required with respect to the Construction Work.
Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential may provide franchisees with representative prototype guest room and public area plans and schematic building plans to guide the preparation of the Plans and Designs. However, the FDD states that Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential's approval of the Plans and Designs does not guarantee their efficacy or assume responsibility for the resulting Construction Work.
The franchisee acknowledges that they will not rely on any approval provided by Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential for the Plans or Designs for any purpose other than compliance with the brand's prevailing standards. This means the franchisee is ultimately responsible for ensuring the Plans and Designs are suitable and effective for their hotel, even after Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential has approved them.