After transferring a Sonesta Simply Suites franchise, what are the transferring owners prohibited from doing regarding identification with the brand?
Sonesta_Simply_Suites Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
- (13) you and your transferring owners will not directly or indirectly at any time or in any manner (except with respect to other Network Hotels you own and operate) identify yourself or themselves or any business as a current or former Hotel or as one of our franchisees; use any Mark, any colorable imitation of a Mark, or other indicia of a Brand Hotel in any manner or for any purpose; or utilize for any purpose any trade name, trade or service mark, or other commercial symbol that suggests or indicates a connection or association with us.
Source: Item 22 — CONTRACTS (FDD pages 79–80)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Sonesta Simply Suites Franchise Disclosure Document, after a franchise is transferred, the transferring owners are restricted from associating themselves with the brand. Specifically, they cannot identify themselves or any business as a current or former Sonesta Simply Suites hotel or franchisee, with the exception of other Network Hotels they might own and operate.
This prohibition extends to the use of any Sonesta Simply Suites marks, imitations of those marks, or any other symbols that could suggest a connection to the brand. This includes trade names, service marks, or any commercial symbols that might imply an association with Sonesta Simply Suites.
This restriction is a standard practice in franchising to protect the brand's integrity and prevent confusion among customers. It ensures that the new franchisee is clearly identified as the current operator and that the previous owner does not continue to benefit from the brand's reputation after the transfer. Prospective franchisees should understand that upon transferring their franchise, they must completely disassociate themselves from the Sonesta Simply Suites brand to avoid legal repercussions.