Can Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential withdraw approval for a franchisee's online presence?
Sonesta_Select_Sonesta_Essential Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
ablish any Online Presence that we may require, and only establish any other Online Presence that we authorize.
All use of Online Presences must be in accordance with the Brand Standards and our other guidelines, including the implementation and maintenance of and compliance with privacy policies, as applicable. Given the changing nature of this technology, we have the right to withhold our approval and to withdraw any prior approval to modify our requirements.
You may not, without a legal license or other legal right, post on any Online Presence any material in which any third party has any direct or indirect ownership interest, including video clips, photographs, sound bites, copyrighted text, trademarks or service marks, or any other text or image in which any third party may claim intellectual property ownership interests without obtaining prior written consent from the content owner. You must incorporate on any Online Presence any other information we require in the manner we consider necessary to protect the Network Marks. You must establish any Online Presence that we may require and may establish any other Online Presence that we authorize.
Your use of all Online Presence shall be subject to the Brand Standards as we may implement during the term of your Franchise Agreement.
Source: Item 11 — **FRANCHISOR'S ASSISTANCE, ADVERTISING, COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND TRAINING (FDD pages 52–64)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential has the right to withdraw prior approval to modify online presence requirements. This is due to the changing nature of technology.
Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential requires that all online presences adhere to brand standards and other guidelines, including the implementation, maintenance, and compliance with privacy policies. Franchisees must incorporate any information that Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential requires on any online presence in the manner they consider necessary to protect the Network Marks. Franchisees must establish any online presence that Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential may require and may establish any other online presence that they authorize.
Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential also states that franchisees' use of all online presences shall be subject to the Brand Standards as they may implement during the term of the Franchise Agreement. Franchisees must adhere to their online presence guidelines and procedures, which include but are not limited to: appropriate content, relevance, behavior related to communications, frequency and responsiveness to communications, etiquette, naming conventions and use of the Network Marks and posting messages or commentary on third party websites. Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential must approve franchisees' social media pages and they shall be linked to any Network Brand social media pages they designate. Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential has the right to require franchisees to remove their social media page(s) if they fail to comply with their guidelines and procedures.
This means that Sonesta Select Sonesta Essential franchisees must maintain their online presence according to the franchisor's standards, and failure to do so could result in the removal of their social media pages or withdrawal of previously granted approvals. This level of control is common in franchising to ensure brand consistency and protect the brand's reputation.