Is training required for the transferee of a Sonesta Simply Suites franchise?
Sonesta_Simply_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| PROVISION | SECTION IN | SUMMARY |
|---|---|---|
| FRANCHISE AGREEMENT | ||
| approval of transfer | the period between your request and the effective date of the transfer, nor have you received a notice of termination from us; the transferee, its owners and its affiliates do not have an ownership interest in or perform services for a Competitive Business; you provide us all information or documents we request about the proposed transfer, the transferee, and its owners; the transferee satisfactorily completes any training, brand introduction and/or orientation program that we require at the time of the transfer; your landlord, if applicable, consents to the transfer or sublease of the Lease; the transferee agrees to meet with us at our request, either virtually or in person, to conduct an inspection of the Premises and develop a PIP for necessary upgrades, remodeling, and refurbishment of your Hotel and your Hotel's FF&E in accordance with our then current requirements and specifications for Brand Hotels, and complete the renovation work therein within 120 days after the effective date of the transfer; the transferee, at our request, signs our then current form of franchise agreement and related documents (which agreement may differ materially from the Franchise Agreement); transferee meets our qualifications then imposed on new franchisees; payment of transfer fee; you and your owners sign a general release; and you cease to identify yourself as a current or former franchisee. |
Source: Item 17 — RENEWAL, TERMINATION, TRANSFER, AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION (FDD pages 66–70)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Sonesta Simply Suites' 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, a transferee may be required to complete training. Specifically, the FDD states that to get approval for a transfer, the "transferee satisfactorily completes any training, brand introduction and/or orientation program that we require at the time of the transfer".
This means that if you are looking to sell your Sonesta Simply Suites franchise, the person or entity you are selling to must meet Sonesta Simply Suites' training requirements at the time of the transfer. The training could be in the form of a brand introduction or orientation program.
It is important to note that the requirement for training is not always guaranteed. Sonesta Simply Suites has the discretion to require training "at the time of the transfer." This implies that the training requirements could change over time, or be waived entirely. A prospective franchisee should discuss the current training requirements for transferees with Sonesta Simply Suites directly.