Does the Sonesta Simply Suites franchise agreement address the use of electronic mail for communication?
Sonesta_Simply_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- ELECTRONIC MAIL. You acknowledge and agree that exchanging information with us by e-mail is efficient and desirable for day-to-day communications and that we and you may utilize e-mail for such communications. You authorize the transmission of e-mail by us and our employees, vendors, and affiliates ("Official Senders") to you during the Term.
You further agree that: (a) Official Senders are authorized to send e-mails to those of your employees as you may occasionally authorize for the purpose of communicating with us; (b) you will cause your officers, directors and employees to give their consent to Official Senders' transmission of e-mails to them; (c) you will require such persons not to opt out or otherwise ask to no longer receive e-mails from Official Senders during the time that such person works for or is affiliated with you; and (d) you will not opt out or otherwise ask to no longer receive e-mails from Official Senders during the Term.
This consent given in this Section 19 shall not apply to the provision of notice by either party under this Agreement pursuant to Section 18 unless we and you otherwise agree in a written document manually signed by both parties.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 79–80)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
Yes, according to the 2025 Sonesta Simply Suites Franchise Disclosure Document, the franchise agreement does address the use of electronic mail for communication. Specifically, it states that exchanging information via email is considered efficient and desirable for day-to-day communications between Sonesta Simply Suites and the franchisee. The agreement authorizes Sonesta Simply Suites, including its employees, vendors, and affiliates ("Official Senders"), to use email for communications with the franchisee during the term of the agreement.
As a Sonesta Simply Suites franchisee, you agree to allow Sonesta Simply Suites and its "Official Senders" to communicate via email. This includes ensuring that your employees consent to receive emails from these senders and do not opt out of receiving them during their employment or affiliation with your franchise. You, as the franchisee, also agree not to opt out of receiving emails from "Official Senders" during the term of the agreement.
However, the consent to use email does not extend to the provision of formal notices required under Section 18 of the agreement, unless both Sonesta Simply Suites and the franchisee agree otherwise in a signed written document. This means that while day-to-day communications can occur via email, more formal or legal notices may require a different method of delivery, unless explicitly agreed upon in writing.