Hotel Owners Have the Power

Hotel owners have the power to protect themselves from bad franchise practices. But they must act.

In the following magazines, many of the largest franchise companies have full page ads soliciting new franchisees. None have mentioned the major issues facing franchisees: guaranteed areas of protection, termination and liquidated damages, encroachment and impact studies, windows of penalty-free exit opportunities, choice of venue, etc.

Hotel Business (Sept. 21-Oct. 6, 2008)

• La Quinta • Wyndham • Hilton • Doubletree • Westin/Element • Sheraton • Cambria Suites • NYLO • TownePlace Suites

Lodging Hospitality (September 1, 2008)

• Wyndham • La Quinta • Hilton • TownePlace Suites • Hyatt • Doubletree • Westin • Westin/Element • Carlson

Hotels (September 2008)

• Four Points • Sheraton • Wyndham • Carlson • Hilton

AAHOA Lodging Business (September 2008)

• Hilton • Wyndham • Accor • La Quinta • Wyndham

Only the advertisements from the following franchise companies talk about these important and essential issues:  

• Budget Host • Vista • Vantage/Lexington • Guesthouse & Settle Inn • Budgetel

Hotel Owners:  You may not realize it, but the power to change this situation is in your hands.  How?  For the next 12 months sign franchise agreements only with those franchise companies who are in fuller compliance with AAHOAs 12 Points of Fair Franchising.

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Author: Stanley Turkel, MHS, ISHC operates his hotel consulting office as a sole practitioner specializing in franchising issues, asset management and litigation support services.  Turkel's clients are hotel owners and franchisees, investors and lending institutions.  Turkel serves on the Board of Advisors and lectures at the NYU Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management.  He is a member of the prestigious International Society of Hospitality Consultants.  His provocative articles on various hotels subjects have been published in the Cornell Quarterly, Lodging Hospitality, Hotel Interactive, Hotel Online, AAHOA Lodging Business,  and Blue MauMau.  If you need help in negotiating a franchise agreement or with a problem such as encroachment/impact, termination/liquidated damages or litigation support, call Stanley at 917-628-8549 or email stanturkel@aol.com.

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Other Stanley Turkel articles:

• Keeping Score: A Revealing Look at Hotel Fair Franchising Compliance
• Hotels Should Advertise Fair Franchise Points
• AAHOA 2008 Progress Report on La Quinta Hotels 'Fair Franchising' Compliance
• 2008 Progress Report on 'Fair Franchising' Compliance of Carlson Hotels
• 2008 Progress Report on Accor Hotels 'Fair Franchising' Compliance
• When Cendant Walked Out on AAHOA: The March of Folly
• Fair Franchising Is Not An Oxymoron: Transferability
• Fair Franchising Is Not An Oxymoron: Venue and Law Clauses
• Fair Franchising Is Not An Oxymoron: Dispute Resolution
• Fair Franchising: Maintaining Robust Relations
• Fair Franchising And Vendor Exclusivity