Wednesday's Franchise News

Four Points By Sheraton To Debut In Berlin » November 07, 2012 at 7:44AM PST | Source: Four Points by Sheraton

Four Points by Sheraton Berlin Airport Will Open in 2014 at the New Berlin Brandenburg International Airport BERLIN - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Nov. 7, 2012 - Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced plans to introduce its rapidly expanding Four Points by Sheraton brand to Berlin in 2014. Owned by Proprietas s.r.o., Four Points® by Sheraton Berlin Airport will be the first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in Berlin and the third for the brand in Germany. Starwood’s Four Points by Sheraton brand’s ‘best for business’ approach provides travellers with everything that matters most with stylish design and an uncomplicated friendly approach to hospitality and service – all at a great value... » Read Full Story

DoubleTree By Hilton To Open First Hotel/Golf Resort In Spain » November 07, 2012 at 7:39AM PST | Source: Doubletree Hotels, Suites, Resorts

GIRONA, Spain - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Hilton Worldwide today announced that it has signed a franchise agreement with Urbano Rural Hotelara SL to open its first DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Spain. Set to convert by the end of the year, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Spa Emporda will be an upscale, 87 guestroom property located on the site of Emporda Golf Club. The site boasts two 18-hole golf courses created by Robert von Hagge, the award-winning golf course designer. Only five minutes drive to the nearest beach, the hotel will provide a contemporary, new accommodation offering for holidaymakers on the Costa Brava. Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, Europe & Africa, Hilton Worldwide, said, “Hilton Worldwide has had a presence in Spain for more than 20 years and the country remains an enduringly popular travel destination with the latest visitor numbers demonstrating year on year growth... » Read Full Story

Obama Takes 7-Election™ Victory Cup » November 07, 2012 at 7:29AM PST | Source: 7-Eleven

For Fourth Time, 7-Eleven® Coffee-Cup Poll Correctly Calls U.S. Election Results DALLAS, Nov. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - For the fourth time in as many presidential elections, 7-Eleven, Inc.'s coffee-drinking customers have correctly called the U.S. presidential election in its unabashedly unscientific, unofficial, just-for-fun 7-Election™ presidential coffee-cup poll. 7-Election results had President Barack Obama out-cupping Republican challenger Mitt Romney handily, with 59 percent of the 7-Eleven caffeinated electorate selecting blue Obama cups over 41 percent for the red Romney cups. The real election was closer. Most of the national polls showed President Barack Obama with a razor-thin lead or tied with former Gov... » Read Full Story  |  » Franchise Opportunities Available

Le Méridien And Air France Present A Photographer’s Journey: A Discovery Of Details From Takeoff To Turndown » November 07, 2012 at 7:20AM PST | Source: Le Meridien

Le Méridien and Air France Reunite to Launch a Digitally Curated Photography Exhibition with Renowned Photographer Jimmy Cohrssen NEW YORK - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Nov. 7, 2012 - Le Méridien and Air France today announced A Photographer’s Journey: A discovery of details from takeoff to turndown, a photography exhibition with celebrated international photographer Jimmy Cohrssen to be curated online exclusively by fans of the two brands. The interactive exhibition launches online today at www.aphotographersjourney.com with never-before-seen photographs of Cohrssen’s journey through culturally rich cities and resort destinations such as Istanbul, Shanghai, Bora Bora, Tahiti and Paris, and will run through November 23... » Read Full Story

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Franchise News for Monday Oct 15

Winging It

Wings are America’s “party food,” showing up at celebrations from tailgating to graduation parties. But now the party is extending to quick service, with wings appearing on menus at concepts you might not expect to carry them.

Who Has the Best-Looking Drive Thru?

In the 2012 Drive-Thru Study, benchmark chains are near perfect when it comes to maintaining a favorable exterior. But one chain pulls slightly ahead of the rest.

Beautiful Brands to Develop Hard Knox Pizza

Beautiful Brands International plans to develop and franchise Hard Knox Pizza, a premier gourmet style, fast-casual pizzeria in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Westin Hotels & Resorts Announces Grand Opening Of Flagship Manhattan Property The Westin New York Grand Central » October 15, 2012 at 5:59AM PDT | Source: Westin Hotels & Resorts

Starwood Preferred Guest and Live Nation Celebrate Westin New York Grand Central Opening with Exclusive Acoustic Performance by Newly Reunited Ben Folds Five New Westin New York Grand Central Offers Signature Westin Experience with Eco-Friendly Guestrooms, State-of-the-Art Meeting Space and Bar and Food Concept from Gerber Group Coming Soon STAMFORD, Conn. - October 15, 2012 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Today Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) and Host Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (NYSE:HST) announce the grand opening of The Westin New York Grand Central. The new hotel opens in the former New York Helmsley Hotel after the completion of a $75 million renovation. The brand’s second Manhattan hotel features a complete redesign of the hotel’s interior including 774 spacious guest rooms equipped with Westin’s signature amenities, more than 12,000 square feet of meeting space with the latest technology, a 3,000-square-foot WestinWORKOUT® fitness studio and the upcoming addition of THE LCL: Bar & Kitchen, NYC, the first bar and food concept from Gerber Group in a Westin property...

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History of Franchising

The word Franchise comes from old French meaning privilege or freedom. In the middle ages a franchise was a privilege or a right. In those days, the local sovereign or lord would grant the right to hold markets or fairs, to operate the local ferry or to hunt on his land. This concept extended to the Kings granting a franchise for all manner of commercial activities such as building roads and the brewing of ale. In essence the king was giving someone the right to a monopoly for a certain type of commercial activity.

Over time the regulations governing franchises became a part of European Common Law. Over the centuries the franchising concept has evolved as the economies of the nations of the world have evolved. In the 1840's in Germany certain major ale brewers granted franchises to certain taverns, giving those taverns the exclusive right to sell their ale. This was the beginning of the concept of franchising as we know it today. In 1851, the Singer Sewing Machine Company began granting distribution franchises for their sewing machines. Singer had written franchise contracts which were the forerunners of modern franchise agreements. In the 1880's cities began to grant monopoly franchises to street car companies and utilities for water, sewerage, gas and later electricity.

Around the turn of the century, the oil refinery companies and the automobile manufacturers began to grant the right to sell their products. At this stage in the evolution of franchising it was essentially just the granting of the right to distribute and sell a manufacturers products.Business format franchising, which is the dominant mode of franchising today came onto the economic scene after World War II with the return of the millions of US servicemen and women and the subsequent baby boom. The baby boom is still driving the economy and will continue to do so into the next century. There was an overwhelming need for all types of products and services, and franchising was the ideal business model for the rapid expansion of the hotel/motel and fast food industries.

During the explosion of the 60's and 70's there were many abuses in franchising. There will always be the unscrupulous con men/women among us, ready to prey on the uninformed and gullible. There were a number of totally fraudulent franchise companies which literally took peoples money and ran, and there were a number of companies that were undercapitalized and poorly managed which went bankrupt, leaving a trail of failed franchisees who lost everything. It became clear that the franchise industry had to change in order to remain a viable business concept. On the industry side, The International Franchise Association was created with the specific intent of uplifting the entire industry. The IFA holds training in all aspects of franchising which greatly enhances the professionalism of the industry. Members of the IFA are required to adhere to the IFA's Code of Ethics which sets a high standard.

The IFA works closely with the US Congress and the Federal Trade Commission on improving how the industry relates to the franchisees. On the government regulatory side, theFederal Trade Commission, in 1978, required that all franchisers submit to all potential franchisees a document called the Uniform Offering Circular or UFOC, before receiving money. The UFOC provides very detailed information on the franchise company, such as its history, information about the officers, litigation history, audited financial statements, the franchise agreement, which is the contract between the franchiser and franchisee and a current list of franchises with owners names and telephone numbers. The intent of the UFOC is that it provide enough information so that the prospective franchisee can make an informed decision.

The FTC doesn't actually review the UFOCs unless there is a complaint and it decides to conduct an investigation. Also there are a number of states called registration states which have their own requirements that must be met before a franchiser is allowed to sell franchises in their states. In some cases these requirements are more stringent than the FTC's. There are several franchisee associations which work to protect the interests of franchisees. Today, franchising is a highly regulated industry which offers a great opportunity to those individuals who truly want to realize their dream and go into business for themselves.

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Expedia Cruise Ship Centers

Established in 1987, Expedia® CruiseShipCenters® is a global leader in the marketing and sales of cruise vacations. Our franchise network of 112+ independently-owned retail locations and over 2,500 Cruise Consultants have achieved annual sales growth averaging 30% each year, for more than two decades. We also provide resort and other land vacation packages, including air, car, hotel and travel insurance. This allows us to serve all the travel needs of our customers. A strong leadership team and more than 75 Partner Support employees are fully dedicated to providing world class programs and support in the areas of Sales and Marketing, Training, Information Technology and Business Development. You have a world of experience here, ready to assist you. We look forward to helping you achieve your entrepreneurial dreams in this exciting industry as we continue to grow Stronger.Together®Learn More

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