Recently in AAHOA Category

 

As one of the world's largest and fastest growing markets, India has become an attractive possibility for expansion by U.S. franchisors. It provides an excellent franchise opportunity for qualified franchisors. It has a middle class estimated to be over 30% of population which computes to 300,000 million people and also has the world's largest English speaking population. In the recent past, India has seen a significant development in franchising with ever increasing U.S. brands operating in India. An added advantage that India offers is a large population of well educated young people familiar with technology and software. However, in addition to having a huge population and ever growing middle class, India provides a friendly franchising climate.

The Indian Legal Climate for Franchising

Unlike the United States, there are no statutes specific to franchising which govern either the sale of franchises or the relationship between franchisees and franchisors. This means there are no formal registration requirements or pre-contractual disclosure requirements for franchisors. Does this mean that a franchisor may act in whatever manner it chooses with its prospective franchisees? It absolutely does not.

Both the common law doctrine, as well as other general statutes, can be used to ensure that a franchisor deals honestly and in good faith with its prospects and franchisees. For example, the common law doctrine of equity under Indian law requires that, where a disclosure document is provided, it must comply with the common law doctrine and be a true and genuine statement of the franchise offering. Additionally, there is a legal obligation on behalf of both the franchisor and franchisee to deal with one another in good faith.

The Indian Contract Act of 1872 (the "Contract Act") governs the contract between the parties to a Franchise Agreement. This Contract Act provides: "All agreements are contracts, if they are made by the free consent of the parties, competent to contract, for a lawful consideration with a lawful object, and not hereby expressly to be void." Both franchisees and franchisors should be diligent in consulting with international franchise legal counsel to ensure that the Franchise Agreement does not contain any provisions that render the contract void or voidable under Indian law.

An important consideration when entering into a Franchise Agreement is whether any covenant not to compete contained therein might be enforceable. Under the current state of Indian law, the answer is probably during the term of the agreement, but perhaps not once the agreement has expired. Although Section 27 of the Contract Act provides that agreements in restraint of trade is void, the Supreme Court of India has held that covenants not to compete during the term of a franchise agreement do not fall within the purview of Section 27 of the Contract Act. In Gujarat Bottling Company Limited v Coca Cola Company (AIR (1995) Supreme Court 237), the Supreme Court of India held: "Since the negative stipulation in ... the . . . Agreement is confined in its application to the period of subsistence of the agreement and the restriction imposed therein is operative only during the period the 1993 Agreement is subsisting, the said stipulation cannot be held to be in restraint of trade so as to attract the bar of Section 27 of the Contract Act." The Gujarat court also held: "There is a growing trend to regulate distribution of goods and services through franchise agreements providing for grant of franchise by the franchisor on certain terms and conditions to the franchisee. Such agreements often incorporate a condition that the franchisee shall not deal with competing goods. Such a condition restricting the right of the franchisee to deal with competing goods is for facilitating the distribution of the goods of the franchisor and it cannot be regarded as in restraint of trade." Both franchisors and prospective franchisees should be careful to review Indian Law as it develops on this issue.

Other statutes which franchisors and franchisees should be aware of and seek legal counsel on include, but are not limited to, the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 ("CPA") and the Competition Act, 2002 ("CA"). A violation of these acts could create liability to members of the consuming public in India.

A clear understanding of the provisions of the CPA, and the state of the case law thereon, is vital so that both the franchisor and franchisee understand their liabilities to each other and the consuming public. Under the CPA, consumers may recover from manufacturers and service providers for defective products and/or deficiencies in service. A consumer might file an action under the CPA against both the franchisor and the franchisee, but most franchise agreements contain indemnification clauses in favor of the franchisor, which provide that the franchisee is responsible for such claims and indemnifies the franchisor against same. International franchise legal counsel can advise both franchisors and franchisees as to their potential liabilities under the CPA to third parties and as to the effect of any indemnification clause in a franchise agreement.

The CA also should be examined, as the statute prohibits arrangements regarding production, supply, distribution, storage, acquisition or control of goods, or provision of services that cause or are likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India. Under the CA, certain arrangements are presumed to have an appreciable adverse effect on competition, including, but not limited to any agreements which directly or indirectly determine purchase or sale prices, limit or control production, supply, markets, technical development, investment or provision of services, and/or share the market or source of production or provision of services by way of allocation of geographical areas of the market, or type of goods or services, or number of customers in the market, or in any other similar way. The CA is similar to the Sherman Antitrust and Clayton Act in the United States. As such, franchisors should have their agreements carefully reviewed by an international franchise attorney to determine if the provisions thereof include any tie-in arrangements, exclusive supply and distribution provisions, and/or resale price provisions, which would be regarded as being anti-competitive in that they would cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition in India.

Important Considerations

Before a franchisor decides to export their franchise concept to India, or any other country, they need to perform some self analysis and make sure they're fully prepared for this new venture.

Following are ten important steps to follow before going into foreign markets:

  1. Have a solid franchise program in operation with successful franchisees and good franchise relations.
  2. There should be a minimum of 50 franchisees in the home country. Although not a strict requirement, a minimum of 50 units indicates a level of franchisor experience.
  3. Be sure that the franchise concept can be successful in other countries. Due to local customs or consumer preferences, some concepts may not be adaptable to other countries.
  4. There needs to be competent franchisor staff available to implement, train, and support the new foreign licensee.
  5. Make sure that all of the operating and marketing manuals are current and up to date. There should be marketing materials that can be adapted and translated for use in other countries.
  6. Perform a competitive analysis of target countries to determine if the franchise will face competition. A number of competitors can signal good demand for the franchise product or services.
  7. Get some advice from a consultant or advisor who has experience in international franchising and licensing. You need to rely upon experts who have prospected candidates, negotiated agreements, and have operational experience.
  8. Be prepared to invest some capital in overseas visits and legal costs.
  9. Before implementing your international launch, apply to register your trademarks and any intellectual property ("IP") you own.
  10. Lastly, don't expect to receive a licensing fee until you've invested a good deal of time and effort in the entire sales process.

With a growing economy, franchising in India has great potential. However, both franchisors and prospective franchisees should proceed only after consulting qualified international franchise legal counsel, and after having a clear understanding of the common law and statutes which might impact not only the relationship between the franchisor and the franchisee, but also as to potential liability to the consuming public in India.

As an American hotelier, I am asking you to sign the petition at the AAHOA website.

The Department of Justice's (DOJ) has an overly burdensome interpretation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it pertains to pool lifts. Specifically, the DOJ asserts hotels and other places of public accommodation must purchase and install more expensive permanent pool lifts at each pool and spa on the premises when equally effective, safer, and less expensive alternative pool lift options are available to serve our guests.

As a member of the hospitality industry, I strive to provide an enjoyable experience for all of my guests - including guests with disabilities. I support the ADA and am diligently working on making the necessary modifications to make sure my hotel is in compliance by the March 15, 2012 deadline.

Many hoteliers like me have raised questions about the ADA pool lift requirements and placed orders upon vendors' assurances that their models were ADA compliant. The DOJ offered its interpretation of the ADA rules on January 31, 2012 - giving us less than two months to change our orders and install these permanent pool lifts that require costly construction.

The Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA), my industry's trade association, sent a letter to the DOJ explaining that portable pool lifts provide the assistance guests with disabilities need, and reduce the risk to children who may become injured playing on permanent lifts. The DOJ refused to reconsider its interpretation or offer hoteliers any flexibility in making their pool areas ADA compliant.

Senator John Boozman (R-AR) and Representative Mick Mulvaney (R-SC) are circulating a "Dear Colleague" letter urging the DOJ to take a more reasonable stance that will effectively serve the needs of guests with disabilities and is reasonably achievable for small business owners like me in this difficult economy. Specifically, the letter requests that the DOJ:

1) Extend the compliance deadline by 180 days,
2) Allow the use of portable pool lifts at hotels, and
3) Permit the sharing of a portable pool lift between multiple pools at a single hotel.

As an American hotelier, I am asking you to sign the petition at the AAHOA website. Thank-you for your support.

Stan Turkel, several years ago in 2006, wrote about AAOHA and hotel franchises.

"AAHOA has become a mature, pro-active trade association for hotel franchises with 8,300 members. Under President Fred Schwartz, AAHOA is professionally managed and is one of the leading forces in the hospitality industry. 

Its ongoing initiatives include: AAHOA Lodging Business magazine, a monthly publication, and an Annual Convention with attendance of up to 4000 members, sponsored in a large part by hotel franchisers.

Free educational seminars throughout the year for management and supervisory personnel.

Free regional trade shows featuring industry speakers, timely workshops, supplier exhibits and education courses."

For many franchise independent trade associations AAHOA is a model because it is a leading force in their industry, hotel franchises.

AAHOA formed in 1989, but there was another group of Indian hotel franchise owners, the Mid-South Indemnity association which had formed in the early 70's.  (Later these two groups of hotel franchise owners would join.)

The Mid-South Indemnity Group was formed because the Indian hoteliers could not get fire insurance, racism fanning the fear that they would simply burn down the hotel for the insurance money.  Without fire insurance, you cannot operate a hotel franchise.

The lesson for all franchise trade associations is that you become a leading force in your industry when you solve a significant and major economic problem for your members.

Enhanced by Zemanta


AAHOA, being an umbrella trade association of hotel franchisees, counts on the financial support at its trade show from hotel franchisors. The hotel franchisors know that AAHOA members are not only franchisees, but they are buyers - changing the flag happens with some consistency in the hotel industry.

Congratulations on another great trade show!

Hotel La Quinta en Per? Illinois

Image via Wikipedia

Attorney General Richard Blumenthal today announced that the La Quinta hotel chain has formally agreed to nationally cease "call-arounds" -- a potentially anticompetitive practice in which competing hotels exchange current room rate and occupancy information that can be used to fix prices.

National hotel chain La Quinta has five hotels in Connecticut and hundreds more across the country operated under the "La Quinta Inn" and "La Quinta Inn & Suites" name.

The five Connecticut hotels are:  La Quinta Inn in Windsor Locks, La Quinta Inn & Suites in New Britain, La Quinta Inn & Suites in New Haven, La Quinta Inn & Suites in Stamford and La Quinta Inn & Suites of Stonington.


Blumenthal's antitrust investigation into the hotel industry has found that the call-around practice is prevalent in the hospitality industry and raises serious antitrust concerns when competitors share current pricing and occupancy information because the information can be manipulated to raise or stabilize rates charged for hotel rooms.

The agreement can be read here.

La Quinta Hotels is one 10 hotels that participate in the AAOHA Fair Franchising program.

Enhanced by Zemanta

AAHOA continues to be the franchisee association leader, with 20 years of experience. Look at all the projects, scope and vision CK Patel is expanding upon for AAOHA in the upcoming years. An impressive list of projects.

AAHOA shows how a franchisee association should operate: managing a business with sufficient skill that it is a needed business partner for the franchisor. (Click on the images below to expand them.)

image001.jpg



image002.jpg

image003.jpg image004.jpg image005.jpg
Enhanced by Zemanta

Follow Us

About this Archive

This page is an archive of recent entries in the AAHOA category.

AdvantaClean is the previous category.

AAIA is the next category.

Find recent content on the main index or look in the archives to find all content.

Archives