2026 Citizen M FDD: 3926071v2 (03/31/2026) 19 Plaintiffs seek treble damages of an amount to be determined at trial, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs. Marriott and the other defendants filed a joint motion to dismiss on May 17, 2024. Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the motion to dismiss on July 22, 2024, and defendants filed our reply on August 28, 2024. The motion to dismiss was granted without prejudice in August 2025, and plaintiffs then filed an amended complaint. Defendant’s motion to dismiss the latest complaint was fully briefed as of January 6, 2026, and is pending with the court. MII intends to defend vigorously against plaintiffs’ claims. 2. Segal v. Amadeus IT Group, S.A., Case No. 1:24-cv-01783 (United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois). On March 1, 2024, plaintiffs filed this putative class action lawsuit against Amadeus and numerous hotel companies, including MII, Hilton, Hyatt, and others. The lawsuit alleges the unlawful sharing of information and price-fixing in violation of U.S. antitrust laws, focusing on the use of Amadeus’s Demand360 at luxury hotels in over forty metropolitan markets in the U.S. Plaintiffs seek treble damages of an amount to be determined at trial, injunctive relief, and attorneys’ fees and costs. Marriott and the other defendants filed a joint motion to dismiss on June 24, 2024. Defendants’ motion to dismiss was granted without prejudice in March 2025, and plaintiff then filed a third amended complaint. Defendants’ motion to dismiss the latest complaint was fully briefed as of August 27, 2025, and is pending with the court. MII intends to defend vigorously against plaintiffs’ claims.
From the filings
CitizenM
LodgingCitizenM's 16 US locations are all franchised, no company-owned properties, inside the Marriott family. OpenTable and Yahoo are in use per the 2026 FDD, but nothing is contractually required — headquarters, via Marriott's centralized hotel-systems model, is the counterpart for any system-wide pitch.
For software vendors selling into US franchise brands.
Live signals
Ordinary royalty terms
5% component; full terms unconfirmed
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed for the selected filing.
Recorded percentage components
These are recorded percentage components. Each has its own base and conditions; the chart does not state the total payment or confirm ad-fund completeness.
1recorded components (FY2026)
15% reference
Mandated & recommended tech
The systems vendors compete with
Systems named in Item 11 of this filing. None is recorded as mandated here, which is not the same as the filing mandating nothing. Read Item 11 before treating the category as open.
1. District of Columbia v. Marriott International, Inc., Case No. 2019 CA 004497 B (D.C. Super. Ct.). On July 9, 2019, the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit against MII in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia alleging violations of the District of Columbia’s Consumer Protection Procedures Act (“CPPA”), D.C. Code §§ 28-3901, et seq. The District of Columbia sought an injunction, restitution, statutory civil penalties, and attorneys' fees and costs, in amounts to be proven at trial. Following the end of discovery, both parties moved for summary judgment. On August 18, 2025, the parties entered into a settlement pursuant and the parties filed a stipulated dismissal of the lawsuit, fully resolving the case. C. Other Pending Actions 1. Portillo v. CoSTAR Group, Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-00229, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. On February 20, 2024, plaintiffs filed this putative class action lawsuit against CoSTAR and numerous hotel companies, including MII, Hilton, Hyatt, and others. The lawsuit alleges the unlawful sharing of information in violation of U.S. antitrust laws, focusing on the use of STR reports at luxury hotels in certain markets: Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Seattle.
2026 Citizen M FDD: 3926071v2 (03/31/2026) 66 provide discounted car rental programs for owners, franchisees, and Marriott associates. Under the terms of the agreements, we and our affiliates may receive allowances if certain volume thresholds are met. In 2025, we and our affiliates received $130,000 as a result of this arrangement. We and our affiliates have an arrangement with OpenTable Inc. (“OpenTable”) that allows hotels to participate in OpenTable's table management and inventory distribution platform at a discounted rate. Under the terms of the arrangement, we and our affiliates may receive rebates if certain hotel enrollment thresholds and spend volumes are met. In 2025, we and our affiliates received $375,000 in rebates from OpenTable, which were utilized to offset costs that would have otherwise been charged to Company Brand Hotels through the program services contributions.
2026 Citizen M FDD: 3926071v2 (03/31/2026) 65 cost of products or services purchased by Company Brand Hotels, and MIP Americas may retain such funds as revenue. In 2025, MIP Americas received approximately $605,286 as a result of purchases by franchised Company Brand Hotels. Although it had no obligation to do so, MIP Americas utilized $396,583 of this revenue to offset costs that otherwise would have been charged to hotels and distributed $208,703 to participating franchised Company Brand Hotels. The amount of any rebates, commissions, and markups are subject to change. We and our affiliates pay Sabre Inc. (“Sabre”) a fee for each transaction that is delivered from travel agencies through Sabre’s global distribution system. These fees are funded through the costs charged to the hotels for each reservation directly or through the Program Services Contribution (“Reservation System Fees”). If we purchase select Sabre Travel Network media products and services in amounts above certain thresholds during any year, then we will receive a credit for such year. In 2025, we and our affiliates received approximately $393,000 as a result of this arrangement, all of which will be used to offset reservation system costs.
1. Portillo v. CoSTAR Group, Inc., Case No. 2:24-cv-00229, United States District Court for the Western District of Washington. On February 20, 2024, plaintiffs filed this putative class action lawsuit against CoSTAR and numerous hotel companies, including MII, Hilton, Hyatt, and others. The lawsuit alleges the unlawful sharing of information in violation of U.S. antitrust laws, focusing on the use of STR reports at luxury hotels in certain markets: Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Miami, Nashville, New York, Phoenix, Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Washington D.C., and Seattle.
14 Through the Transaction-Based Media Program, we develop advertising materials and pay third parties to place listings and paid ads in search engines (such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing), AI engines (such as Google, OpenAI, Anthropic), through advertising networks and direct referral partners (such as TripAdvisor, Google 2026 Citizen M FDD: 3926071v2 (03/31/2026) 54 Hotel Ads, Trivago, and Kayak), and through third-party websites and apps (such as social networks) that feature links to Company Brand websites. When a consumer clicks on a Transaction-Based Media Program listing or ad, they are referred to a Company Brand website to make a direct booking. Hotels will incur a fee if the referral results in a qualified stay. Hotels are not charged on rates such as special corporate or group room rates. Optional add-on services are available at an additional cost. We may expand or otherwise modify the scope of this program to reflect, among other things, changes in consumer searching and booking preferences, and we may adjust the charge for digitally generated stays accordingly.
Ms. Lee has been a Director of MII since June 2004. Ms. Lee was Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of BET Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom, Inc., from 2006 until her retirement in May 2018, and has been Chair of the Leading Women Defined Foundation since June 2018. She has served as a Director of Warner Brothers Discovery since April 2022, Burberry Group plc. since October 2019, and Procter & Gamble since August 2020. She previously served as a director of AT&T Inc. until April 2022, WGL Holdings, Inc. from 1999 to 2018, Twitter, Inc. from May 2016 to August 2019, Eastman Kodak Company from 1999 to May 2011, and Revlon, Inc. from 2005 to 2015. Director: Aylwin B. Lewis
The arrangements described in this Note 13 are of a limited duration and may be renegotiated periodically. 13 In addition to the Digital Marketing program, hotels may participate in optional, self-serve email marketing campaigns using our designated platform. Email campaigns to drive room nights cost approximately $1,000 to $10,000 per campaign, depending on delivery volume. Email campaigns to drive ancillary spend on food and beverage, spa, golf, skiing, and other amenities require a subscription to our designated platform, which costs approximately $200 per month. An optional MSB Marketing & Digital Essentials program for hotels without dedicated marketing support is available at a cost of approximately $1,123.09 per month. 14 Through the Transaction-Based Media Program, we develop advertising materials and pay third parties to place listings and paid ads in search engines (such as Google, Yahoo, and Bing), AI engines (such as Google, OpenAI, Anthropic), through advertising networks and direct referral partners (such as TripAdvisor, Google
Franchisor behaviours
What the franchisor requires
22 requirements the franchisor states in this filing, each in its own words; 4 explicit no's; 8 questions the text does not settle, which is not a no.
Accounting
Does the franchisor have direct or independent electronic access to the franchisee's financial, sales or customer records?
YesItem 7
We have independent access to the system databases at your hotel.
Must the franchisee submit periodic financial statements (monthly, quarterly or annual) to the franchisor?
YesFranchise agreement
For each full or partial calendar or fiscal year (whichever is used by Franchisee for income tax purposes), Franchisee will prepare and provide to Franchisor a complete statement of income and expense from the operation of the Hotel for the preceding year.
How the franchisor buys
Is the franchisor or an affiliate itself a supplier of required products, services or systems?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisor may designate suppliers, including Franchisor, for certain items related to FF&E, Inventories and Fixed Asset Supplies.
Does the franchisor reserve the right to change designated suppliers or systems at any time?
YesItem 8
We may modify our standards and specifications in our sole discretion, and you must comply with such changes at your expense.
How much revenue did the franchisor and its affiliates earn from franchisee purchases in the last fiscal year?
11250060Item 8
The total amount of revenue that we and our affiliates received in 2025 as a result of franchisees’ required purchases, including any unrestricted rebates that we retained and did not distribute, and other fees or payments that we charged for providing procurement services on behalf of franchisees or otherwise…
Does the franchisor or an affiliate receive rebates, commissions or other revenue from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
Suppliers may pay to MIP Americas various fees and commissions.
Item 8 gives this proportion in one of two shapes: separate percentages for establishing the business and for operating it, or one figure covering "establishing and operating" together. Where they are separate, answer with the operating percentage; where the passage gives only the combined figure, answer with that. What percentage of the franchisee's purchases must come from designated or approved suppliers?
46Item 8
(ii) 46% to 60% of the total cost of purchases and leases you will incur to operate a typical citizenM hotel2 on an annual basis.
Can a franchisee propose a new supplier for the franchisor's approval?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee may propose new suppliers by delivering sufficient information and samples for Franchisor’s confirmation that such item meets the Standards and the proposed supplier is capable of providing such item in accordance with the Standards.
Data and IT
Must the franchisee comply with PCI, data-security or cybersecurity standards set by the franchisor?
YesItem 7
You must comply with all rules and regulations promulgated by the credit card companies and associations, including current PCI data security standards and our PCI compliance standards.
Franchise management
Does the franchisor conduct periodic inspections, audits or evaluations of the franchised business?
YesItem 9
Inspections and audits Sections 3.3, 5.1, 8.3.C, and 13.4 and Items 5, 6, 8, and 11 Exhibit C of Franchise Agreement t.
Can the franchisor change the operations manual and brand standards unilaterally?
YesItem 11
We may change the standards at any time.
Must the franchisor approve the franchisee's site or location before opening?
YesItem 12
Your franchise agreement will permit you to operate one hotel of a specific size at a specific site selected by you and approved by us.
Marketing
Is a minimum grand opening advertising spend required?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisee will conduct an opening advertising and marketing campaign that complies with the Standards.
Must the franchisee participate in a customer loyalty or rewards program?
YesItem 11
We may provide, and you must participate in (at your cost), sales and marketing programs and activities that are not funded by the Marketing Fund, such as email marketing, internet search engine marketing, transaction-based paid media programs, sales lead referrals and bookings, cooperative advertising programs…
Operations
Must equipment be purchased from designated or approved suppliers?
YesItem 8
Additionally, we may specify that certain food products, FF&E, OS&E, communication systems (including internet access, see Item 11), and other goods and services be purchased only from us or sources designated or approved by us.
Payments
Must the franchisee use a payment processor or merchant-services provider designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 7
You must also use our preferred providers in connection with processing credit cards, including authorizations and settlements.
Are royalties and other fees collected by automatic bank debit (ACH or electronic funds transfer) from the franchisee's account?
YesItem 6
We will require franchisees to submit payments due to us, our affiliates, and certain approved vendors such as travel intermediaries via ACH (Automated Clearing House) bank transfer or other methods of electronic funds transfer.
Must the franchisee participate in a gift card program?
YesItem 11
We may provide, and you must participate in (at your cost), sales and marketing programs and activities that are not funded by the Marketing Fund, such as email marketing, internet search engine marketing, transaction-based paid media programs, sales lead referrals and bookings, cooperative advertising programs…
Point of sale
Must the franchisee use a specific point-of-sale system designated or approved by the franchisor?
YesItem 11
If you choose to install a POS system at your hotel, you must use one of the POS systems that we designate.
Does the franchisor have independent access to the data in the franchisee's POS or computer system?
YesFranchise agreement
Franchisor may access the information contained in the Electronic Systems and Franchisee will take all actions reasonably necessary to provide such access.
Training
Can the franchisor charge the franchisee for additional, refresher or remedial training?
YesItem 6
The cost of supplemental training and sales and marketing programs is described in Items 6 and 11.
Is attendance at an annual convention or conference mandatory for the franchisee?
YesItem 6
Properties are required to send at least one individual to attend these conferences.
The filing answers no to 4 questions
- Is there a franchisee advisory council, association or committee?Item 20
- Is the franchisee prohibited from operating its own website or social media accounts, or required to use pages the franchisor provides?Franchise agreement
- Is the franchisee required to spend a minimum amount on local advertising or marketing, as a percentage of sales or a fixed amount?Franchise agreement
- Must the franchisee participate in a regional advertising cooperative when one exists?Item 11
The vendor opportunity at CitizenM
A small but fully franchised US footprint — 16 locations, no company-owned properties — inside the Marriott family alongside St. Regis Residences, City Express by Marriott, The Luxury Collection, Postcard Cabins, SpringHill Suites and Tribute Portfolio.
Who controls software purchasing
Item 2 names Marriott's corporate leadership: Chairman David S. Marriott, CEO and President Anthony Capuano, and directors Isabella D. Goren, Deborah Marriott Harrison and Frederick A. Henderson. Given the brand's scale and Marriott's centralized hotel-systems model, headquarters — not the individual owner-operator — is the counterpart for anything touching reservations, distribution or property tech.
Tech named in the FDD, and what is actually required
OpenTable is in use under Item 8, and Yahoo is in use under Item 6 — both described as active in the filing, not contractually required. Amadeus, CoStar and STR (by CoStar) are named in Item 3; Sabre is named in Item 8; TripAdvisor is named in Item 6; Twitter (by X) is named in Item 2. None of these is required by the FDD.
Procurement, renewals, and timing
Item 8 runs an approved-supplier-list model for FF&E, OS&E and other goods and services: items must meet Marriott's specifications, some are available from only one designated source, and franchisees can request approval of alternative suppliers in writing.
How to read the CitizenM FDD
The FDD was filed with state franchise regulators in 2026 and makes no financial performance representation under Item 19. Read the full filing in the embedded viewer below, and talk to FranCloud for a ranked list of similar targets.
Ordinary royalty terms
Complete royalty terms are not confirmed.
Questions vendors ask
CitizenM, answered from the filing
Read the filing itself
Read the original document for the filing figures and their terms, page by page. Buy the original PDF to download, search, and annotate it.
View only A one-time purchase: the original filing, yours to keep.
FDD alert
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Request an email alert when a newer filing for CitizenM is available.
Operator footprint
Who runs the locations
2 operators run 2 mapped locations. 0 of them are multi-unit. Aggregate counts from the filing; no names.
Operators by units owned
Top states by locations
| CA | 2 |
|---|
Ownership
The portfolio behind CitizenM
Ownership: Marriott.
Sibling brands
Related Lodging brands
Primary franchise filings · updated September 2026. Read the original filing for definitions, conditions, and qualifications.