Opening process
How does the SureStay Hotel opening process work?
Official timeline disclosed
2026 U.S. FDD basis
SureStay, Inc. discloses two current U.S. franchise brands in this FDD—SureStay by Best Western and SureStay Studio by Best Western—and two development paths: new construction or conversion of an existing hotel. The path runs from FDD review and a paid application through agreement execution, hotel work, required systems, training, pre-activation inspection, and written opening consent. The completed Franchise Agreement Addendum must be checked for project-specific dates.
Data basis: legal franchisor SureStay, Inc., an Arizona corporation; parent Best Western International, Inc.; FDD issuance date February 27, 2026; current offer mapped here: SureStay by Best Western and SureStay Studio by Best Western, each as new construction or conversion. Timeline evidence mode: official total timeline. Primary evidence: 2026 FDD Items 5, 8–12, 15–17 and 20; Franchise Agreement §§5.1.20–5.1.26, 6.1–6.5 and 14.1; Franchise Agreement Addendum; Exhibits H, J and K. Checked July 18, 2026. The official
SureStay development page currently presents SureStay and SureStay Studio together.
14 days
Federal FDD review period
Calendar days before a binding contract or payment to the franchisor or affiliate.
FTC Franchise Rule; FDD cover.
90 days
Conversion opening period
Disclosed signing-to-opening period; confirm the executed Addendum trigger.
2026 FDD, Item 11, p. 48; Exhibit H, p. 1.
2 years
New-construction opening period
Disclosed signing-to-opening period; construction dependencies remain project-specific.
2026 FDD, Item 11, p. 48; Exhibit H, p. 1.
3–5 days
Initial hotel training
Required personnel must complete training successfully before opening.
2026 FDD, Item 11, pp. 49–50.
10 days
Advance readiness notice
Notice that agreement conditions are met and the hotel is ready.
Franchise Agreement §6.4.3, p. 15.
Qualification
What must a prospective SureStay franchisee qualify for and submit?
The 2026 FDD does not disclose a universal minimum net worth, liquid-capital threshold, credit-score cutoff, degree requirement, citizenship rule, or fixed years-of-experience minimum. Instead, the Franchise Application requires detailed project, ownership or leasing, financial, hotel-history, management, and background information, and SureStay may deny an application for any or no stated reason. Meeting the document requirements therefore does not equal approval.
Hotel address, room inventory, amenities, market information, current affiliations, and project status.
Site plan for new construction, hotel room-type map, and renovation or construction information.
Recorded ownership or leasing evidence, entity formation documents, and financial statements for listed persons and entities.
Disclosure of hotel-operation disputes, bankruptcy or foreclosure history, and civil or criminal actions requested by the Application.
Management plan identifying a qualified management structure or a full-time, dedicated, on-premises General Manager.
Financial documentation for any proposed guarantor if SureStay requires a personal or third-party guaranty.
Whether the franchisee is an individual or an entity, it must retain direct management control. On-premises supervision may be provided through qualified management, including an approved third-party management company, or through a dedicated General Manager; the General Manager need not own equity in the hotel or franchisee. A management agreement does not shift the Franchise Agreement obligations away from the franchisee.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Item 15, pp. 54–55; Exhibit H Franchise Application, pp. 1–10; Franchise Agreement §7.0, p. 16.
Verified sequence
What are the actual steps from inquiry to written opening authorization?
1
Define the hotel project and receive the FDD
Action: Identify the proposed property, brand, and whether it is a conversion or new construction project.
Actor: Applicant.
Timing: Before any binding agreement or payment that triggers the federal pre-sale rule.
Next dependency: Complete the federal FDD review period before paying the application fee.
2
Submit the complete Franchise Application
Action: Return all application pages, required property and entity documents, financial statements, background disclosures, and the $2,500 non-refundable Application Fee.
Actor: Applicant.
Blocker: An incomplete application is stated grounds for denial.
3
Clear application review and any requested impact study
Action: SureStay evaluates the application; if a Member requests an impact study, the applicant pays the disclosed study fee.
Actor: Franchisor, with applicant cooperation.
Blocker: Application denial. The impact-study fee is refundable if SureStay denies the application.
4
Execute the Franchise Agreement and project Addendum
Action: Applicant signs, pays the $35,000 Initial Fee plus any room-based increment, and signs any required guaranty; SureStay then executes.
Actor: Applicant and franchisor.
Next dependency: Confirm Effective Date, completion dates, Required Opening Date, hotel address, room count, and Restricted Area in the completed Addendum.
5
Obtain design approval and third-party permissions
Action: Submit Designs and Plans; obtain accessibility certification from the architect or other certified professional and secure permits, licenses, and zoning variances.
Actor: Franchisee and third parties; SureStay approves plans.
Blocker: Hotel Work cannot start before SureStay’s written plan consent.
6
Complete construction or renovation and required systems
Action: Perform Hotel Work to approved plans and Standards, install required PMS and technology, use required or approved suppliers, and maintain required insurance.
Actor: Franchisee, contractors, AutoClerk, and approved suppliers.
Blocker: Missing completion milestones, permits, systems, or as-built accessibility certification can hold the project before activation.
7
Finish training and the pre-activation checklist
Action: Required staff complete training; the hotel completes maintenance and deep-clean programs, branding, professional photography, staffing, supplies, and the pre-activation inspection.
Actor: Franchisee and required personnel; franchisor or designee trains and inspects.
Blocker: Failed training or inspection can require additional training or re-inspection.
8
Request opening authorization and open only after written consent
Action: Notify SureStay that all Franchise Agreement conditions are satisfied and the hotel is ready; SureStay inspects as it deems necessary.
Actor: Franchisee gives notice; franchisor decides whether to authorize opening.
Blocker: The hotel may not open as a System Hotel without written consent.
Sequence basis: 2026 FDD, Items 5, 9 and 11; Franchise Agreement §§6.1–6.5, pp. 14–16; Exhibit H, p. 1. Federal disclosure timing is confirmed by the FTC Consumer’s Guide to Buying a Franchise and the FTC Franchise Rule.
Site approval
How are the site, territory, lease rights, and hotel work kept separate?
A conversion applicant already has the hotel location; a new-construction applicant must identify the project and submit a site plan. The Franchise Agreement requires the franchisee to own fee-simple title or hold a long-term ground leasehold interest for the term, unless SureStay accepts another arrangement and guaranty. The franchise is tied to the approved hotel location, and the FDD states that relocation will not be approved.
Property control
Ownership or lease evidence is part of application review.
Location license
The Franchise Agreement authorizes one specified hotel location.
Plans
Designs and Plans require written franchisor consent before Hotel Work.
Hotel Work
Franchisee obtains permits and performs construction or renovation.
Opening consent
Completion and inspection do not replace written authorization to open.
Site approval is not territory protection
Item 12 says the franchisee receives no exclusive territory. SureStay and affiliates agree not to open or allow the same Brand within a Restricted Area of at least 0.25 miles around the Hotel, subject to stated exceptions, but other brands and channels may compete. A specified site, plan approval, and Restricted Area are separate concepts.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Item 12, pp. 51–52; Franchise Agreement §§5.1.20–5.1.21, pp. 12–13; §§6.1–6.4, pp. 14–15.
Training
Who must complete training before a SureStay Hotel can open?
The General Manager, sales manager if applicable, and all front desk, housekeeping, and maintenance personnel must successfully complete initial training to SureStay’s satisfaction before opening. SureStay provides the initial program at the hotel, using the Manual and instructional or online materials; unsuccessful attendees may be required to take additional training at the hotel or another designated location.
Initial training curriculum: disclosed hours by module
Bars show classroom and on-the-job hours from the 2026 FDD training table. The six modules total 32 classroom hours and 8 on-the-job hours.
Classroom hours
On-the-job hours
SureStay Brand Culture
6h
Guest Satisfaction Survey
4h
Interpretation: training completion is an opening condition, not opening authorization. The hotel still must satisfy the pre-activation and inspection conditions and receive written consent.
Source: 2026 FDD, Item 11, training program, pp. 49–50.
Responsibilities
Who controls the dependencies that can delay opening?
The process is not controlled by one party. The franchisee owns the project execution and local compliance work; SureStay controls application decisions, brand approvals, inspection, and written opening authorization; independent third parties control property, professional certifications, construction, government approvals, and required vendor performance.
Applicant / Franchisee
Before signing: complete disclosures, property documents, financial statements, and background information.
Development: obtain permits, fund and perform Hotel Work, secure insurance, systems, suppliers, staffing, and readiness deliverables.
Before opening: complete training obligations, pre-activation conditions, and readiness notice.
SureStay, Inc.
Application: decides whether to accept the candidate and may require an impact study or guaranty.
Standards: supplies the Manual, reviews Designs and Plans, specifies required systems and approved suppliers, and provides training.
Opening: conducts or arranges inspections and decides whether to issue written opening consent.
Third parties
Real estate: owner, ground lessor, or landlord must support the required property-control structure.
Professionals: architect, contractor, or certified professional supplies required accessibility certifications and performs Hotel Work.
Authorities and vendors: issue permits or approvals and deliver required technology, signage, equipment, supplies, or services.
The official BWH Hotels development process page describes architecture/design, pre-opening services, and training support. Contractual obligations and approval rights above are controlled by the 2026 FDD and Franchise Agreement.
Opening deadline
What happens if construction, renovation, inspection, or opening falls behind?
The Franchise Agreement requires Hotel Work to be completed by the Construction Completion Date or Renovation Completion Date in the Addendum. A franchisee may request an extension before the applicable deadline, describing project status and the reason; approval may be conditioned on updated plans and requires the then-current extension fee. Item 5 discloses a $5,000 Construction Work Extension Fee or Renovation Work Extension Fee when an extension is approved.
For verified Force Majeure, the Agreement states that SureStay will approve an extension of the applicable completion date for up to six months after required notice and evidence. Separately, failure to begin or complete Hotel Work by the relevant date or to open on the Opening Date is a curable default; the termination notice must provide a cure period of at least 10 days. Opening without authorization can trigger $1,000 per day in liquidated damages plus enforcement costs.
Buyer verification: the Addendum date fields matter
Item 11 and Exhibit H disclose different format-specific opening periods, while the attached form Franchise Agreement Addendum displays a bracketed three-month Required Opening Date placeholder. Before signing, verify the completed Addendum’s Effective Date, completion dates, Required Opening Date, and whether its trigger matches the new-construction or conversion path. Do not treat a sample placeholder as the project’s final deadline.
Evidence: 2026 FDD, Item 5, pp. 15–17; Item 11, p. 48; Item 17, pp. 56–57; Franchise Agreement §§6.3–6.4, pp. 14–15; §14.1, p. 25; Franchise Agreement Addendum.
Opening readiness
What should a buyer verify before committing to an opening date?
Use the completed contract package and live project status—not a generic hotel-development estimate—to test the opening date. The strongest buyer questions are the ones that tie each milestone to an actor, a document, an approval authority, and a consequence if the milestone slips.
Confirm the exact current brand offered and application form; the 2026 FDD cover maps SureStay and SureStay Studio, while the attached legacy Application still displays SureStay Plus.
Confirm the completed Addendum’s Effective Date, Hotel address, room count, completion milestones, Required Opening Date, and Restricted Area.
Ask which PIP, Designs and Plans, accessibility certifications, permits, licenses, or zoning approvals remain outstanding.
Confirm whether AutoClerk Atlas PMS, IoT hardware, HMSS, signage, approved supplies, professional photography, and required insurance are installed or evidenced.
Identify every employee category still needing successful initial training and whether any additional training has been required.
Verify that maintenance and deep-clean programs, conversion deep cleaning, branding, photography, and the pre-activation checklist are complete before readiness notice.
Ask whether any extension request is pending, whether approval is discretionary, and what new milestone dates would apply if approved.
Use Item 20 and Exhibit G contacts to ask current and former franchisees how plan approval, inspection, training, and opening authorization worked in practice.
Verified opening path: receive and review the FDD, submit the documented application after the federal pre-sale waiting period, clear SureStay’s application decision, execute the Franchise Agreement and completed Addendum, finish approved Hotel Work and required systems, complete staff training and pre-activation conditions, then obtain written opening consent. Timeline status: the 2026 FDD discloses official format-specific signing-to-opening periods, not a guaranteed completion date. Applicant-controlled dependency: timely Hotel Work and readiness evidence. Franchisor/third-party dependency: plan approval, permitting, vendor delivery, inspection, and written authorization. Key issue to verify: the executed Addendum’s project-specific completion and opening dates.
