What training does Sonesta Simply Suites provide to franchisees?
Sonesta_Simply_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
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or failure to timely provide required reports and financial statements. We may change or eliminate this charge in our sole discretion.
4. TRAINING AND ASSISTANCE.
A. Training. Prior to opening your Hotel, or within ninety (90) days of activating your Hotel in the Franchise System, we will provide initial brand training for one of your Hotel Representative(s), which person must complete the initial brand training to our satisfaction. "Hotel Representative" refers to your general manager or other representative having equivalent authority and responsibilities (such as your owner). We will conduct initial brand training virtually, or at a location we designate, as we may determine in our discretion. The initial brand training typically will consist of up to four days of training (although the specific number of days depends on our opinion of your Hotel Representative's experience and needs). If space permits, we may allow you to send additional attendee(s) to the initial brand training. If we determine that your Hotel Representative cannot complete initial brand training to our satisfaction, we may terminate this Agreement. You will pay our initial brand training fee (currently $1,500). You also will be responsible for our personnel's travel and living expenses, and your employee's travel and living expenses, wages, and workers' compensation insurance while attending training, if applicable.
The initial brand training program will cover material aspects of operating a Brand Hotel including (a) brand culture, (b) the loyalty program and certain related software, and (c) brand programs, marketing, and sales.
We may require that your Hotel Representative complete our required training within a designated time period, prior to or after your Opening Date. All training must be completed to our satisfaction and verification of successful completion must be presented upon our request. Additionally, you must ensure at all times that your personnel is adequately trained, and you agree to provide such evidence and verification of your personnels' training as we may request from time to time.
You (or your Principal) may request additional training at the end of the initial brand training program, to be provided at our then-current fees if your Hotel Representative does not feel sufficiently trained in the operation of a Brand Hotel. We and you will jointly determine the duration of this additional training. However, if your Hotel Representative completes our initial brand training program to our satisfaction and you have not expressly informed us in writing at the end of that program that your Hotel Representative does not feel sufficiently trained in the operation of a Brand Hotel, then your Hotel Representative will be deemed to have been trained sufficiently to operate a Brand Hotel.
We may require your Hotel Representative(s) and you (or your Principal) to attend and complete to our satisfaction various training courses that we periodically choose to provide at the times and locations that we designate, including courses and programs provided by third parties we designate.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 79–80)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Sonesta Simply Suites' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees or their Hotel Representative, such as a general manager or owner, must complete initial brand training to the company's satisfaction either prior to opening their hotel or within 90 days of activating it within the franchise system. This training is conducted virtually or at a location designated by Sonesta Simply Suites and typically lasts up to four days, though the duration can vary based on the Hotel Representative's experience and needs. The initial brand training fee is currently $1,500, and the franchisee is responsible for the travel and living expenses, wages, and worker's compensation insurance (if applicable) for both their employee and Sonesta Simply Suites' personnel during the training period.
The initial brand training program covers essential aspects of operating a Sonesta Simply Suites hotel, including brand culture, the loyalty program and related software, and brand programs, marketing, and sales. Franchisees must ensure their personnel are adequately trained at all times and provide evidence of such training upon request.
In addition to the initial brand training, Sonesta Simply Suites will convene a brand conference no less frequently than every 24 months, either in person at a location of their choice or virtually. Franchisees (or one of their owners) and their general manager (or a representative from their management company, if applicable) are required to attend this conference. Franchisees are responsible for paying the then-current brand conference fee for each attendee, as well as covering their wages, travel, lodging, meals, and other out-of-pocket costs. Sonesta Simply Suites may also provide guidance via telephonic conversations or consultation at their offices, and may charge a fee for additional or special guidance, assistance, or training if requested and agreed upon.