What is the GMS and what does it provide for Surestay Hotel By Best Western System Hotels?
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.
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, the GMS, which franchisees receive when they obtain the required PMS (Property Management System), is a full-suite guest management system designed for System Hotels. The PMS is currently AutoClerk Cloud PMS, which franchisees are required to license from Surestay Hotel By Best Western's affiliate, AutoClerk. Even if a property has a waiver from using the System's required PMS, they must still obtain the GMS and pay all associated fees.
The GMS offers several features aimed at enhancing hotel operations and guest experience. These features include preregistration, dynamic upsells, guest messaging, digital compendium, and mobile check-out. By implementing the GMS, Surestay Hotel By Best Western aims to enable hoteliers to increase revenue, boost staff efficiency, and maximize guest satisfaction.
Prospective franchisees should note that licensing the PMS from AutoClerk requires entering into a Software as a Service Agreement. Additionally, franchisees are required to purchase Lodging Link from Comtrol Corporation, which integrates the PMS with other hotel service systems. Surestay Hotel By Best Western, AutoClerk, and Comtrol Corporation are the only approved suppliers for certain PMS-related services, meaning franchisees must make payments to them for installation, maintenance, and licensing. This requirement ensures consistency and integration across the Surestay Hotel By Best Western system but also limits the franchisee's choice of vendors for these critical services.