What is the currently required PMS for Surestay Hotel By Best Western franchisees?
Surestay_Hotel_By_Best_Western Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
You are currently required to license the System's PMS (currently AutoClerk Cloud PMS) from our affiliate, AutoClerk. When you obtain the required PMS, you will also receive the GMS. The GMS provides a full-suite guest management system for System Hotels. The GMS includes preregistration, dynamic upsells, guest messaging, digital compendium and mobile check-out. The GMS enables hoteliers to increase revenue, boost staff efficiency and maximize guest satisfaction. If the Property has a waiver from the requirement to use the System's required PMS, you must still obtain the GMS and pay all associated fees.
In order to license the PMS from AutoClerk, you will be required to enter into a Software as a Service Agreement in the form attached as Exhibit K. You are also currently required to purchase Lodging Link, a product offered by Comtrol Corporation that provides connectivity and integration of the PMS into other guest and hotel service systems (e.g. Call Accounting, PBX, in-room entertainment, Key Card, etc.). We, AutoClerk and Comtrol Corporation are the only approved suppliers of certain PMS-related installation, maintenance and licensing, and you will be required to make payments to us/AutoClerk for those services. We are also the only approved supplier of distribution system photographs that must be taken of your Hotel and certain other distribution services disclosed in Item 6.
Source: Item 8 — RESTRICTIONS ON SOURCES OF PRODUCTS AND SERVICES (FDD pages 48–51)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Surestay Hotel By Best Western's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, franchisees are currently required to license the System's PMS, which is AutoClerk Cloud PMS, from their affiliate, AutoClerk. When a franchisee obtains the required PMS, they will also receive the GMS, which provides a full-suite guest management system for System Hotels. The GMS includes preregistration, dynamic upsells, guest messaging, digital compendium and mobile check-out, enabling hoteliers to increase revenue, boost staff efficiency and maximize guest satisfaction. Even if a property has a waiver from the requirement to use the System's required PMS, the franchisee must still obtain the GMS and pay all associated fees.
To license the PMS from AutoClerk, franchisees must enter into a Software as a Service Agreement, the form of which is attached as Exhibit K. Franchisees are also currently required to purchase Lodging Link, a product offered by Comtrol Corporation that provides connectivity and integration of the PMS into other guest and hotel service systems, such as Call Accounting, PBX, in-room entertainment, and Key Card systems.
Surestay Hotel By Best Western, AutoClerk, and Comtrol Corporation are the only approved suppliers of certain PMS-related installation, maintenance, and licensing, and franchisees are required to make payments to Surestay Hotel By Best Western/AutoClerk for those services. Surestay Hotel By Best Western is also the only approved supplier of distribution system photographs that must be taken of the franchisee's Hotel and certain other distribution services disclosed in Item 6.