Knights Inn Streamlines Franchise Process

Hotel Business:

Knights Inn used its owners and general managers conference here today to introduce its new simplified franchise agreement.

The streamlined format is intended to appeal to a broader base of potential franchisees, particularly those new to the lodging industry, who may be put off by the traditionally lengthy document. ‘A typical agreement can be quite intimidating to someone new to the process,’ said brand senior vp Rajiv Bhatia (photo).

The new 4-page agreement replaces a 35-page version. ‘All the essentials are there. We feel the new version will be welcomed by potential owners. Not only is it a time-saver, but there’ll be cost savings as well since it’ll take an attorney less time to review.’

Streamlined too is Knights Inn’s new custom-designed property management system. Known as Knight Lite, it is approximately 50% less expensive to implement than traditional PMSs and, consequently, can help improve franchisees’ return on investment.

With 240 properties in the U.S. and Canada, Knights Inn, an economy brand that is part of the Wyndham Hotel Group, opened 31 hotels in 2006, according to Bhatia. Most were conversions from other flags, including 5 that were conversions from other Wyndham brands. Though it’s been expanding in other regions, most of the brand’s distribution is on the West Coast, including properties newly opened in San Diego, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. In fact, 40% of its pipeline is on the West Coast.