What does the Program Services Contribution for Springhill Suites By Marriott cover?
Springhill_Suites_By_Marriott Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
We have established a program services contribution to cover the cost of certain programs, systems, and services ("Program Services Contribution"), including: (a) advertising, sales and marketing, promotion programs and related research that are funded through the Marketing Fund described in Item 11; (b) a reservation system; (c) the ongoing cost of certain electronic systems, including a yield management system, our support of a property management system, our support of a guest feedback tracking and management system, certain costs associated with the mobile key component of the hotel's guestroom lock system, a digital guest services system, an electronic customer folio delivery system, a virtual private network, the provision of a limited number of hotel-based Marriott.com email addresses, an intranet website supplying information such as standards and quality assurance information, the MDash system, our support of encrypted payment processing, a guest experience platform, and a web-based tool that generates discount forms and cards for associates; (d) a guest satisfaction survey system and an annual audit under the Audit Program; (e) a centralized travel agent commission processing program; and (f) one license for the Marriott Environmental Sustainability Hub ("MESH").
Except as designated by us, the Program Services Contribution generally does not cover costs, expenses or fees for any other programs, systems, or services, including without limitation: (i) the purchase or installation of, or training for, systems for your hotel (including new or replacement systems); (ii) revenue management services; (iii) technology and systems security; or (iv) hotel employee training. Costs paid by the Program Services Contribution include our costs of development, maintenance and support, management, oversight, administration, salaries, and overhead (including collection and accounting). If we provide capital for a project to change or develop new systems covered by the Program Services Contribution, we may recover the capital invested as well as costs incurred by us to finance such invested capital. We may spend all of the contributions in the year collected or carry forward excess contributions into future years. If expenditures exceed amounts collected, we may make loans to cover the shortfalls (and may treat each loan (and any
Source: Item 6 — B. Other Fees That May Apply to Your Transaction (FDD pages 32–64)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Springhill Suites By Marriott's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the Program Services Contribution covers a range of programs, systems, and services. These include advertising, sales and marketing, promotion programs, and related research funded through the Marketing Fund. It also covers the reservation system and the ongoing costs of certain electronic systems, such as a yield management system, support for property management and guest feedback tracking systems, costs associated with the mobile key component, a digital guest services system, an electronic customer folio delivery system, a virtual private network, limited Marriott.com email addresses, an intranet website, the MDash system, support for encrypted payment processing, a guest experience platform, and a web-based tool for generating discount forms and cards for associates.
Additionally, the Program Services Contribution covers a guest satisfaction survey system, an annual audit under the Audit Program, a centralized travel agent commission processing program, and one license for the Marriott Environmental Sustainability Hub (MESH). However, it generally does not cover costs, expenses, or fees for other programs, systems, or services unless designated by Springhill Suites By Marriott. This includes the purchase, installation, or training for new systems, revenue management services, technology and systems security, or hotel employee training.
The costs paid by the Program Services Contribution include Springhill Suites By Marriott's expenses for development, maintenance, support, management, oversight, administration, salaries, and overhead, including collection and accounting. Springhill Suites By Marriott may recover capital invested in projects to change or develop new systems covered by the contribution, as well as the costs incurred to finance such capital. The contribution may be combined with those of other Company Brands, and not all franchisees may benefit equally. Springhill Suites By Marriott retains the right to merge, modify, or discontinue the Program Services Contribution at any time and to change the amount or the costs covered.