Spark by Hilton

The vendor opportunity at Spark by Hilton

Spark by Hilton operates 210 franchised lodging locations, with no company-owned units reported in the 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document. The brand’s fully franchised model means every property is independently owned, but technology decisions are centralized at the corporate level. For software vendors, the total addressable market is 210 units, and the path to adoption runs through Hilton’s headquarters in Virginia.

The brand’s royalty rate is 5.5% of gross revenues, and the initial franchise term is 15 years. Average unit volume is not disclosed in the FDD. Year-over-year unit growth is also not reported, so vendors should treat the current 210-unit count as the baseline for near-term opportunity sizing.

Who controls software purchasing

The 2026 FDD lists five executives in Item 1. Christopher J. Nassetta serves as Chief Executive Officer and President, and Kevin J. Jacobs is Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President. Caroline Krass holds the role of Executive Vice President, General Counsel. Christopher Silcock is President, Global Brands and Commercial Services, and Christian Charnaux is Chief Development Officer and Executive Vice President.

For a software vendor, the most relevant buyer is likely Christopher Silcock, whose global brands and commercial services remit typically includes technology and guest-experience platforms. The CFO and General Counsel are also probable stakeholders in any enterprise software evaluation, given the financial and contractual implications of a brand-wide mandate.

Mandated and current tech stack

Spark by Hilton’s 2026 FDD mandates four systems. Adyen is the required payment processor. The Hilton Property Management System (HPMS) serves as the core operational platform. OnQ is the brand’s proprietary property-management and distribution system. The Property Engagement Platform (PEP) rounds out the mandated stack, likely handling guest communication and engagement workflows.

Because these four systems are mandated, any vendor selling adjacent or replacement software must either integrate with this stack or demonstrate a compelling reason for the brand to amend its requirements. The FDD does not name any recommended but optional systems, nor does it disclose an operator footprint that would suggest local tech autonomy.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

The FDD does not include an Item 8 procurement extract, so the brand’s supplier designation model—whether it uses designated suppliers, an approved-supplier list, or an open procurement process—is not publicly known. Similarly, Item 17 contains no renewal extract, leaving contract renewal windows and termination rights undisclosed.

With a 15-year initial term and no disclosed unit growth, the brand’s technology refresh cycles may be slow and tied to major brand initiatives rather than annual budgeting. Vendors should monitor Hilton’s public earnings calls and brand announcements for signals of upcoming platform migrations or digital transformation projects.

How to read the Spark by Hilton FDD

The 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document is the primary source for the data on this page. It is filed with state franchise regulators and available in the embedded viewer below. The FDD contains the legal and operational disclosures that govern the franchise relationship, including Item 1 (executives), Item 11 (mandated systems), and Items 8 and 17 (procurement and renewal terms, when disclosed).

For software vendors, the FDD is a starting point, not the full picture. It tells you who the decision-makers are, what tech is already locked in, and how many units are in play. To build a ranked target list of franchise brands that match your software category, FranCloud can help.