OPENING TIMELINE
How long does it take to open a Radisson franchise in the United States?
18–24 months
Typical new-construction period disclosed in the 2026 FDD
For a newly constructed Radisson, the FDD states that the typical period from Franchise Agreement signing to opening is 18 to 24 months. That is an official estimate, not a deadline or promise. Conversion and re-licensing projects do not have one complete disclosed total; their timing depends on the Property Improvement Plan, approvals, renovation, permitting, staffing, systems, inspection, and written opening authorization.
Data basis: legal franchisor Choice Hotels International, Inc.; Radisson Franchise Disclosure Document issued April 1, 2026 and amended May 20, 2026; Items 1, 5–12, 15–17 and 20; Exhibit D Franchise Agreement, Guaranty and state addenda. Applicable U.S. paths reviewed: new construction, conversion/substantial renovation, and acquisition/re-licensing of an existing Radisson hotel. Timeline evidence mode:
official total timeline for new construction, with milestone-only treatment for conversion and re-licensing. Checked July 19, 2026. See the
official U.S. Radisson development page and
Choice Hotels development information.
60 days
Application review
FDD Item 11 says the Franchise Committee reviews the application within this period.
14 days
Federal FDD review minimum
Calendar days before signing a binding agreement or paying the franchisor or affiliate.
3 classes
Radisson hotel classes
Resort, suite and hotel class; the specific property is identified in the Franchise Agreement.
Not required
Owner as day-to-day operator
The owner need not personally operate the hotel, but approved management is mandatory.
The federal pre-sale disclosure period is separate from Choice's application process and from the hotel-development timeline. The FTC's consumer guide to buying a franchise explains that the FDD must be received at least 14 days before the prospect is asked to sign a contract or pay the franchisor or an affiliate; the FTC Franchise Rule page provides the governing federal rule materials.
QUALIFICATION
What must a prospective Radisson franchisee qualify for before signing?
Choice must approve the franchisee and the proposed hotel location. The 2026 FDD does not publish a universal minimum net worth, liquidity amount, or credit-score threshold for general Radisson approval. Its incentive program separately refers to Choice's then-current new-franchisee qualifications and standard credit review, so a buyer should not treat incentive-program criteria as the general approval standard.
Applicant approvalChoice's Franchise Committee reviews the application; submitting requested information does not guarantee approval.
Site approvalChoice must approve the specific location; failure to agree on a site can stop the deal before signing.
Ownership and guaranty packageThe agreement package includes ownership schedules and a Guaranty. Confirm which principals Choice requires to sign.
Approved management companyThe hotel must use a qualified management company approved by Choice in writing, including any owner-controlled manager.
Dedicated hotel leadershipA certified General Manager may not manage another hotel. Each Radisson must also have a full-time on-site Director of Sales and an on-site Director of F&B.
Director of Sales experienceThe FDD requires either two years as an upscale-or-higher Director of Sales or three years in specified equivalent sales-management roles.
Buyer verification
Do not infer an approval threshold that the FDD does not state. Before spending materially on a site or design, ask Choice to identify the current applicant information, financial review, management-company criteria, guarantor requirements, and property-specific conditions that will be used for the proposed project.
VERIFIED ROADMAP
What is the actual process from initial inquiry to Radisson opening authorization?
The sequence follows the 2026 FDD and Franchise Agreement. New construction and substantial renovation use contractual design and construction milestones; conversion and re-licensing also depend on a property-specific Property Improvement Plan.
Submit the project inquiry and application information
Action: Present the proposed Radisson project, ownership group, site or target property, and requested development path.
Actor: Applicant.
Timing: Choice states that its Franchise Committee reviews the application within 60 days of submission.
Blocker: Applicant or proposed site is not approved.
Receive and review the current FDD before signing or payment
Action: Review the FDD, Franchise Agreement, Guaranty, state addenda, and project-specific deal terms.
Actor: Applicant, with independent professional advisers as appropriate.
Timing: Federal minimum is 14 calendar days before a binding agreement or payment to the franchisor or affiliate.
Next dependency: Final approval and execution package.
Execute the Franchise Agreement and related guaranty documents
Action: Sign the property-specific Franchise Agreement; pay the affiliation fee no later than signing; complete required ownership and guaranty documents.
Actor: Franchisee and Choice.
Timing: The affiliation fee becomes non-refundable after Choice signs, subject to the agreement's stated refund condition if Choice does not sign.
Blocker: No Choice countersignature or no agreed site.
Lock the development path, plans, and property-improvement scope
Action: For new construction or substantial renovation, submit staged design documents for Choice review. For an existing hotel conversion or acquisition, follow the Property Improvement Plan attached to the Franchise Agreement.
Actor: Franchisee, architect and Choice.
Timing: Contractual design milestones are shown in the deadline chart below.
Blocker: Brand-standard plan approval or unresolved PIP scope.
Start and complete construction or renovation
Action: Obtain applicable permits, mobilize the contractor, maintain required pre-opening insurance, build the model room before ordering FF&E, and continue work toward inspection readiness.
Actor: Franchisee, contractor, architect and government authorities; Choice reviews for brand compliance.
Timing: Construction Start and Opening Deadline are contractual milestones, not estimated permit dates.
Blocker: Permit, financing, weather, equipment, sign, or construction delays.
Install the required operating and technology systems
Action: Procure approved signage, FF&E, Oracle Opera Cloud PMS, required reservation and revenue tools, food-and-beverage technology, sales software, service-recovery tools and other brand-required systems.
Actor: Franchisee and approved or qualified vendors.
Timing: Sales software must be installed at least three months before opening; other installation schedules depend on the project.
Blocker: Vendor approval, installation, integration or model-room approval.
Staff the hotel and complete the required training track
Action: Put the approved management structure in place, hire required leaders, and complete or schedule the then-current Choice training programs.
Actor: Franchisee, management company, General Manager, Director of Sales and Choice University.
Timing: The FDD requires key leaders on defined pre-opening schedules; some training provisions allow completion within 90 days after opening.
Blocker: Unqualified management, missing leadership roles, or unresolved mandatory training requirements.
Finish the pre-opening commercial, legal, and readiness package
Action: Deliver required budget and marketing materials, identifying tax information, ADA certification, insurance evidence, applicable licenses and permits, and opening-readiness checklists.
Actor: Franchisee, management team, architect/contractor, insurer and government authorities.
Timing: Several deliverables are measured backward from the contractual Opening Deadline.
Blocker: Missing certification, insurance, permit, system, staffing or operational deliverable.
Request inspection and obtain written opening authorization
Action: Give written notice, allow Choice to inspect, correct required deficiencies, and obtain specific written authorization before using the Radisson Brand Mark or Choice System to operate.
Actor: Franchisee and Choice.
Timing: Written notice is required at least 30 days before the proposed Opening Date.
Blocker: No written authorization, failed readiness inspection, or unresolved opening conditions.
Sources: 2026 Radisson FDD Items 1, 5, 9, 11, 15 and 17; Franchise Agreement Sections 4, 6, 7 and 12. The official Choice Hotels development contact page is the public inquiry route and includes Radisson Hotel among selectable brands.
CONTRACTUAL DEADLINES
Which timing checkpoints control a new Radisson build or substantial renovation?
Deadlines use two anchors: the Franchise Agreement Effective Date and the Opening Deadline. These are contractual lead times, not promises for permitting, financing, construction or other third-party approvals.
Radisson contractual lead-time chart
Bar lengths show disclosed lead time within each trigger group; they should not be added together as one total project schedule.
Measured after the Franchise Agreement Effective Date
Submit 30% design-development plans
3 mo.
Submit 60% design-development plans
6 mo.
Cause Construction Start
12 mo.
Measured before the Opening Deadline
Property pro forma and operating budget
7 mo.
Hire and onboard dedicated sales leadership
6 mo.
Submit detailed sales and marketing plan
4 mo.
Install approved sales-account software
3 mo.
Give Choice written notice of proposed opening
1 mo.
Interpretation: the longest disclosed contractual lead time in the design group is the 12-month Construction Start requirement, while the pre-opening package begins at least seven months before the Opening Deadline. Source: 2026 Radisson FDD Item 11 and Franchise Agreement Sections 6(r), 6(s) and 6(u).
Contractual deadline
If Construction Start does not occur within 12 months after the Effective Date, the franchisee may request a three-month extension before the original period expires. Choice is not required to grant it and may impose conditions; the disclosed extension fee is $5,000 for each three-month extension granted. Failure to meet required construction or renovation dates can also be a non-curable default under the Franchise Agreement.
FORMAT DIFFERENCE
How do new construction, conversion, and acquisition paths differ?
The 2026 FDD applies to new construction and conversion unless it says otherwise. It does not disclose a separate Area Development Agreement for Radisson; Item 9 lists territorial development and sales quotas as not applicable, and Item 12 says additional facilities require the usual application process and additional franchise agreements.
| Path |
Core document |
Timing basis |
Opening-specific distinction |
| New construction |
Franchise Agreement |
Typical 18–24 months from signing to opening; contractual design, Construction Start and Opening Deadline milestones |
30% and 60% plan submissions, model room, construction, inspection and written opening authorization |
| Conversion / substantial renovation |
Franchise Agreement plus Property Improvement Plan where applicable |
No one complete total duration disclosed |
Property-specific renovation scope; substantial renovation follows construction-related duties and applicable Opening Deadline |
| Existing Radisson acquisition / re-licensing |
Then-current Franchise Agreement, transfer approval and PIP |
No one complete opening timeline disclosed |
Buyer must qualify, Choice must approve the transfer, re-licensing training applies, and the hotel must meet then-current brand-image standards |
Source: 2026 Radisson FDD Items 1, 9, 11, 12 and 17; Exhibit D. Choice also markets both new construction and conversion opportunities across its portfolio on its official hotel investment page and presents Radisson within its Upscale by Choice development platform.
RESPONSIBILITY MAP
Who controls the critical pre-opening dependencies?
Choice provides onboarding and opening-services assistance, while the franchisee develops and prepares the hotel. Choice approval does not replace lender, landlord, contractor, insurer, architect or government approvals.
Phase
Franchisee / applicant
Choice Hotels
Third parties
Application & site
Supply ownership, project and site information.
Approve applicant and location; review application.
Landlord, seller and lender control their own transactions.
Design & buildout
Hire professionals, submit plans, fund and execute construction or renovation.
Review for brand standards; inspect; may provide consultation.
Architects, contractors and authorities control code, permit and construction work.
Systems & suppliers
Order, purchase, lease and install required systems, signage, FF&E and supplies.
Set specifications and approve Qualified Vendors or alternatives.
Vendors control supply, installation and support timing.
Staffing & training
Employ required leaders and ensure attendance and completion.
Approve management company and provide required Choice training.
Management company and labor market affect hiring readiness.
Opening
Complete readiness package, give notice, correct deficiencies and hold required permits/insurance.
Inspect and issue specific written authorization to operate under the brand.
Government authorities issue occupancy and other applicable approvals.
Source: 2026 Radisson FDD Item 11 and Franchise Agreement Sections 5, 6 and 12. Choice's public development materials describe support from pre-opening through grand opening, but the contract governs the specific obligations.
OPENING READINESS
What must be ready before Choice can authorize the hotel to open?
Opening is not automatic when construction ends or training occurs. The Franchise Agreement defines the Opening Date as the date the hotel begins renting rooms with Choice's authorization, and the franchisee may not operate under the Brand Mark or Choice System until specific written authorization is received.
Property and compliance
Construction or renovation complete to the required stage; brand-standard deficiencies addressed; applicable permits and licenses obtained; ADA certification delivered; required insurance evidence in place.
Operations and technology
Approved management company and required leaders in place; PMS, reservation, revenue, sales, F&B and guest-service systems installed; signage, FF&E, supplies and opening inventory ready.
Commercial readiness
Required property pro forma and operating budget delivered; approved sales and marketing plan prepared; sales leadership onboarded; local opening advertising complies with Choice specifications.
Training requirement
The FDD's detailed training provisions are not all phrased as pre-opening conditions. Upscale Immersion is mandatory and key leaders must follow Choice's then-current training schedule, while certain provisions allow designated representatives to attend within 90 days after opening and require the Director of Sales workshop at the earliest available class after opening. Confirm in writing which current programs must be completed before Choice will authorize the specific hotel to open.
DELAY AND DEFAULT RISK
Which issues can delay or stop the opening?
Opening depends on separate gates: applicant and site approval, plan or PIP compliance, Construction Start, insurance, management, staffing, systems, permits and occupancy approvals, Choice inspection, and written opening authorization.
Construction deadlineMissing required Construction Start or completion dates can support termination without a contractual cure period under Item 17.
Discretionary extensionA three-month construction-start extension is a request, not a right. Choice may refuse it or impose conditions.
Committed opening dateA $2,500 rescheduling fee plus travel may apply if a confirmed opening date changes within two weeks or a temporary certificate of occupancy is not received at least seven days before it.
InsurancePre-opening coverage and evidence are due by Construction Start; operating coverage by the Opening Date.
Opening authorizationFinishing construction does not itself authorize use of the Radisson name or Choice System. Choice's specific written authorization is required.
Third-party approvalsChoice's site or plan approval does not establish zoning, code, engineering, permitting, lender, landlord, liquor-license or occupancy approval.
BUYER VERIFICATION
What should a buyer verify before committing to a Radisson opening plan?
The most useful diligence is project-specific. Item 20 and Exhibits J and K provide current and former franchisee contacts that can be used to test how the disclosed process works in practice, while the Franchise Agreement and any Property Improvement Plan control the buyer's own deadlines.
Current approval criteriaAsk which ownership, financial, management-company and guarantor criteria apply to the applicant and property.
Exact site statusConfirm whether the location is under discussion, approved, or subject to additional conditions.
Project-specific PIPFor a conversion or acquisition, obtain the complete Property Improvement Plan and reconcile its deadlines with project contracts.
Opening DeadlineIdentify the exact contractual trigger and date; do not substitute the 18–24 month new-build estimate.
Training gateConfirm required attendees, which courses precede authorization, and which may occur after opening.
State-specific termsReview the applicable state addendum for modifications to disclosure, termination, dispute or other contract terms.
For public background, the Choice Hotels brand portfolio identifies Radisson within Choice's current family of brands, while the development site describes Radisson's U.S. growth positioning. Neither marketing page replaces the 2026 FDD or the executed property-specific agreements.
SYNTHESIS
What is the practical bottom line for opening a Radisson franchise?
The verified path is applicant and site review, FDD review, agreement and guaranty execution, design or PIP approval, construction or renovation, systems and staffing, training, pre-opening compliance, inspection, and written opening authorization. The only disclosed complete total is the typical 18–24 month new-construction period; conversion and re-licensing remain milestone-based. The key applicant-controlled dependency is timely delivery of plans, staffing, systems and the readiness package. The key outside dependency is Choice approval plus third-party permitting, construction and occupancy approvals. The contractual issue to verify most carefully is the exact Opening Deadline and any project-specific PIP milestones, because missed construction or opening obligations can have extension fees or default consequences.
